Exhibit 3.1
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.1 Definitions
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1
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Section 1.2 Construction
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24
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ARTICLE II
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ORGANIZATION
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Section 2.1 Formation
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24
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Section 2.2 Name
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25
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Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices
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25
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Section 2.4 Purpose and Business
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25
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Section 2.5 Powers
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26
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Section 2.6 Term
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26
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Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets
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26
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ARTICLE III
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RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
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Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability
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27
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Section 3.2 Management of Business
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27
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Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners
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27
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Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners
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27
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ARTICLE IV
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CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
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REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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Section 4.1 Certificates
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28
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Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
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29
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Section 4.3 Record Holders
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30
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Section 4.4 Transfer Generally
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30
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Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
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31
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Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partners General Partner Interest
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32
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Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights
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32
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Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers
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32
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Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders
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33
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Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders
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35
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ARTICLE V
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CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions
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36
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A-i
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Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates
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37
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Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners
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37
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Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal
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38
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Section 5.5 Capital Accounts
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38
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Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests
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41
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Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units
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42
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Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right
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42
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Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations
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43
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Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests
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43
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Section 5.11 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights
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44
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Section 5.12 Series B Subordinated Units
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45
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ARTICLE VI
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ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
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Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes
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47
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Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes
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58
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Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders
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59
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Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow
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60
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Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
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62
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Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
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62
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Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units
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62
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Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights
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63
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Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation
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63
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ARTICLE VII
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MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
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Section 7.1 Management
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64
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Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership
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67
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Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partners Authority
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67
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Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner
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67
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Section 7.5 Outside Activities
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68
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Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members
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70
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Section 7.7 Indemnification
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70
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Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees
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72
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Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties
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73
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Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
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75
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Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests
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76
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Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
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76
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Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties
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78
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A-ii
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ARTICLE VIII
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BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
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Section 8.1 Records and Accounting
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79
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Section 8.2 Fiscal Year
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79
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Section 8.3 Reports
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79
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ARTICLE IX
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TAX MATTERS
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Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information
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80
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Section 9.2 Tax Elections
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80
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Section 9.3 Tax Controversies
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80
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Section 9.4 Withholding
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81
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ARTICLE X
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ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
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Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners
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81
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Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner
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82
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Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership
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82
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ARTICLE XI
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WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
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Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner
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83
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Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner
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84
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Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner
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85
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Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and
Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
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87
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Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners
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87
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ARTICLE XII
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DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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Section 12.1 Dissolution
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87
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Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution
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88
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Section 12.3 Liquidator
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88
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Section 12.4 Liquidation
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89
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Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership
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90
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Section 12.6 Return of Contributions
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90
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Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition
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90
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Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration
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90
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A-iii
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ARTICLE XIII
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AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
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Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner
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90
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Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures
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92
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Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements
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92
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Section 13.4 Special Meetings
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93
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Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting
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94
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Section 13.6 Record Date
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94
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Section 13.7 Adjournment
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94
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Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes
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94
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Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting
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95
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Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting
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95
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Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting
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95
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Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters
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96
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ARTICLE XIV
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MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
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Section 14.1 Authority
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97
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Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
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97
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Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners
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99
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Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger
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100
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Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
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100
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Section 14.6 Amendment of Partnership Agreement
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102
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ARTICLE XV
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RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
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Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
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102
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ARTICLE XVI
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications
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104
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Section 16.2 Further Action
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104
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Section 16.3 Binding Effect
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104
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Section 16.4 Integration
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105
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Section 16.5 Creditors
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105
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Section 16.6 Waiver
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105
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Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries
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105
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Section 16.8 Counterparts
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105
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Section 16.9 Applicable Law
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105
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Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions
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105
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Section 16.11 Consent of Partners
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105
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Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures
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106
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A-iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
dated as of May 5, 2010, is entered into by and between PNGS GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, as the General Partner, and Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, 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
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Section 1.1
Definitions
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The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the
contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
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.
(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 Partnerships Adjusted Property after 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 Partnerships 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
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
1
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.
Additional Limited Partner
means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner
pursuant to Section 4.5 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.
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 Partners 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 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 Property
means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant
to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
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; provided that the determination
as to whether a Person, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by or under common control with another Person shall be made taking into account, at the
time of such determination, the context and circumstances surrounding such determination, including
any known agreements or understandings that may impact such Persons possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such
other Person. For the avoidance of doubt,
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
2
(a) any individual who is an officer or director of the General Partner or any Group Member
(excluding the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the General Partner) shall not
be considered to be an Affiliate of the General Partner, a Departing General Partner or any Group
Member by virtue of such Persons status as an officer or director and the possession of the powers
that are within the scope of the designated or delegated authority of such officer or director;
(b) any individual who is an officer or director of PAA GP or any of its Affiliates other than
the General Partner and the Group Members (excluding the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board of PAA GP) shall not be considered to be an Affiliate of the General Partner, a Departing
General Partner, any Group Member, PAA GP or PAA by virtue of such Persons status as an officer or
director and the possession of the powers that are within the scope of the designated or delegated
authority of such officer or director;
(c) any Person that, alone or together with any Group of which such Person is a part, owns
less than 50% of the total number of outstanding Class A units of the General Partner, shall not be
considered to be an Affiliate of the General Partner, a Departing General Partner or any Group
Member by virtue of the ownership by such Person (and Group, if applicable) of such Class A units;
and
(d) any Person that, alone or together with any Group of which such Person is a part, owns
less than 50% of the total Percentage Interests (as such term is defined in the Limited Liability
Company Agreement of PAA GP) held by all members of PAA GP, shall not be considered to be an
Affiliate of the General Partner, a Departing General Partner, any Group Member, PAA GP or PAA by
virtue of the ownership by such Person (and Group, if applicable) of such interests.
As used in clauses (c) and (d) above, the term Group shall have the meaning set forth herein
except that the phrase Partnership Interest as used in such definition shall refer to (i) Class A
units of the General Partner, in the case of clause (c) above, and (ii) Percentage Interests in PAA
GP, in the case of clause (d) above.
Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 5.11(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.
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 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. In making such determination, the General Partner shall
use such method as it determines to be appropriate.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
3
Agreement
means this Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of PAA Natural
Gas Storage, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Annual Threshold Amount
means, with respect to a four-Quarter period referenced in clause
(a)(i) of the definition of Subordination Period, an amount that is equal to the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on the Subject Interests for each Quarter during such period.
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
Partnerships 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 any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group
(or the Partnerships proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries
that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to
such Quarter resulting from borrowings, including 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 Partnerships
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 reserves for
future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group)
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 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;
provided
,
however
, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause
(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.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
4
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 Board of Directors of the General Partner, its
board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if
a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the
General Partner (or the comparable governing body of any successor thereto).
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 federal income tax
purposes as of such date. A Partners share of the Partnerships Book-Tax Disparities in all of its
Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such
Partners Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical
balance of such Partners 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).
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 Texas shall
not be regarded as a Business Day.
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 a Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first
issued.
Capital Contribution
means 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).
Capital Surplus
has the meaning assigned to such term 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
5
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 Sections
5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) 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 for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a
general partner of the Partnership.
Certificate
means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of (A) Exhibit A-1 to this
Agreement with respect to Common Units, (B) Exhibit A-2 to this Agreement with respect to Series A
Subordinated Units and (C) Exhibit A-3 with respect to Series B Subordinated Units, (ii) issued in
global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other
form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of
one or more Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner,
issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Interests.
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
2.1, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time.
Citizenship Eligibility Trigger
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.9(a)(ii).
claim
(as used in Section 7.12(c)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).
Closing Date
means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the
Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
Closing Price
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
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
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
Commission
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Unit
means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all
Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
6
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 6.4(a)(i).
Conflicts Committee
means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner
composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the
General Partner, (b) is not the holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner, its
Affiliates or the Partnership Group (other than (i) Common Units or (ii) other awards of
Partnership Interests that are granted to such director under a long-term incentive plan) (except
that a director shall not be precluded from serving on such committee due to the ownership of
common units of PAA or other indirect interests in the General Partner unless the Board of
Directors of the General Partner determines, after taking into account the totality of the specific
circumstances involving such director, that such ownership will likely have an adverse impact on
the ability of such director to act in an independent manner with respect to the matter submitted
to the Conflicts Committee), (c) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the
General Partner or any Associate of such Affiliate and (d) meets the independence standards
required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the
Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the
National Securities Exchange on which any class of Partnership Interests is listed or admitted for
trading.
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 shall no longer
constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
Contribution Agreement
means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of April 29,
2010, among the General Partner, the Partnership, PAA and certain other parties, as such may be
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Credit Agreement
means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2010, by and
among PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, DNB Nor Bank
ASA, as syndication agent, and each of the lenders named therein.
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 Initial 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 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an
Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such
Quarters).
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
7
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
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
Deferred Issuance and Distribution
means both (a) the issuance by the Partnership of a
number of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of (x) 1,758,000 over (y)
the aggregate number, if any, of Common Units actually purchased by and issued to the Underwriters
pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option on the Option Closing Date, and (b) a reimbursement of
pre-formation capital expenditures in an amount equal to the total amount of cash, if any,
contributed by the Underwriters to the Partnership on the Option Closing Date with respect to
Common Units issued by the Partnership upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option in accordance
with Section 5.3(b).
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.
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.
Depositary
means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust
Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
Disposed of Adjusted Property
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(d)(xii)(B).
Distributable Cash Flow
means, on a cumulative basis since the Closing Date and without
duplication, the following, as determined by the General Partner:
(a) the net income of the Partnership Group, as determined in accordance with GAAP;
(b) plus or minus, as applicable, any amounts necessary to offset the impact of any items
included in the net income of the Partnership Group in accordance with GAAP that do not impact the
amount of Available Cash of the Partnership Group;
(c) plus any acquisition-related expenses deducted from net income and associated with (i)
successful acquisitions or (ii) any other potential acquisitions that have not been abandoned;
(d) minus any acquisition related expenses covered by clause (c)(ii) immediately preceding
that relate to (i) potential acquisitions that have since been abandoned or (ii) potential
acquisitions that have not been consummated within one year following the date such expense was
incurred (except that if the potential acquisition is the subject of a pending purchase and sale
agreement as of such one-year date, such one-year period of time shall be extended until the first
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
8
to occur of the termination of such purchase and sale agreement or the first day following the
closing of the acquisition contemplated by such purchase and sale agreement); and
(e) minus Maintenance Capital Expenditures.
For purposes of this definition, the types of items covered by clause (b) above shall include (i)
depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, (ii) any gain or loss from the sale of assets
not in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any gain or loss as a result of a change in
accounting principle, (iv) any non-cash gains or items of income and any non-cash losses or
expenses, including asset impairments, amortization of debt discounts, premiums or issue costs,
mark-to-market activity associated with hedging and with non-cash revaluation and/or fair valuation
of assets or liabilities and (v) earnings or losses from unconsolidated subsidiaries except to the
extent of actual cash distributions received. For the avoidance of doubt, Distributable Cash Flow
does not include Working Capital Borrowings or the repayment of the principal amount thereof.
Early Conversion Period
means a four-Quarter period with respect to which:
(a) in respect of each Quarter of such four-Quarter period, (i) distributions of Available
Cash from Distributable Cash Flow under Section 6.4(a) have been made in respect of the Subject
Interests in an amount that equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and (ii)
any corresponding Incentive Distributions have been paid to the Holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights;
(b) for each Quarter during such four-Quarter period, the Distributable Cash Flow generated
during such Quarter equaled or exceeded an amount equal to the sum of (i) 150% of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on the Weighted Average Subject Interests on a Fully Diluted Basis, and (ii)
the amount of distributions in respect of the Incentive Distributions that would correspond to a
distribution of the amount referred to in clause (i) immediately preceding; and
(c) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
Distributable Cash Flow generated during a Quarter for purposes of clause (b) above shall not
include any amounts up to $40 million that may be deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow pursuant to
clause (ii) of Section 6.3(a).
Economic Risk of Loss
has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
Eligible Holder
means a Limited Partner whose (a) federal income tax status would not, in
the determination of the General Partner, have the material adverse effect described in Section
4.9(a)(i) or (b) nationality, citizenship or other related status would not, in the determination
of the General Partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture as described in
Section 4.9(a)(ii).
Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount
is defined in Section 6.9.
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
9
Event of Withdrawal
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
Excess Distribution has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
Excess Distribution Unit has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
FERC
means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
FERC Eligibility Trigger
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.9(a)(i).
Final Series A Subordinated Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(d)(x)(A).
First Liquidation Target Amount
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(D).
First Target Distribution
means $0.37125 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30, 2010, it means the product of $0.37125
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which
the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
First Threshold
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).
First Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.12(a).
Fully Diluted Annual Threshold Amount
means, with respect to a four-Quarter period
referenced in clause (a)(ii) of the definition of Subordination Period, an amount that is equal to
the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on the Weighted Average Subject Interests on a Fully
Diluted Basis for each Quarter during such period.
Fully Diluted Basis
means, for purposes of determining the number of Weighted Average
Subject Interests on a Fully Diluted Basis as such phrase is used in clause (b) of the definition
of Early Conversion Period and in the definition of Fully Diluted Annual Threshold Amount, a
basis that includes, (a) the Weighted Average Subject Interests plus (b) all other Partnership
Interests (other than Series B Subordinated Units) and any restricted units, options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (i) that are
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or issuable for Units that are senior to or pari
passu with the Series A Subordinated Units, (ii) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
10
the period for which the calculation is being made;
provided, however
, that for purposes of
clause (b) immediately preceding, such Partnership Interests, restricted units, options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights shall only be included 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 (i) the
number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units
that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
GAAP
means generally accepted accounting principle in the United States.
General Partner
means PNGS 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 its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
General Partner Interest
means the ownership 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 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. For purposes of determining the Percentage Interest attributable
to the General Partner at any point in time, the General Partner Interest shall be represented by a
specific number of hypothetical limited partner units, and the Percentage Interest attributable to
the General Partner Interest shall equal the ratio of the number of such hypothetical limited
partner units to the sum of the total number of Units and the number of hypothetical limited
partner units. After giving effect to the Initial Offering, including any exercise of the
Over-Allotment Option and the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, the Percentage Interest
attributable to the General Partner Interest shall be 2%, which for the purposes of this definition
equates to 1,163,651 hypothetical limited partner units. In connection with the issuance of
additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership as described in Section 5.2(b), (a) if the
General Partner makes additional Capital Contributions as contemplated by Section 5.2(b), the
number of hypothetical limited partner units represented by the General Partner Interest shall be
increased as necessary to maintain the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner
Interest at the level it was immediately prior to such issuance, and (b) if the General Partner
does not make additional Capital Contributions as contemplated by Section 5.2(b), the number of
hypothetical limited partner units represented by the General Partner Interest shall stay the same,
which shall result in a reduction of the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner
Interest.
GP Contribution Interest
shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Contribution
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 arms-length transaction.
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
11
Group
means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any
agreement, 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 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.
Holder
as used in Section 7.12, is defined in Section 7.12(a).
IDR Reset Common Unit
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
IDR Reset Election
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
Incentive Distribution Right
means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the
General Partner in connection with the transfer of the GP Contribution Interest to the Partnership
pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder
thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to
Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a
holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution
Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
Incentive Distributions
means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4.
Incremental Income Taxes
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
Indemnified Persons
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).
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 member, manager, partner, director, officer, fiduciary, agent or trustee of any
Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group
Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
12
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 member,
manager, partner, director, officer, fiduciary, agent or trustee of another Person;
provided,
that
a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee,
fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an
Indemnitee for purposes of this Agreement.
Ineligible Holder
is defined in Section 4.9(c).
Initial Common Units
means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
Initial Limited Partners
means PAA (with respect to the Common Units, Subordinated Units and
Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2) and the Underwriters, in each
case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1 of this Agreement.
Initial Offering
means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as
described in the Registration Statement, including any Common Units issued pursuant to the exercise
of the Over-Allotment Option.
Initial Unit Price
means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Series A Subordinated
Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the
Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as
part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement
first became effective, (b) with respect to the Series B Subordinated Units, $13.00 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.
Issue Price
means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, net of any
sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.
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
Limited Partner 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 Persons capacity as a
limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term Limited Partner is used
herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term
shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely
with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner
Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law.
Limited Partner Interest
means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the
Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution
Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes
any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
13
Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement;
provided, however
, that when the term Limited Partner Interest is
used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such
term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may
otherwise be required by law.
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.
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.
LTIP
means the PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan.
Maintenance Capital Expenditures
means cash capital expenditures made for the purpose of
maintaining or replacing the operating capacity, service capability and/or functionality of the
Partnership Groups assets.
Merger Agreement
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
means $0.3375 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30, 2010, it means the product of $0.3375
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which
the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
National Securities Exchange
means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section
6(a) of the Securities 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 reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution
or to which such property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property
distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnerships Carrying Value of such property (as
adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any
liability either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is
subject at the time of distribution.
Net Income
means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
14
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 Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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 (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 (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
, 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 Sections 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.
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
15
Nonrecourse Liability
has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-1(a)(2).
Notice of Election to Purchase
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).
Omnibus Agreement
means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among
PAA, PAA GP, the General Partner and the Partnership, as such may be amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
Opinion of Counsel
means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the
Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) in a form acceptable to the General
Partner.
Option Closing Date
means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
Organizational Limited Partner
means PAA 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 either (x) reflected as outstanding on the Partnerships books and
records as of the date of determination or (y) deemed to be outstanding as provided in Section
5.12(d) and 5.12(e);
provided, however
, that if at any time 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 voted on any matter and shall not 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)(iv) (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 then Outstanding
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 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.
Over-Allotment Option
means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the
Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
PAA
means Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
16
PAA GP
means Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the
ultimate general partner of PAA.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt
has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
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 PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
Partnership Contribution Interest
shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Contribution
Agreement.
Partnership Group
means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single
consolidated entity.
Partnership Interest
means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but
excluding any options to purchase, rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking
interests relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Subordinated
Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
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, (a) as to the General Partner,
the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest (as described in the
definition of General Partner Interest) and (b) as to any Unitholder holding Units, the product
obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner
Interest and the percentage applicable to clause (c) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by
dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (B) the total number of all Outstanding
Units, and (c) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in
accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage
Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
17
Permitted Actions
means the following arrangements with, actions taken by, or determinations
made by, the General Partner:
(a) Any determination by the General Partner that it shall, due to the terms of or covenants
under any current or future debt instruments, credit facilities or indentures of PAA or its
Affiliates, cause restrictions, prohibitions or limitations to be placed on the Partnership Group,
even if such restrictions, prohibitions or limitations result in the terms of a particular
transaction being less favorable to the Partnership Group than would otherwise be the case
including, for example: (i) the Partnership Groups ability to enter into any sale/leaseback
transactions, (ii) limitations on the amount of Partnership Group debt that can be secured by liens
on their respective facilities or (iii) the Partnership Groups ability to give intercompany
guarantees;
(b) The General Partners agreement with PAA GP on the reasonable allocation and other
procedures to effect the reimbursement of all direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred by
PAA GP or its Affiliates in connection with the provision of services to the Partnership Group
under the terms of the Omnibus Agreement; and
(c) Following the completion of the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units in connection
with an underwritten public offering, direct placement and/or private offering of Common Units, the
reasonably prompt redemption by the Partnership of a number of Common Units owned by PAA that is no
greater than the aggregate number of Common Units issued to PAA pursuant to clause (a) of
Potential
PAA Financial Support
(taking into account any prior redemptions pursuant to this clause (c)) at a
price per Common Unit that is no greater than the net price per Common Unit realized by the
Partnership in the offering or placement, as applicable, with the net price per Common Unit
calculated as the price per Common Unit paid by the investors in such offering or placement, as
applicable, less underwriting discounts and commissions or placement fees, if any.
Person
means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
Pine Prairie
means the natural gas storage complex located primarily in Evangeline Parish,
Louisiana.
Potential PAA Financial Support
means the following forms of potential PAA financial
support:
(a) The Partnerships issuance of Common Units to PAA at a price per Common Unit of no less
than 95% of the trailing 20-day average closing price per Common Unit;
(b) The Partnerships borrowing of funds from PAA on terms that include a tenor of no more
than three years and a fixed rate of interest that is no more than 100 basis points higher than the
lesser of (i) the fixed rate of interest incurred by PAA on any senior notes or other financial
instruments issued by PAA to fund such loan to the Partnership or (ii) the weighted average of
PAAs outstanding senior note issues; and
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
18
(c) the provision by PAA to any member of the Partnership Group of any guaranties or trade
credit support to support the ongoing operations of the Partnership Group as contemplated by
Section 3.4 of the Omnibus Agreement;
provided
,
that
(i) the pricing for any such guaranties or
trade credit support shall be no more than the cost to the Partnership of issuing a comparable
letter of credit under its Credit Agreement, and (ii) any such guaranties or trade credit support
are limited to ordinary course obligations of the Partnership Group and do not extend to
indebtedness for borrowed money or other obligations that could be characterized as debt.
Pro Rata
means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally
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 equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held
by each such holder.
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.
Quarter
means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership,
or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the
portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
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 notice of,
or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of
Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any
lawful action of Limited Partners 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 Partnership Interests of any class 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 as of the opening 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 on the books that the General Partner has
caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such 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.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
19
Reference Quarter
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(d).
Registration Statement
means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-164492) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the
Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the
Common Units in the Initial Offering.
Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with
respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Series A Subordinated Units, the excess of (a)
the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Series A 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, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder
of the General Partner Interest), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General
Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partners Share of Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Interest for each prior taxable
period, and (iii) 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 5.11(a).
Reset Notice
is defined in Section 5.11(b).
Second Liquidation Target Amount
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(E).
Second Target Distribution
means $0.5063 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30, 2010, it means the product of $0.5063
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and
of which the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6
and Section 6.9.
Second Threshold
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).
Second Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.12(b).
Securities Act
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time and any successor to such statute.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
20
Securities Exchange Act
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
Series A Subordinated Unit
means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of
the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified
with respect to Series A Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term Series A Subordinated
Unit does not include a Common Unit. A Series A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a
Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
Series B Subordinated Unit
means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of
the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified
with respect to Series B Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term Series B Subordinated
Unit does not include a Common Unit or a Series A Subordinated Unit. A Series B Subordinated Unit
that is convertible into a Series A Subordinated Unit or Common Unit shall not constitute a Series
A Subordinated Unit or Common Unit, respectively, until such conversion occurs.
Series B Thresholds
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(c).
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 the Unitholders
holding Common Units or Series A Subordinated Units, 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, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the
amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General
Partners Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) 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 period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments as of that time.
Special Approval
means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee
after due inquiry (as defined herein), based on a subjective belief that the course of action or
determination that is the subject of such approval is fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
Subject Interests
means, with respect to any period, the Common Units, Series A Subordinated
Units, the General Partner Interest and other Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Series A Subordinated Units, in each case that are Outstanding during such
period or on the date of determination, as the context may require.
Subordinated Unit
means a Series A Subordinated Unit or a Series B Subordinated Unit.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
21
Subordinated Units
means both the Series A Subordinated Units, if any are Outstanding, and
the Series B Subordinated Units, if any are Outstanding.
Subordination Period
means, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.4, the period
commencing on the Closing Date and ending effective as of the earlier of (a) the first day of the
month immediately following any Quarter in respect of which (i) distributions of Available Cash
under Section 6.4(a) have been made on the Subject Interests in respect of each of the three
consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such month in an amount
equal to or greater than the Annual Threshold Amount, (ii) the Distributable Cash Flow generated
during each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding
such month equaled or exceeded the Fully Diluted Annual Threshold Amount and (iii) there are no
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages or (b) the first day of the month immediately following the last
Quarter of the Early Conversion Period. Distributable Cash Flow generated during a Quarter for
purposes of clause (ii) above shall not include any amounts up to $40 million that may be deemed to
be Distributable Cash Flow pursuant to clause (ii) to Section 6.3(a).
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
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
Target Distribution
means, collectively, the First Target Distribution and Second Target
Distribution.
Taxation Certification
means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be
specified by the General Partner by which a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other
Person) is an Eligible Holder.
Tax Sharing Agreement
means that certain Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of the Closing
Date, among the Partnership and PAA, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
Third Threshold
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
22
Third Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.12(c).
Trading Day
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
transfer
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
Transfer Agent
means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner
or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as
registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units;
provided
, that if no Transfer Agent is
specifically designated for any other Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act in such
capacity.
Underwriter
means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting
Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
Underwriting Agreement
means that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
April 29, 2010, among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and other parties
thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
Unit
means a Partnership Interest that is designated 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.
Unitholders
means the holders of Units.
Unit Majority
means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units, voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding
Subordinated Units, voting as a class, (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period but while
there are still Series B Subordinated Units Outstanding, at least a majority of the Outstanding
Common Units, voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Series B Subordinated
Units, voting as a class and (iii) after the end of the Subordination Period if there are no
remaining Series B Subordinated Units Outstanding, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common
Units, voting as a single class.
Unpaid MQD
has the meaning assigned to such term 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).
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)).
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
23
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price
means at any time, with respect to a Common Unit and a Series
A Subordinated Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital
Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial 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 Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General
Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision, combination
or reorganization of such Units.
U.S. GAAP
means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
Weighted Average Subject Interests
means, with respect to any period, the weighted average
number of Subject Interests that are Outstanding during such period; it being understood that if
any such Subject Interests were issued during such period, such Subject Interests shall only be
treated as Outstanding for purposes of such weighted average calculation from and after their date
of issuance.
Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).
Working Capital Borrowings
means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to
pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility (including the Credit Agreement),
commercial paper facility or other similar financing arrangement, provided that all such borrowings
are required to be reduced to zero within 12 months from the date of incurrence for an economically
meaningful period of time from sources other than Working Capital Borrowings.
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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 or 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.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
The General Partner and PAA formed the Partnership on January 15, 2010 pursuant to the
Certificate of Limited Partnership as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
24
pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner and PAA hereby amend and
restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P. 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 (including
fiduciary 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 owner thereof for all purposes.
The name of the Partnership shall be PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P. The Partnerships
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, LP, Ltd. or similar
words or letters shall be included in the Partnerships 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.
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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 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware
19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware
at such registered office shall be The Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the
Partnership shall be located at 333 Clay Street, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other
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 333 Clay Street, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as
the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
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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 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 cause the Partnership to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. Without
limiting the obligation of the General Partner contained in the proviso immediately preceding this
sentence, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
25
propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of
any business free of any fiduciary 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.
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 the Certificate of Limited
Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence 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 Partnership assets, 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 Partnership assets or any
portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the
Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the
General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any
Partnership assets 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 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 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 to the
Partnership of record title to all Partnership assets held by the General Partner or its Affiliates
and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory
to the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership
in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets
is held.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
26
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 Partnerships business, transact any
business in the Partnerships name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the
Partnership. Any 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 not be deemed to be participation 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) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on
the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
Section 3.3
Outside Activities of the Limited Partners
.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons
referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, any Limited
Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in
addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in
direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other
Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited
Partner.
Section 3.4
Rights of Limited Partners
.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as
limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably
related to such Limited Partners interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable
written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partners own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and
financial condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnerships
federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;
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(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence
or mailing address of each Partner;
(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership
and all amendments thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of
attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and
all amendments thereto have been executed;
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a
description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by
each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date
on which each became a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as
is just and reasonable.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner may keep
confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines,
(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 believes (A) is not
in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its
consolidated business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law 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 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1
Certificates
.
Prior to the Closing Date, the Partnership Interests will not be evidenced by Certificates.
Effective on the Closing Date, upon the Partnerships issuance of Common Units or Subordinated
Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more
Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In
addition, (a) upon the General Partners request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more
Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Interest and (b)
upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership
Interests other than Common Units or Subordinated Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person
one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership
Interests other than Common Units or Subordinated Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf
of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President, Senior
Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General
Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned
by the Transfer Agent;
provided, however
, that the Units may be certificated or uncertificated as
provided in the Delaware Act; and
provided, further
, that if the
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General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a
certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in
accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to
the requirements of Section 6.7(c), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Series A
Subordinated Units or Series B Subordinated Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates
evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such Series A Subordinated Units or Series B
Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7 or Section
5.12, respectively. The Partners holding Certificates evidencing Series B Subordinated Units may
exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Series A Subordinated Units on or after the
date on which such Series B Subordinated Units are converted into Series A Subordinated Units
pursuant to the terms of Section 5.12.
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
(for Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Interests other than Common Units) shall
countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate, or shall deliver other evidence of
the issuance of uncertificated Units, evidencing the same number and type of 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 (for Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership
Interests other than Common Units) shall countersign a new Certificate, or shall deliver other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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, or other evidence of the issuance
of uncertificated Units, 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 (as such terms are construed under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of
Delaware);
(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.
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If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time
after he 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, 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, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate, or other evidence of the issuance
of uncertificated Units, 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 Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Limited 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,
regardless of whether the Partnership 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 in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests,
as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by
this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder and as, and to the
extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4
Transfer Generally
.
(a) The term
transfer
, when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest,
shall be deemed to refer to 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 sale, assignment, gift, pledge,
encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, 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)
assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner, and
includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including
any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(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, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, null and void.
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(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any
stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the issued and
outstanding equity interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner, including through
a merger or consolidation of the General Partner.
Section 4.5
Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions
of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited
Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the
purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The
Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests
unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a
Certificate, and subject to the provisions of 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 Common
Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holders instructions, one or
more new Certificates, or shall deliver other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units,
evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the
Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.9, (i) the General Partner shall not recognize
any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner
Interests, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, are surrendered for
registration of transfer and (ii) following a FERC Notice, such Certificates are accompanied by a
Taxation Certification, properly completed and duly executed by the transferee (or the transferees
attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for
such transfer;
provided
, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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.
(c) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this
Section 4.5 and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest
(including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner
Interests for the account of another Person) (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 books and records of the Partnership, with or without
execution of this Agreement, (ii) shall be deemed to agree to be bound by the terms of, and shall
be deemed to have executed, this Agreement, (iii) shall become the Record Holder of the Limited
Partner Interests so transferred, (iv) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, (v) grants the powers of attorney set forth in this
Agreement and (vi) makes the consents and waivers contained in this Agreement. The
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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 (other than the
Incentive Distribution Rights) shall be freely transferable.
(e) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their
Subordinated Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units or
otherwise) to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6
Transfer of the General Partners General Partner Interest
.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(b) below, the General Partner shall be free to transfer all or any
part of its General Partner Interest to another Person at any time.
(b) 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 or limited liability
company 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.
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. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be
permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 4.8
Restrictions on Transfers
.
(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, except as provided in Section
4.8(d), 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
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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, or (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).
(b) 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 avoid a
significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming
taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such
restrictions by amending this Agreement;
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.
(c) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject
to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).
(d) 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 for
trading.
(e) In the event any Partnership Interest is evidenced in certificated form, each certificate
evidencing such Partnership Interest shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following
form:
THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE GENERAL
PARTNER OF THE PARTNERSHIP MAY ALSO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY IF NECESSARY TO AVOID CERTAIN ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES. 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 Certificates; Ineligible Holders
.
(a) If at any time the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that:
(i) the Partnerships status other than as an association taxable as a corporation
for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the failure of the Partnership otherwise to be
subject to an entity-level tax for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes,
coupled with the tax status (or lack of proof of the federal income tax
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status) of one or more Limited Partners, has or will reasonably likely have a material adverse effect
on the maximum applicable rate that can be charged to customers by Subsidiaries of the
Partnership that are subject to rate regulation by FERC (a
FERC 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 a Limited Partner (a
Citizenship
Eligibility Trigger
);
then, the General Partner may adopt such amendments to this Agreement as it determines to be
necessary or advisable to (x) in the case of a FERC Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the
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
federal income tax status does not or would not have a material adverse effect on the maximum
applicable rate that can be charged to customers by Subsidiaries of the Partnership that are
subject to rate regulation by FERC or (y) in the case of a Citizenship Eligibility Trigger, obtain
such proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related
status of such Person) of the Limited Partner as the General Partner determines to be necessary to
establish and those Limited Partners whose status as a Limited Partner 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) Such amendments may include provisions requiring 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 Units to so certify prior to
being admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner (any such required certificate, an
Eligibility Certificate
).
(c) Such amendments may provide that any Limited Partner who fails to furnish to the General
Partner within a reasonable period requested proof of its (and its beneficial owners) status as
an Eligible Holder or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested
information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Holder (such a
Limited Partner an
Ineligible Holder
), the Limited Partners Interest owned by such Limited
Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In
addition, the General Partner shall be substituted for all Limited Partners that are Ineligible
Holders as the Limited Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holders 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 Partner Interests other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or
abstaining as to the matter.
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(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 Holders
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 his Limited Partner
Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).
(f) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Holder, an
Ineligible Holder 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 a 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 the Ineligible Holders 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 Certification or other
information requested within a reasonable period of time specified in amendments adopted pursuant
to Section 4.9, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certification or 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 an Eligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility
Certification 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 on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, 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 Certificate evidencing the Redeemable
Interests 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
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
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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 Transferee 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 Certificate 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 of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible 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. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner
shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest
certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Holder. If the
transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee
on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1
Organizational Contributions
.
In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General
Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20.00, for a
General Partner Interest in the Partnership equal to a 2% Percentage Interest, and has been
admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an
initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a Limited Partner
Interest in the Partnership equal to a 98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as a Limited
Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date and effective with the admission of another
Limited Partner to the Partnership, the interests of the Organizational Limited Partner and the
General Partner shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial
Capital Contributions (i) of the Organizational Limited Partner shall thereupon be refunded to the
Organizational Limited Partner and (ii) of the General Partner shall be refunded to the General
Partner. Ninety-eight percent and two percent of any interest or other profit that may have
resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions shall be allocated
and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner and the General Partner, respectively.
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Section 5.2
Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates
.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner
shall contribute, as a Capital Contribution, the GP Contribution Interest to the Partnership, in
exchange for (A) a continuation of its General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest,
subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement,
and (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights; and (ii) PAA shall contribute, as a Capital
Contribution, the Partnership Contribution Interests, in exchange for 18,106,529 Common Units,
13,934,351 Series A Subordinated Units and 11,500,000 Series B Subordinated Units and the right to
receive the Deferred Issuance and Distribution upon the earlier to occur of
(x) the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option or (y) the Option Closing Date. Upon the
earlier to occur of (x) the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option or (y) the Option Closing Date,
the Partnership will issue the additional Common Units and/or reimburse the cash, as applicable, to
PAA necessary to satisfy the Deferred Issuance and Distribution.
(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other
than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units and Subordinated Units
issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a) and any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11), the
General Partner may, in exchange for an additional General Partner Interest, make additional
Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient
determined by dividing (A) the General Partners Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the General
Partners Percentage Interest times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited
Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Section
12.8, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to
the Partnership, but if the General Partner does not make additional Capital Contributions pursuant
to this Section 5.2(b) in connection with the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests,
the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest shall be decreased (as
provided in the definition of General Partner Interest).
Section 5.3
Contributions by Initial Limited Partners
.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall
contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit,
multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by
such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the
Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such
Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash
contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per
Initial Common Unit.
(b) Upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute to the
Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the
number of Common Units to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Option Closing Date. In exchange
for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to
each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is
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made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the cash contributions to the Partnership by or on behalf of such
Underwriter by (B) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(c) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other
than (i) the 11,720,000 Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof; (ii) 1,758,000
Common Units, all or a portion of which are issuable upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option
pursuant to subparagraph (b) hereof and the balance of which will be issued as Deferred Issuance
and Distribution upon the earlier to occur of (x) the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option or
(y) the Option Closing Date; (iii) the 18,106,529 Common Units, 13,934,351 Series A Subordinated
Units and 11,500,000 Series B Subordinated Units issuable to PAA pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof;
(iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights; and (v) any Limited Partner Interests issued or issuable
pursuant to the LTIP.
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 liquidation 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 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 in any case in which the nominee 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). 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 which
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:
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(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.
(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 which 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, loss or deduction 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 Partnerships 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
39
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 6.7(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
5.7 or Section 5.12 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 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 transferors 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 transferees 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.
(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
Partners Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), 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 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 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
40
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, based on 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 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 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
.
(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants
and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests (including pursuant to Section
7.4(c)) 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.
(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant
to Section 5.6(a) or security authorized to be issued pursuant to Section 7.4(c) 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 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 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 or other security; (v) whether such Partnership Interest or other security 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 or other
security 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
41
each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating
to the relative preferences, rights, powers and duties 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 options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6, or
Section 7.4(c), (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution
Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units
pursuant to Section 5.11, (iv) reflecting the admission of such additional Limited Partners in the
books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest and (v)
all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative
preferences, 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 General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights 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 for trading.
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7
Conversion of Subordinated Units
.
(a) At any time on or after June 30, 2013, all the Outstanding Series A Subordinated Units
will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of the final
Quarter of the Subordination Period.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a) above, at any time on or after June 30, 2011, all the
Outstanding Series A Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on
the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section
6.3(a) in respect of the final Quarter of the Early Conversion Period.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Series A
Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth
in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(d) A Series A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).
Section 5.8
Limited Preemptive Right
.
Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, 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. 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,
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
42
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, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and
its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership
Interests.
Section 5.9
Splits and Combinations
.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (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 or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units (including (i) the
number of Series A Subordinated Units that may convert to Common Units and
(ii) the number of Series B Subordinated Units that may convert to Series A Subordinated Units
or Common 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. 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 other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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 such new Certificate, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, the surrender of any Certificate, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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 this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit
shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher
Unit).
Section 5.10
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests
.
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
43
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 Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11
Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution
Rights
.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, 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 Series A Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution
pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(iv) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount
of each such distribution did not exceed Distributable Cash Flow 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 5.11(d) 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 5.11(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
Reset MQD
)
(the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the
Aggregate
Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units
). The General Partner Interest after the issuance of the
Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units shall equal the General Partner Interest prior to the
issuance of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner shall not be
obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange therefor. The
making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.11(d) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive Common Units and a General Partner Interest on
the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the
Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.11(c).
(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(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 Partnerships determination of the aggregate
number of Common Units which 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 and the maintenance of the General
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
44
Partner Interest on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice, and the
Partnership shall issue Certificates for the Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights.
(d) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution and Second Target
Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units pursuant to this Section
5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal to the Reset MQD,
(ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 110% of the Reset MQD and (iii) the
Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
(e) Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the Capital
Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (A) first, be allocated
to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR
Reset Common Units and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (B) second,
any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the Incentive
Distributions Rights. In the event that there is not sufficient capital
associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount
for an Initial Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (A) of this
Section 5.11(e), the IDR Reset Common Unit shall be subject to Sections 6.1(d)(x)(C) and (D).
Section 5.12
Series B Subordinated Units
.
(a) 4,600,000 Series B Subordinated Units (the
First Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
)
will convert into Series A Subordinated Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day
following the satisfaction of all of the following conditions: (i) the General Partner has
determined that the Partnership has placed into service an aggregate amount of working gas storage
capacity at Pine Prairie that totals at least 29.6 Bcf, (ii) the Partnership generates
Distributable Cash Flow for two consecutive Quarters sufficient to pay a distribution of at least
$0.36 per Unit in each such Quarter on the Weighted Average Subject Interests and the First Tranche
Series B Subordinated Units and (iii) the Partnership makes distributions of Available Cash from
Distributable Cash Flow of at least $0.36 per Unit for two consecutive Quarters on the Subject
Interests and any corresponding Incentive Distributions on the Incentive Distribution Rights (such
conditions, collectively the
First Threshold
).
(b) 3,833,333 Series B Subordinated Units (the
Second Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
)
will convert into Series A Subordinated Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day
following the satisfaction of all of the following conditions: (i) the General Partner has
determined that the Partnership has placed into service an aggregate amount of working gas storage
capacity at Pine Prairie that totals at least 35.6 Bcf, (ii) the Partnership generates
Distributable Cash Flow for two consecutive Quarters sufficient to pay a distribution of at least
$0.3825 per Unit in each such Quarter on the Weighted Average Subject Interests and the Second
Tranche Series B Subordinated Units and, if any remain Outstanding, First Tranche Series B
Subordinated Units and (iii) the Partnership makes distributions of Available Cash from
Distributable Cash Flow of at least $0.3825 per Unit for two consecutive Quarters on the Subject
Interests and any corresponding Incentive Distributions on the Incentive Distribution Rights (such
conditions, collectively the
Second Threshold
).
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
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(c) 3,066,667 Series B Subordinated Units (the
Third Tranche Series B Subordinated Units
)
will convert into Series A Subordinated Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day
following the satisfaction of all of the following conditions: (i) the General Partner has
determined that the Partnership has placed into service an aggregate amount of working gas storage
capacity at Pine Prairie that totals at least 41.6 Bcf, (ii) the Partnership generates
Distributable Cash Flow for two consecutive Quarters sufficient to pay a distribution of at least
$0.4075 per Unit in each such Quarter on the Weighted Average Subject Interests and the Third
Tranche Series B Subordinated Units and, if any remain Outstanding, First Tranche Series B
Subordinated Units and Second Tranche Series B Subordinated Units and (iii) the Partnership makes
distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow of at least $0.4075 per Unit for two
consecutive Quarters on the Subject Interests and any corresponding Incentive Distributions on the
Incentive Distribution Rights (such conditions, collectively the
Third Threshold
and, together
with the First Threshold and Second Threshold, the
Series B Thresholds
).
(d) If a Series B Threshold has been satisfied under circumstances where the operational
condition set forth in clause (i) of Section 5.12(a), (b) or (c), as applicable, was satisfied
prior to or during the two Quarter period referenced in clause (ii) of Section 5.12(a), (b) or (c),
as applicable, then (i) the Series A Subordinated Units into which such Series B Subordinated Units
have been converted will be deemed, for purposes of the distributions contemplated by Sections 6.3
through 6.5, to have been Outstanding on the Record Date for the second Quarter of the applicable
two Quarter period (such Quarter being herein referred to as the Reference Quarter) and (ii) the
holder of the applicable Series B Subordinated Units at the time of their conversion into Series A
Subordinated Units will be entitled to receive the quarterly per Unit distribution payable to
Series A Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 6.4 with respect to the Reference Quarter;
provided
,
however
, that in all other circumstances where a Series B Threshold has been satisfied,
(x) the holder of the Series B Subordinated Units at the time of their conversion will be entitled
to receive any distribution payable to Series A Subordinated Units pursuant to Sections 6.3 through
6.5 after the operational condition set forth in clause (i) of Section 5.12(a), (b) or (c), as
applicable, was satisfied and (y) to the extent that such operational condition is satisfied after
the Record Date but before the payment date for any such distribution, the Series A Subordinated
Units into which such Series B Subordinated Units have been converted will be deemed to have been
Outstanding as of such Record Date.
(e) If at the time any of the Series B Thresholds are satisfied, the Subordination Period has
already terminated and all Series A Subordinated Units have converted into Common Units, the
applicable Series B Subordinated Units will instead convert directly into Common Units on a
one-for-one basis. If a Series B Threshold has been satisfied under circumstances where the
operational condition set forth in clause (i) of Section 5.12(a), (b) or (c), as applicable, was
satisfied prior to or during the two Quarter period referenced in clause (ii) of Section 5.12(a),
(b) or (c), as applicable, then (i) the Common Units into which such Series B Subordinated Units
have been converted will be deemed, for purposes of the distributions contemplated by Sections 6.3
through 6.5, to have been Outstanding on the Record Date for the Reference Quarter and (ii) the
holder of the applicable Series B Subordinated Units at the time of their conversion into Common
Units will be entitled to receive the quarterly per Unit distribution payable to the Common Units
pursuant to Section 6.4 with respect to the Reference Quarter;
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
46
provided
,
however
, that in all other circumstances where a Series B Threshold has been
satisfied, (x) the holder of the Series B Subordinated Units at the time of their conversion will
be entitled to receive any distribution payable to Common Units pursuant to Sections 6.3 through
6.5 after the operational condition set forth in clause (i) of Section 5.12(a), (b) or (c), as
applicable, was satisfied and (y) to the extent that such operational condition is satisfied after
the Record Date but before the payment date for any such distribution, the Common Units into which
such Series B Subordinated Units have been converted will be deemed to have been Outstanding as of
such Record Date.
(f) Any Series B Subordinated Units that remain Outstanding on December 31, 2018 will be
automatically cancelled.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Series B
Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth
in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(h) A Series B Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(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 Partnerships 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
. 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 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, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, and (y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated without regard to any Outstanding
Series B Subordinated Units), a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to
subclause (x).
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(b)
Net Loss
. 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, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, and
(y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated without regard to any Outstanding Series B
Subordinated Units), a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause
(x) until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the
current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate Net Income
allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii) for all previous taxable periods,
provided
that the
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
. 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 and Section
6.5 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), 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)(E) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B)
for all previous taxable periods;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B),
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
any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or Section
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6.4(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 Series A Subordinated
Unit into a Common Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its
Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Series A Subordinated Units,
Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x)
of this clause (C), until the Capital Account in respect of each Series A
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 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Series A Subordinated Unit for
such Quarter;
(D) Fourth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated without regard to any Outstanding
Series B Subordinated Units), a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (D), 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
Partnerships existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made
pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and
(4) is hereinafter referred to as the
First Liquidation Target Amount
);
(E) Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated without regard to any Outstanding
Series B Subordinated Units), a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (E), 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
Partnerships existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made
pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is
hereinafter referred to as the
Second Liquidation Target Amount
); and
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(F) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights,
Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated without regard to
any Outstanding Series B Subordinated Units), a percentage equal to 100% less the
sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (F).
(ii) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(iii), 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 such Net Termination Loss is recognized while Series B
Subordinated Units remain Outstanding, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with
its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Series B Subordinated
Units, in proportion to the positive Capital Accounts in respect of such Series B
Subordinated Units, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to
subclause (x) of this clause (A), until the Capital Account in respect of each
Series B Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized while Series A
Subordinated Units remain Outstanding, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with
its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Series A Subordinated
Units, in proportion to the positive Capital Accounts in respect of such Series A
Subordinated Units, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to
subclause (x) of this clause (B), until the Capital Account in respect of each
Series A Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(C) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (C)
until the Capital Account in respect of each Unit then Outstanding has been reduced
to zero;
(D) Fourth, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated
without regard to any Outstanding Series B Subordinated Units); provided that Net
Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) 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
(E) The balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(iii) Any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to a
Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated
without regard to any outstanding Series B Subordinated Units); provided that Net
Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section
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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), any
subsequent Net Termination Gain deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to a
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) or Section
6.1(c)(i)(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
Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for the
current and all previous taxable periods and Net Termination Loss previously
allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(E) and Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for all
previous taxable periods;
(B) Second, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata (calculated
without regard to any Outstanding Series B Subordinated Units), 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).
(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 Partners 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
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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 Partners 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
.
(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 other than a Series B Subordinated 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 (1) 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; and (2) the General
Partner shall be allocated gross income and gain with respect to each such Excess
Distribution in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the
quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partners Percentage Interest at the
time when the Excess Distribution occurs by (y) a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution
occurs, times (bb) the total amount allocated in clause (1) above with respect to
such Excess Distribution.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), the remaining items of
Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated
(1) 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; and (2) to the
General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the
quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partners Percentage Interest
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52
by (y)
the sum of 100 less the General Partners Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of
the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(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 Partnership 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.
(vi)
Nonrecourse Deductions
. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be
allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests
(calculated without regard to any Outstanding Series B Subordinated Units). If the General
Partner determines that the Partnerships 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.
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(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 in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests (calculated without regard to any Outstanding Series B
Subordinated Units).
(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 to the Unitholders holding Series A Subordinated Units that are
Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (
Final Series A
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 Series
A 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 Series A
Subordinated 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 Series A 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 Series A
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 Series A
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
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period of the
Partnership ending upon, or after, the conversion of Series B Subordinated Units,
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 the converted Series B Subordinated Units equaling the
product of (A) the number of such converted Series B Subordinated Units and (B) the
Per Unit Capital Amount for the type of Unit into which the converted Series B
Subordinated Units are converted.
(C) 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 5.11, after the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), 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 5.11 equaling the product of
(A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital
Amount for an Initial Common Unit.
(D) With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Unit or a
converted Series B Subordinated 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 Unit or converted Series B
Subordinated 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 or converted Series B Subordinated Unit to an amount
equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.
(E) 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)(E) 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
Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the
principles of Section 704 of the Code.
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(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. 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.
(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 Item
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 Loss giving rise to such
Additional Book Basis Derivative Item 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
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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 balance 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 the 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 the Partnership
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 Partnerships 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).
(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 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
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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 Partners discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(E));
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 interest in the Partnerships 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.
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(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 National Securities Exchange on which the
Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month;
provided, however
, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last
day of the month in which the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full or the expiration of the
Over-Allotment Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National
Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the
first Business Day of the next succeeding month; and
provided, further
, 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 National Securities Exchange
on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on 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.
(h) 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 in any case in which the nominee 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.
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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 ending on
June 30, 2010, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall,
subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by
the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts
of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be
Distributable Cash Flow until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by
the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the sum of (i) Distributable Cash
Flow from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter and (ii) $40
million. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall,
except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be
Capital Surplus
. All distributions
required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware
Act.
(b) 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.
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(c) 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 Partnerships 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 Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow
.
(a)
During Subordination Period
. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed as
follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership
Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest, 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, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest, 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, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Series A Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to
100% less the General Partners Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Series A Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units and Series A Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this
clause (iv) until there has been distributed in respect of each Common
Unit and Series A
Subordinated 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) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units and Series A Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this
clause (v), until there has been distributed in respect of each Common
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Unit and Series A
Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target
Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vi) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units and Series A Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this
clause (vi);
provided, however
, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution and the
Second Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section
6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow with
respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vi).
(b)
After Subordination Period
. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.3 or Section 6.5, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as
follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership
Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders holding Common Units in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests (calculated without regard to any
Outstanding Series B Subordinated Units), 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, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (ii), until there has been
distributed in respect of each Common 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) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been
distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of
the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(iv) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to the
Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv);
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
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provided, however
, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution and the
Second Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section
6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow with
respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(iv).
Section 6.5
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
.
Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions
of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance
with their respective Percentage Interests (calculated without regard to any Outstanding Series B
Subordinated Units), until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on the Closing Date has
received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the Closing Date through such
date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an
aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital
Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the General Partners Percentage Interest, 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 Distributable Cash Flow and shall be
distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
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Section 6.6
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
.
|
(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution,
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
5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus,
the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution and Second Target
Distribution shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by
multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution and
Second 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 and Second Target
Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.
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Section 6.7
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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
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of a
Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder;
provided, however
, that immediately upon the conversion
of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7 or Section 5.12, the Unitholder
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 Sections 5.5(c)(ii),
6.1(d)(x), 6.7(b) and 6.7(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 5.7 or Section 5.12 (other than a
transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholders 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)(B).
(c) The Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a
Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 or Section 5.12 shall not be issued a Common Unit
Certificate, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, pursuant to Section 4.1,
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 Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section
6.7(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
Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b);
provided, however
, that no such steps may be taken that
would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common
Unit Certificates, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units.
Section 6.8
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this
Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a
Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and
(b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders
of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than
as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(iv), (v) and (vi), Section 6.4(b)(ii), (iii) and (iv), and Section
12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this
Article VI.
Section 6.9
Entity-Level Taxation
.
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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 may, in its sole discretion,
reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution and the Second Target
Distribution by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such
new legislation or interpretation (the
Incremental Income Taxes
), or any portion thereof selected
by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects
to reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution and the Second Target
Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the
General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Groups aggregate liability (the
Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount
) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental
Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual liability for
Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) 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 Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution and Second
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 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by
dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) 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, 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, all management powers over the business
and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited
Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In
addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to 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, 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
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liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that
is convertible into 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;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, 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 such lack of recourse results
in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would
otherwise be the case);
(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;
(vii) the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles
such as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) and agents, 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
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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);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership
Interests, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating
to Partnership Interests;
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnerships
participation in 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 or is otherwise bound by the provisions of
this Agreement 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,
the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Contribution
Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the LTIP, any Group Member Agreement and the other agreements
described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the
transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement (which approval, ratification and
confirmation shall not, with respect to each such agreement, be considered to cover or include any
amendments or supplements thereof entered into after the date such Person becomes bound by the
provisions of this Agreement, except for amendments or supplements made to this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions hereof); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own behalf or
through any officer 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 Registration Statement 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 are otherwise bound by the provisions of 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 and any amendment of such agreements in accordance with the terms thereof (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 that the
General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this
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Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty otherwise 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
3.4(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.
Section 7.3
Restrictions on the General Partners Authority
.
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 (including by way of merger,
consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnerships Subsidiaries)
without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority;
provided, however
, that this provision shall
not preclude or limit the General Partners 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. Without the approval of holders of
a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted
under Section 4.6, Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.1(a), elect or cause the Partnership to
elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
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 direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it
makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other
amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the
Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership
Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or
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otherwise incurred by the
General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Groups business (including expenses
allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). 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.
(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right
to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership Group 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 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in
the number of Units available to be awarded under the LTIP) in connection with, or pursuant to, any
employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General
Partner, Group Member or any 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 that the General Partner or
such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees 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 net cost to the
General Partner or such Affiliates of 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 Partners
General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5
Outside Activities
.
(a) After the Closing Date, 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 the 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 managing 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 the
Registration Statement, or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in
any Group Member.
(b) Each Indemnitee (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
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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. 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 Indemnitee.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in
competitive activities by any Indemnitees (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 (including any fiduciary duty) or any other
obligation of any type whatsoever of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (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 Indemnitees 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. The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply
to any Indemnitee. No Indemnitee 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, except as otherwise provided in
Section 7.5(a) or Section 7.5(b), such Indemnitee shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any
Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of duty (including any fiduciary duty) or any other
obligation by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee pursues or acquires for itself, directs such
opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the
Partnership; provided such Indemnitee does not engage in such business or activity as a result of
or using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to
Indemnitee.
(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 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 any
provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of modifying, limiting or
restricting the duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be
owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver
or consent by the Limited Partners to any such modification, limitation or restriction, such
provisions shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partners;
provided
,
however
, that nothing
in this Section 7.5 shall limit or otherwise affect the effectiveness of any separate contractual
obligations of any Person (including any Indemnitee) to the Partnership or any of its Affiliates
pursuant to agreements entered into following the date of this Agreement.
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Section 7.6
Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or
Group Members
.
(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, except for such transactions as contemplated
by the definition of Potential PAA Financial Support, 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 made on an arms-length
basis (without reference to the lending partys 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 hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or
otherwise, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by
reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i)
enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as
Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partners Percentage Interest of the total amount
distributed to all Partners, (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the
conversion of any Series A Subordinated Units into Common Units or (iii) hasten the Series B
Thresholds or the conversion of any Series B Subordinated Units into Series A Subordinated Units or
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 claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, 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;
provided
, that the
Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless 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 Section
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7.7, 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 Indemnitees conduct was unlawful;
provided, further
, no
indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or its
Affiliates (other than a Group Member or an individual Person) with respect to its or their
obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Tax Sharing
Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on
behalf of the Partnership). 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 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 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 any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the
Indemnitees capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any
capacity under the Underwriting 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, including the purchase and maintenance of
insurance pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Agreement, against any liability that may be
asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the
Partnerships activities or such Persons 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
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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, their heirs,
successors, assigns 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 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.
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 Indemnitees conduct
was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), 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.
(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 Partnerships business or affairs shall not
be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its reliance on the provisions of this
Agreement.
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(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 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, directors and executive officers), (iii) determined by the
General Partner (after due inquiry) to be on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those
generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) approved by the
General Partner (after due inquiry) based on a subjective belief that the course of action or
determination that is the subject of such approval is fair and reasonable to the Partnership, which
may include taking into account the totality of the circumstances and the relationships among the
parties involved (including the short-term or long-term interests of the Partnership and other
arrangements or relationships that could be considered 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 of such resolution, and the
General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special
Approval. In making any determination under this Section 7.9(a), it shall be presumed that the
Conflicts Committee, the General Partner and the Board of Directors (as applicable) have satisfied
the contractual standards set forth in this Agreement and any Person challenging such determination
shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption as provided in Section 7.9(e). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, but
without otherwise limiting any consent or approvals granted herein, including those set forth in
Section 7.1(b), the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement and any actions
of the General Partner taken in connection therewith, including any conflicts of interest arising
from the Potential PAA Financial Support or the Other Permitted Actions, are hereby approved by all
Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law,
in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination, including any determination with
respect to the Distributable Cash Flow of the Partnership or any components thereof, or takes or
declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as
the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity,
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whether under this
Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise,
then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or
such Affiliates causing it 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. In
order for a determination or other action to be in good faith for purposes of this Agreement, the
Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must
subjectively believe that the determination, other action or anticipated result thereof is (i) with
respect to matters involving the Partnership, in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Partnership, and (ii) with respect to
matters involving the relative rights and privileges of holders of Partnership Interests,
consistent with the intent of the provisions of this Agreement, as set forth herein or in the
Registration Statement. In connection therewith such Person or Persons may take into account the
circumstances and relationships involved (including the short-term or long-term interests of the
Partnership and other arrangements or relationships that could be considered favorable or
advantageous to the Partnership).
(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 (including
any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, and any other
Person bound by this Agreement, 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. By
way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, at the option of the General
Partner, 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. The General
Partners organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any
action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or 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 Partners general partner,
if the General Partner is a partnership.
(d) 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
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such use.
Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts
shall be at its option.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, 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. To the fullest extent permitted by law, in connection with any action or inaction of,
or determination made by, the General Partner or any other Indemnitee with respect to any matter
relating to the Partnership, it shall be presumed that the General Partner and other Indemnitees
acted in a manner that satisfied the contractual standards set forth in this Agreement,
and 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 such action or inaction of,
or determination made by, the General Partner or any other Indemnitee, the Person bringing or
prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption.
(f) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a
partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of 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.
(g) Where a determination requires due inquiry, the Person or Persons making such
determination or taking or declining to take such action must subjectively believe that such Person
or Persons had available adequate information to make such determination or to take or decline to
take such action in accordance with the applicable contractual standard.
Section 7.10
Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
.
(a) The General Partner may rely upon, 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 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 and in accordance with the opinion (including an
Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to
be within such Persons professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have
been done or omitted in good faith.
(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.
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Section 7.11
Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests
.
The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership
Interests;
provided
that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may not
cause any Group Member to purchase Series A Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period or
Series B Subordinated Units without the prior written consent or approval of a majority of the
holders of the Common Units (excluding any Common Units owned by the General Partner and its
Affiliates, directors and executive officers). 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 this Section 7.11 and Articles IV and X.
Section 7.12
Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
.
(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes
of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof
notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds
Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any
successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available
to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the
Holder
) to dispose of the number of
Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under
the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall
file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of
not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate
when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold, a
registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of
Partnership Interests specified by the Holder;
provided, however
, that the Partnership shall not be
required to effect more than three registrations in the aggregate pursuant to this Section 7.12(a);
and
provided further, however
, that if the Conflicts Committee proceeding in good faith determines
that a postponement of the requested registration for up to six months would be in the best
interests of the Partnership due to a pending transaction, desire to avoid premature disclosure of
confidential information or otherwise, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such
requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holders
request, it being understood that the Partnership may not exercise such right pursuant to this
Section 7.12(a) more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with any registration
pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.12(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare
and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to
such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request;
provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a
result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation
or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such
jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to
apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such
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registration on such
National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other
acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate
a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c),
all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts
and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an
offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall notify all Holders of
such proposal and use all commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of
securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided,
that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the
securities of the Holder once the registration statement is declared effective by the Commission or
otherwise becomes effective, including any registration statement providing for the offering
from time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed
offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event
that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and
the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holders
Partnership Interests would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the
Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held
by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not
so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs
and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and
commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this
Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions
and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such
underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnerships obligation under
Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold
harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively,
Indemnified Persons
) 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 claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened
to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter
referred to in this Section 7.12(c) as a claim and in the plural as claims) based upon, arising
out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Interests were registered under
the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used
prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus
or free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the
Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon
or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
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fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading;
provided, however
,
that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such
claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or
final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
(d) The provisions of Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b) shall continue to be applicable with
respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partners Affiliates) after it ceases to be
a Partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such
cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership
Interests with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a
registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed;
provided,
however
, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration
statements covering the same Partnership Interests for which registration was demanded during
such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(e) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this
Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or
assignee of such Partnership Interests, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time
after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or
assignee and the Partnership Interests with respect to which such registration rights are being
assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the
terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(f) Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i)
specify the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request,
(ii) express such Persons present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for distribution,
(iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Interests, and
(iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take
all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable
requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Interests.
Section 7.13
Reliance by Third Parties
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person 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
Partnerships 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
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any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person 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.
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 Partnerships business, including all books and
records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided
pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in
the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other
Partnership Interests, 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.
Section 8.2
Fiscal Year
.
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year ending December 31.
Section 8.3
Reports
.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any
reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnerships or the Commissions
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.
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(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter
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 Partnerships or
the Commissions website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General
Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other
information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities
Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted for trading, or as the General Partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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
year or years 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 year other than a year ending on
December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable year 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 year shall be
furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnerships
taxable year ends. 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 Partners 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 for 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
.
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Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner
(as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the
Partnerships expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnerships 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.
Section 9.4
Withholding; Tax Payments
.
(a) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, all or less than
all of the Partners, either as a distribution of cash to such Partners or as a general expense of
the Partnership, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.
(b) 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
and any applicable non-U.S. tax 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 of income or
from a distribution to any Partner (including, without limitation, 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(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, Subordinated Units and Incentive
Distribution Rights to the General Partner, PAA and the Underwriters as described in Article V in
connection with the Initial Offering, such parties shall automatically be admitted to the
Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or
Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.
(b) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Article
IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a
merger or consolidation 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
holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of
another Person) (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 any such transfer, issuance
or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner
becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound
by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the
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capacity, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, (iv) grants the powers of attorney set forth in this
Agreement and (v) makes the consents and 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 or Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest 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 until such Person is reflected in the books and records of the
Partnership as 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) The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and
records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent.
The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as
necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do
so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in
Section 4.1 hereof.
(d) 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 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 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.
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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;
(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) in the event 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) in the
event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the
dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the
General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the
termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his
death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of 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.
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(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
Standard Time, on June 30, 2020, 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, directors and executive officers) 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 of any Limited Partner or any Group Member 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 the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight,
Central Standard Time, on June 30, 2020, 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, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business
of the Partnership, and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution.
If, prior to the effective date of the General Partners withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i),
a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not
receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with and
subject to Section 12.1. 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 66 2/3% 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 a majority of the
outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding)
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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, and is hereby
authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership, and, to the extent applicable,
the other Group Members, without dissolution. 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 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 general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group
Members and all of its 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 of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing
General Partner shall be entitled to receive (y) 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 and (z) any other out-of-pocket expenses or liabilities directly or
indirectly relating to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner.
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For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partners
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 Partners 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 departure, then the Departing
General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert,
the Departing General Partners 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 of the
Departing General Partner. 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 Partnerships assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner 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), 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 Partnerships 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
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Partners admission, the successor General
Partners 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 (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units
shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(c)), (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 Partners 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.
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 10.2, 11.1, 11.2 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such
successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the
Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and 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 such successor is admitted to the
Partnership in accordance with this Agreement;
(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
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(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 an Event of Withdrawal caused by (a) 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 within 90 days
thereafter, or (b) 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
(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, unless the business of the Partnership is continued
pursuant to Section 12.2, 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, 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
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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 Partnerships assets for a reasonable time if it
determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnerships assets would
be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the
Partnerships 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 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 year 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 year
(or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
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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 Partnership assets.
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.
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, 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 place of business
of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the
Partnership;
(b) the 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
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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 (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate
to (A) 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) 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) 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 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the
intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or
is otherwise contemplated by this 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, if the General Partner shall so determine, 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 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 of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests
pursuant to Section 5.6, including any amendment that the General Partner determines is necessary
or appropriate in connection with (i) the adjustments of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First
Target Distribution and Second Target Distribution pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11, (ii)
the implementation of the provisions of Section 5.11 or (iii) any modifications to the Incentive
Distribution Rights made in connection with the issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to
Section 5.6,
provided
that, with respect to this clause (iii), the modifications to the Incentive
Distribution Rights and the related issuance of Partnership Interests have received Special
Approval;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner
acting alone;
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(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
Sections 2.4 or 7.1(a);
(k) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2
Amendment Procedures
.
Except as provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be
made in accordance with the requirements contained in this Section 13.2. Amendments to this
Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner;
provided, however
, that to the fullest
extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any
amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary
duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by
this Agreement, and, in declining to propose an amendment, 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. A proposed amendment shall be
effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority (excluding
any Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, directors and executive officers
in the case of any amendment, during the Subordination Period, that materially changes the terms of
this Agreement relating to the Subordinated Units), unless a greater or different percentage is
required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. 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, in each case in
accordance with the other provisions of this Article XIII. The General Partner shall notify all
Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
Section 13.3
Amendment Requirements
.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 (other than 13.1(d)(iv)) and 13.2, and in
addition to any other approvals required hereby, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a
percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its
Affiliates) 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 percentage, unless such amendment is
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approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units
constitute not less than the percentage of Outstanding Units required to take such action sought to
be reduced or increased, as applicable.
(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 the General Partners 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 Partners
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 adversely 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 general or specific purposes for which
the special meeting is to be called. 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 through
the Transfer Agent. 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 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
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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. The notice shall be deemed to have been
given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6
Record Date
.
For purposes of determining the Limited Partners 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 may 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, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities
Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by
which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If
the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the
Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the
close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the
Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall
be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General
Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7
Adjournment
.
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 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; Approval of Minutes
.
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 regular call and notice,
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 the consideration of
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matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at
the meeting.
Section 13.9
Quorum and Voting
.
The 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) represented in
person or by proxy 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 and be present in person or by proxy at such
meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or
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 greater or 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 withdrawal 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 (including, if applicable, Outstanding
Units deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited
Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a
majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including, if applicable,
Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy,
but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.
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 votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence
of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals, proxies and votes in writing.
Section 13.11
Action Without a Meeting
.
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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, without a vote and without prior notice, 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, if applicable, Units deemed owned by the
General Partner) 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, if any, 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 Units held by the Limited Partners, the
Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted.
If approval of the taking of any 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) they 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 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. Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require
the General Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the
holders of the requisite percentage of Units acting by written consent without a meeting.
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 Persons account by another Person (such as a
broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing),
in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person 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 at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial
owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without
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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.
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 Agreement
) or a written plan of
conversion (
Plan of Conversion
), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2
Procedure
for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV
requires the prior consent of the General Partner,
provided, however
, that 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 (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation
whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger,
consolidation or conversion 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 other agreement
contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
(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) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the
business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization 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 (i) 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
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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 (ii) 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 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 or another entity, or for the
cancellation of such equity securities;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the
Partnership; and
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
98
(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
.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), 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 and the merger, consolidation or conversion
contemplated thereby, as applicable, be 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.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), 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 (plus Special Approval in the case of any mergers, consolidations or
conversions that (i) take place prior to the end of the Subordination Period and (ii) involve an
exchange of any of the Subordinated Units for cash or other consideration);
provided
,
further
, that
in the case of a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, containing any
provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or
the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the
Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, 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.
(c) 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 certificate 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 the Plan
of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, 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 Partnerships 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,
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
99
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 the limited liability under the
Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or 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 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 governing instruments of the new entity provide
the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein
contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this
Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or
consolidate the Partnership with or into another 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 under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the
Partnership or 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 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.
(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation
approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b)
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.
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Section 14.4
Certificate of Merger
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Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or
a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion, as
applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.5
Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of 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
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
100
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 certificate of conversion, for all purposes of the laws of
the State of Delaware:
(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 remain vested in 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 are enforceable against the converted entity by
such creditors and obligees to the same extent as if the liabilities and obligations had
originally been incurred or contracted by the converted entity;
(v) the Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests,
shares, evidences of ownership, or other rights or securities in the converted entity or
cash as provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion shall be so
converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of
Conversion or certificate of conversion.
(c) A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article shall not be
deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
101
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Section 14.6
Amendment of Partnership Agreement
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Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation
approved in accordance with Section 17-211(b) of the Delaware Act may (a) effect any amendment to
this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for a limited partnership
if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this
Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
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Section 15.1
Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time 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 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. As used in this
Agreement, (i)
Current Market Price
as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests
means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per Limited Partner Interest
of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to
such date; (ii)
Closing Price
for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq
Stock Market) on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such
Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National
Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if
not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such
day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or
if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such
class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General
Partner; and (iii)
Trading Day
means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on
which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted for trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
102
Interests of a class are not listed or admitted for trading on any National Securities
Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
(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 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) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the
Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least
three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the
English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. 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, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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 records of the Transfer Agent 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 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 other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all
rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article
III, 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, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, 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, on the record books of the
Transfer Agent and the Partnership, 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 owner of all such
Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner
of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests
pursuant to Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).
(c) 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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
103
evidencing such Limited Partner Interest, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a),
therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1
Addresses and Notices; Written Communications
.
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. 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 on the records of the Transfer Agent or as
otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, 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 on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership 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.
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.
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
104
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 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.
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) without execution hereto.
Section 16.9
Applicable Law
.
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 laws.
Section 16.10
Invalidity of Provisions
.
If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein
shall not be affected thereby.
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
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
105
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 Common Units is expressly permitted by
this Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
106
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
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GENERAL PARTNER
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PNGS GP LLC
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By:
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/s/ Richard McGee
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Name:
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Richard McGee
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Title:
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Vice PresidentLegal and Business
Development and Secretary
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AMENDING LIMITED PARTNER
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PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
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By:
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PAA GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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Plains AAP, L.P., its sole member
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By:
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Plains All American GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Al Swanson
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Name:
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Al Swanson
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Title:
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Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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LIMITED PARTNERS
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All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the
Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor
of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner or without execution
hereof pursuant to Section 10.1(a) hereof.
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
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By:
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PAA GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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Plains AAP, L.P., its sole member
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By:
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Plains All American GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Al Swanson
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Name:
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Al Swanson
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Title:
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Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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Signature Page First Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
107
EXHIBIT A-1
to the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the
Partnership Agreement
), PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., 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 333 Clay Street, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002. Capitalized terms
used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP MAY ALSO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF NECESSARY
TO AVOID CERTAIN ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES. 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, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv)
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 and Registrar. This Certificate shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
A-1-1
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Dated:
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PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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Countersigned and Registered by:
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By: PNGS GP LLC
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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
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By:
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As Transfer Agent and Registrar
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Name:
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By:
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Secretary
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[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:
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TEN COM as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
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TEN ENT as tenants by the entireties
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Custodian
(Cust) (Minor)
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JT TEN as joint tenants with right of
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Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors
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survivorship and not as tenants
in common
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Act (State)
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Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
A-1-2
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,
hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
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(Please print or typewrite name and
address of assignee)
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(Please insert Social Security
or other identifying number of
assignee)
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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 PAA Natural
Gas Storage, L.P.
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Date:
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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.
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T
HE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
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GUARANTEED BY AN
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(Signature)
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ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
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STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
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ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
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WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED
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SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
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(Signature)
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MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
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S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
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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.
A-1-3
EXHIBIT A-2
to the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Certificate Evidencing Series A Subordinated Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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No.
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Series A Subordinated Units
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In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the
Partnership Agreement
), PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership
), hereby certifies that
(the
Holder
) is the registered
owner of
Series A Subordinated Units representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership (the
Series A Subordinated 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 Series A Subordinated Units are set forth in, and this
Certificate and the Series A Subordinated 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 333 Clay Street,
Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP MAY ALSO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF NECESSARY
TO AVOID CERTAIN ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES. 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, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv)
made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
A-2-1
PNGS GP LLC, the general partner of PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., will act as the Transfer
Agent and Registrar with respect to this Certificate. This Certificate shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
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PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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By:
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PNGS GP LLC
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By:
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Name:
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By:
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Secretary
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[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:
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TEN COM as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
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TEN ENT as tenants by the entireties
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Custodian
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(Cust) (Minor)
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JT TEN as joint tenants with right of
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Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors
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survivorship and not as tenants in common
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Act (State)
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Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
A-2-2
ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED UNITS OF
PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,
hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
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(Please print or typewrite name and
address of assignee)
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(Please insert Social Security
or other identifying number of
assignee)
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Series A Subordinated 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 PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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Date:
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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.
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T
HE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
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GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
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(Signature)
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GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
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STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
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ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
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WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED
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SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
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(Signature)
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MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
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S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
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No transfer of the Series A Subordinated Units evidenced hereby
will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the
Certificate evidencing the Series A Subordinated Units to be
transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A-2-3
EXHIBIT A-3
to the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
Certificate Evidencing Series B Subordinated Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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No.
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Series B Subordinated Units
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In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the
Partnership Agreement
), PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership
), hereby certifies that
(the
Holder
) is the registered
owner of
Series B Subordinated Units representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership (the
Series B Subordinated 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 Series B Subordinated Units are set forth in, and this
Certificate and the Series B Subordinated 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 333 Clay Street,
Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP MAY ALSO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF NECESSARY
TO AVOID CERTAIN ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES. 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, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv)
made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
A-3-1
PNGS GP LLC, the general partner of PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., will act as the Transfer
Agent and Registrar with respect to this Certificate. This Certificate shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
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PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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By:
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PNGS GP LLC
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By:
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Name:
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By:
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Secretary
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[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:
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TEN COM as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
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TEN ENT as tenants by the entireties
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Custodian
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(Cust) (Minor)
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JT TEN as joint tenants with right of
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Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors
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survivorship and not as tenants in common
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Act (State)
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Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
A-3-2
ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES B SUBORDINATED UNITS OF
PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,
hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
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(Please print or typewrite name and
address of assignee)
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(Please insert Social Security
or other identifying number of
assignee)
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Series B Subordinated 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 PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
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Date:
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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.
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T
HE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
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GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
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(Signature)
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GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
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STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
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ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
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WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED
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SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
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(Signature)
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MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT
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TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
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No transfer of the Series B Subordinated Units evidenced hereby
will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the
Certificate evidencing the Series B Subordinated Units to be
transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A-3-3
Exhibit 3.2
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
PNGS GP LLC
dated as of May 5, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
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1
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ARTICLE 2 GENERAL
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8
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2.1
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Formation
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8
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2.2
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Principal Office
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8
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2.3
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Registered Office and Registered Agent
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8
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2.4
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Purpose of the Company
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9
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2.5
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Date of Dissolution
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9
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2.6
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Qualification
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9
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2.7
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Members
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9
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2.8
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Reliance by Third Parties
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9
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ARTICLE 3 CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANY
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10
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3.1
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Capital Contributions
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10
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3.2
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Additional Capital Contributions
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10
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3.3
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Loans
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10
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3.4
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Maintenance of Capital Accounts
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11
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3.5
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Capital Withdrawal Rights, Interest and Priority
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12
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3.6
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Class B Members' Profits Interests
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12
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ARTICLE 4 DISTRIBUTIONS
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12
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4.1
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Distributions of Available Cash
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12
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4.2
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Persons Entitled to Distributions
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13
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4.3
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Limitations on Distributions
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13
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ARTICLE 5 ALLOCATIONS
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13
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5.1
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Profits
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13
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5.2
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Losses
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13
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5.3
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Special Allocation to Class B Members
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13
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5.4
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Regulatory Allocations
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14
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5.5
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Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c)
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14
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5.6
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Change in Membership Interests
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15
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5.7
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Withholding
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15
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ARTICLE 6 MEMBERS MEETINGS
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15
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6.1
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Meetings of Class A Members; Place of Meetings
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15
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6.2
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Quorum; Voting Requirement
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16
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6.3
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Proxies
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16
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6.4
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Action Without Meeting
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16
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6.5
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Notice
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16
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6.6
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Waiver of Notice
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16
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6.7
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Class B Members
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17
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i
Table of Contents
(continued)
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Page
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ARTICLE 7 MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
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17
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7.1
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Board of Directors
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17
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7.2
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Meetings of the Board
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17
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7.3
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Quorum and Acts of the Board
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17
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7.4
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Electronic Communications
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18
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7.5
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Committees of Directors
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18
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7.6
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Compensation of Directors
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18
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7.7
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Directors as Agents
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18
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7.8
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Officers; Agents
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18
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ARTICLE 8 LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
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19
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8.1
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Limitation on Liability of Members, Directors and Officers
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19
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8.2
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Indemnification
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19
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ARTICLE 9 TRANSFERS OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
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20
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9.1
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General Restrictions
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20
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9.2
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Permitted Transferees
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21
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9.3
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Substitute Members
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21
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9.4
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Effect of Admission as a Substitute Member
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21
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9.5
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Consent
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22
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9.6
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No Dissolution
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22
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9.7
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Additional Members
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22
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ARTICLE 10 DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION
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22
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10.1
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Events Causing Dissolution
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22
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10.2
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Final Accounting
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22
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10.3
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Distributions Following Dissolution and Termination
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22
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10.4
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Termination of the Company
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24
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10.5
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No Action for Dissolution
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24
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ARTICLE 11 TAX MATTERS
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25
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11.1
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Tax Matters Member
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25
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11.2
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Certain Authorizations
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25
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11.3
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Indemnity of Tax Matters Member
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25
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11.4
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Information Furnished
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26
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11.5
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Notice of Proceedings, etc
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26
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11.6
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Notices to Tax Matters Member
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26
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11.7
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Preparation of Tax Returns
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26
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11.8
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Tax Elections
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26
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11.9
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Taxation as a Partnership
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26
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ARTICLE 12 ACCOUNTING AND BANK ACCOUNTS
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27
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12.1
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Fiscal Year and Accounting Method
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27
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12.2
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Books and Records
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27
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ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
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Page
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12.3
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Delivery to Members; Inspection
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27
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ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS
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27
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13.1
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Waiver of Default
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27
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13.2
|
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Amendment
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28
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13.3
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No Third Party Rights
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28
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13.4
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Severability
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28
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13.5
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Nature of Interest in the Company
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28
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13.6
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Binding Agreement
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28
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13.7
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Headings
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28
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13.8
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Word Meanings
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28
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13.9
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Counterparts
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29
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13.10
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Entire Agreement
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29
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13.11
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Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue
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29
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iii
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
PNGS GP LLC
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this
Agreement
) of PNGS GP
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
Company
), is made and entered into as of the 5th
day of May, 2010, by and among the Persons executing this Agreement on the signature pages hereto
as a member (together with such other Persons that may hereafter become members as provided herein,
referred to collectively as the
Members
or, individually, as a
Member
).
WHEREAS, Members owning the requisite Membership Interests have approved the amendment and
restatement of the limited liability company agreement of the Company in its entirety with the
terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements contained herein,
the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context
otherwise requires:
Act
means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6
Del. C
. Section 18-101,
et seq
., as amended from time to time.
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit
means, with respect to a Member, the deficit balance, if
any, in such Members Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Taxable Year, after giving
effect to the following adjustments:
(a) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore
pursuant to Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c), 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(b) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).
Affiliate
means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified Person.
Agreement
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
1
Available Cash
means, with respect to a fiscal quarter, all cash and cash equivalents of the
Company at the end of such quarter less the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or
appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Board to (a) provide for the proper conduct of the
business of the Company (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated
future credit needs of the Company) subsequent to such quarter or (b) comply with applicable law or
any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or its assets or Property is subject;
provided, however
, that disbursements made by the Partnership to the Company or cash reserves
established, increased or reduced after the expiration 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, during such quarter
if the Board so determines in its reasonable discretion.
Board
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day
means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by law to be closed in the City of Houston, Texas.
Capital Account
means, with respect to any Member, a separate account established by the
Company and maintained for each Member in accordance with
Section 3.4
hereof.
Capital Contribution
means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the initial
Gross Asset Value of any Property (other than money) contributed to the Company with respect to the
interests purchased by such Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, in return for which the
Member contributing such capital shall have received a Membership Interest.
Certificate
means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware, as amended or restated from time to time.
Class A Member
means a Member all or any portion of whose Membership Interest is evidenced
by Class A Units.
Class A Unit
means a Membership Interest representing a fractional part of the Membership
Interests of all Members, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class A
Units in this Agreement.
Class B Member
means a Member all or any portion of whose Membership Interest is evidenced
by Class B Units.
Class B Restricted Unit Agreement
means an agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, between the Company and any Member that is issued Class B Units, as any such agreement
shall be amended or modified from time to time by the parties thereto.
Class B Series
means a tranche of Class B Units designated by an Arabic numeral (e.g., Class
B Series 3) in ascending order by date of establishment of such Class B Series.
2
Class B Series Cap
means, with respect to a Class B Series Unit other than a Class B Series
1 Unit, the total amount of quarterly distributions paid with respect to such Class B Unit on the
date of the Series Severance Event that results in the establishment of such Class B Series in
accordance with Section 3.1(b). Class B Series 1 shall not have a Class B Series Cap.
Class B Unit
means a Membership Interest representing a fractional part of the Membership
Interests of all Members, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class B
Units in this Agreement and the Class B Restricted Unit Agreement pursuant to which it was issued.
Code
means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Company Affiliate
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.2
.
Contribution Percentage
means in respect of a Capital Contribution required to be made
pursuant to
Section 3.1(c
), (i) in the case of a Class A Member, 100% times a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of such Class A Members Class A Units at such time, and the
denominator of which is the sum of (x) the number of outstanding Class A Units at such time and (y)
the product of the Conversion Factor and the aggregate number of Earned Units and Vested Units
outstanding at such time, and (ii) in the case of a Class B Member, 100% times a fraction, the
numerator of which is the product of the Conversion Factor and the number of such Class B Members
Earned Units and Vested Units at such time, and the denominator of which is the sum of (x) the
number of outstanding Class A Units at such time and (y) the product of the Conversion Factor and
the aggregate number of Earned Units and Vested Units outstanding at such time.
Conversion Factor
means, as of a particular time, a fraction, the numerator of which is the
regular quarterly cash distribution, if any, paid with respect to an Earned Unit or Vested Unit for
the most recent quarter, and the denominator of which is the regular quarterly cash distribution
paid with respect to a Class A Unit for such quarter.
Depreciation
means, for each Taxable Year or other period, an amount equal to the
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for
such Taxable Year, except that (a) with respect to any asset the Gross Asset Value of which differs
from its adjusted tax basis for federal income tax purposes and which difference is being
eliminated by use of the remedial allocation method pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such taxable year shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such
taxable year under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with
respect to any other asset, if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis
for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Taxable Year, Depreciation shall be an
amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Taxable Year bears to such
beginning adjusted tax basis;
provided, however
, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax
purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Taxable Year is zero,
3
Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any
reasonable method selected by the Company.
Directors
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1(a)
.
Earned Unit
means a Class B Unit that constitutes an Earned Unit under the Class B
Restricted Unit Agreement pursuant to which such Class B Unit was issued.
Employee Member
means, as of any date, a Class B Member who is employed by the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company on such date.
Encumbrance
means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (including, without
limitation, environmental and tax liens), charge, encumbrance, adverse claim, any defect or
imperfection in title, preferential arrangement or restriction, right to purchase, right of first
refusal or other burden or encumbrance of any kind, other than those imposed by this Agreement.
Gross Asset Value
means with respect to any asset, the assets adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company
shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as reasonably determined by the Company;
provided, however
, that the initial Gross Asset Values of the assets contributed to the
Company pursuant to
Section 3.1
hereof shall be as set forth in such section or the
schedule referred to therein;
(b) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their
respective gross fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as
reasonably determined by the Company as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an
additional interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a
de minimis Capital Contribution; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more
than a de minimis amount of Company property as consideration for an interest in the
Company; and (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) (other than pursuant to Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code);
(c) The Gross Asset Value of any item of Company assets distributed to any Member shall
be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account)
of such asset on the date of distribution as reasonably determined by the Company; and
(d) The Gross Asset Values of all assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect
any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code
Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)
and clause (f) of the definition of Profits and Losses;
provided, however
, Gross Asset Value
shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (d) to the extent the Company reasonably
determines that an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) hereof is
4
necessary or appropriate in connection with the transaction that would otherwise result
in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b),
such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with
respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
Independent Director
means a Director who is eligible to serve on the Conflicts Committee
(as defined, and provided for, in the Partnership Agreement) and is otherwise independent as
defined in Sections 303.01(B)(2)(a) and (3) or any successor provisions of the listing standards of
the New York Stock Exchange.
Initial Grant Date Membership Capital
means the amount set forth in
Schedule I
.
Liquidating Trustee
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.3(a)
.
Liquidation Percentage
means, with respect to any Member as of any date, 100% times a
fraction, the numerator of which is the total distributions received by such Member pursuant to
Section 4.1(b) in each of the four immediately preceding calendar quarters, and the denominator of
which is the total distributions received by all Members pursuant to Section 4.1(b) in each of the
four immediately preceding calendar quarters.
Losses
shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Profits and Losses.
Majority in Interest
means Members owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number
of outstanding Class A Units. For so long as there is only one Class A Member, Majority in
Interest means the Class A Member
Member
or
Members
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Membership Interest
means a Members limited liability company interest in the Company which
refers to all of a Members rights and interests in the Company in such Members capacity as a
Member, all as provided in this Agreement and the Act.
Non-Employee Member
means, as of any date, a Class B Member who is no longer employed by the
Company or an Affiliate of the Company on such date.
Notice
means a writing, containing the information required by this Agreement to be
communicated to a party, and shall be deemed to have been received (a) when personally delivered or
sent by email or facsimile, (b) one day following delivery by overnight delivery courier, with all
delivery charges pre-paid, or (c) on the third Business Day following the date on which it was sent
by United States mail, postage prepaid, to such party at the address or fax number, as the case may
be, of such party as shown on the records of the Company.
Officer
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.8
.
Partnership
means PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
5
Partnership Agreement
means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership, as amended from time to time.
Permitted Transfer
shall mean:
(a) a Transfer of any or all of a Membership Interest by any Class A Member;
(b) a Transfer of any or all of a Membership Interest by any Class B Member to the
Company; or
(c) with respect to Class B Units, a Transfer permitted under the applicable Class B
Restricted Unit Agreement and any Transfer of Vested Units in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
For a Permitted Transferee to become a substitute Member with respect to such Membership
Interest, or portion thereof, such Permitted Transferee must comply with Section 9.3. No Permitted
Transfer shall conflict with or result in any violation of any judgment, order, decree, statute,
law, ordinance, rule or regulation or require the Company, if not currently subject, to become
subject, or if currently subject, to become subject to a greater extent, to any statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation, excluding matters of a ministerial nature that are not materially
burdensome to the Company.
Permitted Transferee
shall mean any Person who shall have acquired and who shall hold a
Membership Interest, or portion thereof, pursuant to a Permitted Transfer.
Person
means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated organization or other legal entity of any kind.
Preceding Series
means, with respect to any Class B Series, the Class B Series with the next
lowest numerical designation (e.g., the Preceding Series with respect to Class B Series 3 shall be
Class B Series 2).
Profits
and
Losses
means, for each Taxable Year, an amount equal to the Companys net
taxable income or loss for a taxable year, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code
(for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately
pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in computing such taxable income or
loss), with the following adjustments:
(a) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise
taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or
loss;
(b) Any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or
treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses,
shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
6
(c) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to
subparagraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, the amount of such
adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset
Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of
the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes
of computing Profits or Losses;
(d) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Property with respect to which gain
or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the
Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis
of such Property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(e) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken
into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account
Depreciation for such Taxable Year, computed in accordance with the definition of
Depreciation; and
(f) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant
to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result
of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Members interest in the Company, the
amount of such adjustment 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) from the
disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits
or Losses.
(g) Gross income allocated to the Class B Members pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section
5.4 shall not be included in determining Profits and Losses.
Property
means all assets, real or intangible, that the Company may own or otherwise have an
interest in from time to time.
Regulations
means the regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated by the
United States Department of Treasury with respect to the Code, as such regulations are amended from
time to time, or corresponding provisions of future regulations.
Regulatory Allocations
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.4(c)
.
Series Severance
Event means the payment of the second quarterly distribution following the
date of termination of employment of a Class B Member, whether by resignation, retirement,
termination by the Company, or otherwise.
Subsequent Grant Date
means any date on which any Class B Units are granted following the
date of the initial grant of Class B Units (as set forth on
Schedule I
).
Subsequent Grant Date Membership Capital
means, with respect to any Subsequent Grant Date,
an amount equal to the aggregate Capital Account balances as of such date of the
7
Class A Members and the then-existing Class B Members, which amount shall be set forth in an
amendment to
Schedule I
.
Subsidiary
means, with respect to a Person, any corporation, partnership, association or
other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares
of stock entitled (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of
such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or
other business entity, a majority of either (x) the partnership or other similar ownership interest
thereof or (y) the stock or equity interest of such partnership, association or other business
entitys general partner, managing member or other similar controlling Person, is at the time owned
or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or
a combination thereof. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to the Company, the
Partnership and each of its Subsidiaries shall be a Subsidiary of the Company.
Tax Matters Member
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11.1
.
Taxable Year
shall mean the calendar year.
Transfer
or
Transferred
means to give, sell, exchange, assign, transfer, pledge,
hypothecate, bequeath, devise or otherwise dispose of or encumber, voluntarily or involuntarily, by
operation of law or otherwise. When referring to a Membership Interest, Transfer shall mean the
Transfer of such Membership Interest whether of record, beneficially, by participation or
otherwise.
Vested Unit
means a Class B Unit that constitutes a Vested Unit under the Class B
Restricted Unit Agreement pursuant to which such Class B Unit was issued.
ARTICLE 2
GENERAL
2.1
Formation
. The name of the Company is PNGS GP LLC. The rights and liabilities of
the Members shall be as provided in the Act for Members except as provided herein. To the extent
that the rights or obligations of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this
Agreement than they would be in the absence of such provision, to the extent permitted by the Act,
this Agreement shall control.
2.2
Principal Office
. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 333
Clay Street, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77002 or at such other place(s) as the Company may
determine from time to time.
2.3
Registered Office and Registered Agent
. The location of the registered office and
the name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be as stated in the
Certificate or as determined from time to time by the Company.
8
2.4
Purpose of the Company
. The Companys purposes, and the nature of the business to
be conducted and promoted by the Company, are (a) to act as the general partner of the Partnership
in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and (b) to engage in any and all
activities necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to the foregoing.
2.5
Date of Dissolution
. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless the
Company is dissolved pursuant to
Article 10
hereof. The existence of the Company as a
separate legal entity shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate of Formation of the
Company in the manner required by the Act.
2.6
Qualification
. The President, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, the
Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Company are, and each of them hereby is, authorized to
qualify the Company to do business as a foreign limited liability company in any jurisdiction in
which the Company may wish to conduct business and each is hereby designated as an authorized
person, within the meaning of the Act (or as a manager for such limited purposes only, if
signature of a manager is required under relevant state regulations), to execute, deliver and file
any amendments or restatements of the Certificate and any other certificates and any amendments or
restatements thereof necessary for the Company to so qualify to do business in any such state or
territory.
2.7
Members
.
(a)
Powers of Members
. The Members shall have the power to exercise any and all
rights or powers granted to the Members pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement. Except as
expressly provided herein, the Members shall have no power to bind the Company and no authority to
act on behalf of the Company.
(b)
Partition
. Each Member waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an
action for partition of the Companys Property.
(c)
Resignation
. Except upon a Transfer of all of its Membership Interests in
accordance with this Agreement, a Member may not resign from the Company prior to the dissolution
and winding up of the Company. A Member ceases to be a Member only upon: (i) a Permitted Transfer
of all of such Members Membership Interest and the transferees admission as a substitute Member,
all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) completion of dissolution and winding up
of the Company pursuant to
Article 10
.
(d)
Ownership
. Each Membership Interest shall correspond to a limited liability
company interest as is provided in the Act. The Company shall be the owner of the Property. No
Member shall have any ownership interest or right in the Property, including Property conveyed by a
Member to the Company, except indirectly by virtue of a Members ownership of a Membership
Interest.
2.8
Reliance by Third Parties
. Except with respect to certain tax matters, Persons
dealing with the Company shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the power and authority of an
Officer.
9
ARTICLE 3
CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANY
3.1
Capital Contributions
.
(a) As of the date hereof, there are [
] Class A Units authorized and outstanding and [
]
Class B Units authorized. Class B Units are a non-voting Membership Interest and the Class A Units
are the only voting class of Membership Interests.
Schedule I
sets forth the ownership of
outstanding Class A Units and the number of outstanding Class B Units, and may be amended from time
to time by the Company to reflect the issuance of additional Class A Units or Class B Units or the
designation of a new Class B Series. Unissued Class B Units may be issued to Employee Members at
any time before or after the occurrence of a Series Severance Event, in an amount which, in the
aggregate with all Class B Units outstanding, does not exceed the number of authorized Class B
Units.
(b) As of the date hereof, all Class B Units shall be designated as Class B Series 1 Units.
Upon the occurrence of a Series Severance Event, the Company shall redesignate each Vested Unit of
each Non-Employee Member whose termination gave rise to such Series Severance Event as a Class B
Series Unit of a new Class B Series. The numerical designation for the new Class B Series shall be
the Arabic numeral following the numerical designation of the Preceding Series.
(c) Each Member agrees to make Capital Contributions in proportion to such Members
then-applicable Contribution Percentage for equity issuances by the Partnership pursuant to
Section 5.2(b)
of the Partnership Agreement. If a Member fails to pay (or if the Company
has reasonable cause to believe that a Member will fail timely to pay) such allocable amount, the
Company may withhold any distributions otherwise payable to such Member, up to and including the
full proportionate amount of such Capital Contribution, and apply such amount to such Members
obligation hereunder. The foregoing is in addition to any other remedies available to the Company
in equity or at law, including the power to unilaterally reduce the Membership Interest of any
Member in default of the obligation to make a Capital Contribution hereunder, and any other
remedies described in Section 502(c) of the Act.
3.2
Additional Capital Contributions
.
(a) No Member shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution other than as
required under
Section 3.1
.
(b) Subject to the restrictions contained in
Section 3.5
of the Class B Restricted
Unit Agreement, the Company may offer additional Membership Interests to any Person with the
approval of the Board. The names, addresses and Capital Contributions of the Members shall be
reflected in the books and records of the Company.
3.3
Loans
.
(a) No Member shall be obligated to loan funds to the Company. Loans by a Member to the
Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. The amount of any such
10
loan shall be a debt of the Company owed to such Member in accordance with the terms and
conditions upon which such loan is made.
(b) A Member may (but shall not be obligated to) guarantee a loan made to the Company. If a
Member guarantees a loan made to the Company and is required to make payment pursuant to such
guarantee to the maker of the loan, then the amounts so paid to the maker of the loan shall be
treated as a loan by such Member to the Company and not as an additional Capital Contribution.
3.4
Maintenance of Capital Accounts
.
(a) The Company shall maintain for each Member a separate Capital Account with respect to the
Membership Interest owned by such Member in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) To each Members Capital Account there shall be credited (A) such Members Capital
Contributions, (B) such Members share of Profits and items of income and gain allocated to
such Member pursuant to
Sections 5.3
or
5.4
, and (C) the amount of any
Company liabilities assumed by such Member or which are secured by any Property distributed
to such Member. The principal amount of a promissory note which is not readily traded on an
established securities market and which is contributed to the Company by the maker of the
note (or a Member related to the maker of the note within the meaning of Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)) shall not be included in the Capital Account of any Member until the
Company makes a taxable disposition of the note or until (and only to the extent) principal
payments are made on the note, all in accordance with Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)(2);
(ii) To each Members Capital Account there shall be debited (A) the amount of money
and the Gross Asset Value of any Property distributed or treated as an advance distribution
to such Member pursuant to any provision of this Agreement (including without limitation any
distributions pursuant to
Section 4.1
, (B) such Members share of Losses and items
of loss and deduction allocated to such Member pursuant to
Section 5.4
, and (C) the
amount of any liabilities of such Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by any
Property contributed by such Member to the Company;
(iii) In the event Membership Interests are Transferred in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the
extent such Capital Account relates to the Transferred Membership Interests; and
(iv) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of
Sections
.4(a)(i
) and
(ii)
there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any
other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.
(b) The foregoing
Section 3.4(a)
and the other provisions of this Agreement relating
to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)
and, to the greatest extent practicable, shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent
with such Regulation. The Company in its discretion and to the extent otherwise
11
consistent with the terms of this Agreement shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary
or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of
capital reflected on the Companys balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q), and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event
unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulation Section
1.704-1(b).
3.5
Capital Withdrawal Rights, Interest and Priority
. Except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, no Member shall be entitled to (a) withdraw or reduce such Members Capital
Contribution or to receive any distributions from the Company, or (b) receive or be credited with
any interest on the balance of such Members Capital Contribution at any time.
3.6
Class B Members Profits Interests
. The Class B Units have been, and may in the
future be, issued for zero consideration in order to provide additional incentives for the Class B
Members to build value for the Company and achieve its business goals. Each Class B Unit represents
an interest in the Company of the nature commonly referred to as a
profits interest
(as described
in Revenue Procedure 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343 and Revenue Procedure 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191), and
represents an interest in future Company profits and losses from operations, current distributions
from operations, and an interest in future appreciation or depreciation in the Company asset values
as set forth in this Agreement, but which does not represent an interest in Initial Grant Date
Membership Capital or Subsequent Grant Date Membership Capital (as applicable) as determined on the
date such Class B Unit is or was issued.
ARTICLE 4
DISTRIBUTIONS
4.1
Distributions of Available Cash
. An amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with
respect to each fiscal quarter of the Company shall be distributed to the Members within forty-five
days after the end of such quarter as follows:
(a) first, 100% to the Class A Members, pro rata based on the number of Class A Units held,
until the aggregate amount of distributions paid pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) in respect of such
quarter equals $2,500,000 for such quarter; and
(b) next, to the Class A Members and the Class B Members holding Earned Units and Vested
Units, pro rata based on the number of Class A Units, Earned Units and Vested Units outstanding;
provided that
when the total amount distributed with respect to a Class B Unit of any Class B
Series equals the Class B Unit Cap for such Class B Series, Class B Members holding Class B Units
of such Class B Series shall not be entitled to share in any remaining distributions; and amounts
otherwise distributable to Members holding Class B Units of such Class B Series will instead be
distributed to Members holding Class A Units and Earned Units and Vested Units of each Class B
Series that has not received distributions equal to the Class B Series Cap applicable to such Class
B Series. An example illustrating the application of the Class B Series Caps and the distribution
of amounts in excess of those caps is set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
12
4.2
Persons Entitled to Distributions
. All distributions of Available Cash to
Members for a fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be made to the Members shown on the
records of the Company to be entitled thereto as of the last day of such quarter, unless the
transferor and transferee of any Membership Interest otherwise agree in writing to a different
distribution and such distribution is consented to in writing by the Company. For the avoidance of
doubt, no distribution shall be paid with respect to any outstanding Class B Unit that is not
either an Earned Unit or a Vested Unit.
4.3
Limitations on Distributions
.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distributions shall be
made except pursuant to
Article 4
or
Article 10
.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distribution hereunder
shall be permitted if such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or other applicable
law.
ARTICLE 5
ALLOCATIONS
5.1
Profits
. Subject to Section 10.3, Profits for any Taxable Year shall be
allocated:
(a) first, to the Members in the amount of and in proportion to the Losses which have
previously been allocated pursuant to
Section 5.2(c)
to such Members;
(b) second, to the Members in the amount and in proportion to the Losses which have previously
been allocated pursuant to
Section 5.2(b)
to such Members;
(c) third, to the Members in the amount and in the proportion to the Losses which have
previously been allocated pursuant to
Section 5.2(a)
to such Members; and
(d) fourth, any remaining Profits shall be allocated 100% to the Class A Members pro rata
based on the number of Class A Units held.
5.2
Losses
. Subject to Section 10.3, Losses for any Taxable Year shall be allocated:
(a) first, 100% to the Class A Members pro rata based on the number of Class A Units held,
provided; however
, that no Member shall be allocated any loss pursuant to this
Section
5.2(b)
which would result in a negative Capital Account balance for such Member;
(b) second, to Members in proportion to and to the extent of their positive Capital Account
balances until such Capital Account balances have been reduced to zero; and
(c) third, any remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class A Members pro rata based on
their respective Contribution Percentages.
5.3
Special Allocation to Class B Members
. For any Taxable Year, gross income in an
amount equal to any distributions of Available Cash made to the Class B Members pursuant
13
to Section 4.1(b) shall be allocated to the Class B Members, pro rata based on the number of
Class B Units held by such Class B Members.
5.4
Regulatory Allocations
.
(a)
Qualified Income Offset
. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations or distributions described in 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 Company income and gain shall be
specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent
required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Member as quickly as
possible.
(b)
Gross Income Allocation
. In the event any Member has an Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit at the end of any Taxable Year, such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company
income and gain in the amount of such deficit balance as quickly as possible;
provided, that
, an
allocation pursuant to this
Section 5.4(a)
shall be made only if and to the extent that
such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit balance after all other allocations
provided for in this
Article 5
have been made.
(c)
Curative Allocations
. The allocations set forth in
Sections 5.4(a)
and
(b)
hereof (the
Regulatory Allocations
) are intended to comply with certain requirements
of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory
Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of
other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this
Section 5.4(c)
.
Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article 5
(other than the Regulatory
Allocations), the Company shall make such offsetting special allocations of income, gain, loss or
deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations
are made, each Members Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital
Account balance such Member would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this
Agreement and all such items were allocated pursuant to
Sections 5.1
,
5.2
and
5.3
without regard to the Regulatory Allocations.
5.5
Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c)
.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, (i) each item of
income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as its
correlative item of book income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to
Sections
5.1
and
5.2
, and (ii) each tax credit shall be allocated to the Members in the same
manner as the receipt or expenditure giving rise to such credit is allocated pursuant to
Section 5.1
,
5.2
or
5.3
.
(b) In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss
and deduction with respect to any Property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely
for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such Property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial
Gross Asset Value (computed in accordance with the definition herein of Gross Asset Value).
14
(c) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to
subparagraph (b) of the definition herein of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income,
gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same
manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder.
(d) Any elections or other decisions relating to such allocations shall be made by the Tax
Matters Member in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this Agreement;
provided, that
the Company, in its discretion, may make, or not make, curative or remedial
allocations (within the meaning of the Regulations under Code Section 704(c)) including, but not
limited to, curative allocations which offset the effect of the ceiling rule for a prior
Taxable Year (within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-3(c)(3)(ii)) and curative
allocations from disposition of contributed property (within the meaning of Regulation Section
1.704-3(c)(3)(iii)(B)). Allocations pursuant to this
Section 5.5
are solely for purposes
of federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Members Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
5.6
Change in Membership Interests
. In the event that the Members Membership
Interests change during a Taxable Year, Profits and Losses shall be allocated taking into account
the Members varying Membership Interests for such Taxable Year, determined on a daily, monthly or
other basis as determined by the Company, using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and
the Regulations thereunder.
5.7
Withholding
. Each Member hereby authorizes the Company to withhold from income or
distributions allocable to such Member and to pay over any taxes payable by the Company or any of
its Affiliates as a result of such Members participation in the Company; if and to the extent that
the Company shall be required to withhold any such taxes, such Member shall be deemed for all
purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Company as of the time such
withholding is required to be paid, which distribution shall be deemed to be a distribution to such
Member to the extent that the Member is then entitled to receive a distribution. To the extent
that the aggregate of such distributions in respect of a Member for any period exceeds the
distributions to which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such excess shall be
considered a demand loan from the Company to such Member, with interest at the rate of interest per
annum that Citibank, N.A., or any successor entity thereto, announces from time to time as its
prime lending rate, which interest shall be treated as an item of Company income, until discharged
by such Member by repayment, which may be made in the sole discretion of the Company out of
distributions to which such Member would otherwise be subsequently entitled. The withholdings
referred to in this
Section 5.7
shall be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate
under applicable tax law unless the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel or other
evidence, satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that a lower rate is applicable, or that no
withholding is applicable.
ARTICLE 6
MEMBERS MEETINGS
6.1
Meetings of Class A Members; Place of Meetings
.
15
(a) For so long as there is only one Class A Member, all matters requiring Class A Member
action shall be done without meeting, by written consent
(b) Regular meetings of the Class A Members shall be held on an annual basis or more
frequently as determined by the Board or a Majority in Interest. All meetings of the Class A
Members shall be held at a location either within or outside the State of Delaware as designated
from time to time by the Board and stated in the Notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver
of the Notice thereof. Special meetings of the Class A Members may be held for any purpose or
purposes, unless otherwise prohibited by law, and may be called by the Board or by a Majority in
Interest. Class A Members may participate in a meeting of the Class A Members by means of
conference telephone or other similar communication equipment whereby all Class A Members
participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting in this manner shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting, except when a Class A Member participates for the
express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was
not lawfully called or convened.
6.2
Quorum; Voting Requirement
. The presence, in person or by proxy, of a Majority in
Interest shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Class A Members. The
affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest shall constitute a valid decision of the Class A
Members, except where a different vote is required by the Act or this Agreement.
6.3
Proxies
. At any meeting of the Class A Members, every Class A Member having the
right to vote thereat shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in
writing signed by such Class A Member and bearing a date not more than one year prior to the date
of such meeting.
6.4
Action Without Meeting
. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of Class A Members of the Company may be taken without a meeting, without prior Notice and
without a vote if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Class A
Members voting not less than the minimum number of Class A Units that would be necessary to
authorize or take such action at a meeting of the Members. Prompt Notice of the taking of any
action taken pursuant to this
Section 6.4
by less than the unanimous written consent of the
Class A Members shall be given to those Class A Members who have not consented in writing. A
consent transmitted by electronic transmission by a Member shall be deemed to be written and
signed.
6.5
Notice
. Notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting of Class A Members
and the purpose for which the meeting is called shall be delivered personally or sent by mail,
facsimile or email not less than one Business Day nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting by or at the direction of the Board or other Person calling the meeting, to each Class A
Member entitled to vote at such meeting.
6.6
Waiver of Notice
. When any Notice is required to be given to any Class A Member
hereunder, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the Class A Member, whether before, at or after
the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such Notice.
16
6.7
Class B Members
. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Class B
Members, in their capacities as such, shall have no voting rights or rights to participate in the
management of the Company.
ARTICLE 7
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
7.1
Board of Directors
.
(a) The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the
Board, which shall consist of seven (7) individuals, at least three (3) of whom shall be
Independent Directors, designated as directors of the Company (the
Directors
) by a Majority in
Interest. Directors shall be elected to serve annual terms expiring on the date of the annual
meeting of Members following such election. Each Director shall hold office until his or her
successor is elected pursuant to this
Section 7.1(a)
or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal. Any individual designated as a Director may be removed at any time, with
or without cause, by a Majority in Interest. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of a
Director, a Majority in Interest may designate a replacement Director.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the power and authority granted to the
Board hereunder shall include all those necessary or convenient for the furtherance of the purposes
of the Company and shall include the power to make or delegate to Officers all decisions with
regard to the management, operations, assets, financing and capitalization of the Company.
7.2
Meetings of the Board
. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special,
within or outside the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief
Executive Officer or two or more of the Directors upon delivery of written Notice at least five
days prior to the date of such meeting. Special meetings of the Board may be called at the request
of the Chief Executive Officer or any two or more of the Directors upon delivery of written Notice
sent to each other Director by the means most likely to reach such Director as may be determined by
the Secretary in his best judgment so as to be received at least twenty-four hours prior to the
time of such meeting. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, such Notice may
be telephonic if no other reasonable means are available. Such Notices shall be accompanied by a
proposed agenda or statement of purpose.
7.3
Quorum and Acts of the Board
. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board, and, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, the act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which
there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting
of the Board, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be
taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent
thereto in writing (including by electronic transmission), and the writing or writings or
electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or
17
committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and
shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
7.4
Electronic Communications
. Members of the Board, or any committee designated by
the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of
conference telephone or similar communications equipment through which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in
person at the meeting.
7.5
Committees of Directors
. The Board, by unanimous resolution of all Directors
present and voting at a duly constituted meeting of the Board or by unanimous written consent, may
designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the Directors.
In the event of the disqualification, resignation or removal of a committee member, the Board may
appoint another member of the Board to fill such vacancy. Any such committee, to the extent
provided in the Boards resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the
Board in the management of the Companys business and affairs subject to any limitations contained
herein or in the Act. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be
determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep regular
minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
7.6
Compensation of Directors
. Each Director shall be entitled to reimbursement from
the Company for all reasonable direct out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Director in
connection with attending Board meetings and such compensation as may be approved by a Majority in
Interest.
7.7
Directors as Agents
. The Board, acting as a body pursuant to this Agreement,
shall constitute a manager for purposes of the Act. No Director, in such capacity, acting singly
or with any other Director, shall have any authority or right to act on behalf of or bind the
Company other than by exercising the Directors voting power as a member of the Board, unless
specifically authorized by the Board in each instance.
7.8
Officers; Agents
. The Board shall have the power to appoint any Person or Persons
as the Companys officers (the
Officers
) to act for the Company and to delegate to such Officers
such of the powers as are granted to the Board hereunder;
provided, however
, that the Chairman of
the Board and the CEO shall be appointed by a Majority in Interest. Any decision or act of an
Officer within the scope of the Officers designated or delegated authority shall control and shall
bind the Company (and any business entity for which the Company exercises direct or indirect
executory authority). The Officers may have such titles as the Board shall deem appropriate, which
may include (but need not be limited to) Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board,
President, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller or Secretary. A Director may be an Officer. The
Officers of the Company as of the date hereof shall continue in office subject to the terms hereof.
Unless the authority of an Officer is limited by the Board, any Officer so appointed shall have the
same authority to act for the Company as a corresponding officer of a Delaware corporation would
have to act for a Delaware corporation in the absence of a specific delegation of authority. The
Officers shall hold office until their
18
respective successors are chosen and qualify or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal. Any Officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company
(other than the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer) shall be filled by a majority of
the Board.
ARTICLE 8
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
8.1
Limitation on Liability of Members, Directors and Officers
. No Member (when not
acting in violation of this Agreement or applicable law), Director or Officer shall have any
liability to the Company or the Members for any losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a
result of any act or omission of such Member, Director or Officer in connection with the conduct of
the business of the Company if, in the case of an Officer, the Officer acted in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the interests of the Company or applicable law and
to be within the scope of his or her authority and, in the case of a Member (when not acting in
violation of this Agreement or applicable law), Director or Officer, the conduct did not constitute
bad faith, fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct. To the fullest extent permitted by
Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, a Director (other than Independent Directors), in performing his or
her obligations under this Agreement, shall be entitled to act or omit to act at the direction of
the Member who designated such Director, considering only such factors, including the separate
interests of the designating Member, as such Director or the designating Member chooses to
consider, and any action of a Director or failure to act, taken or omitted in good faith reliance
on the foregoing provisions of this
Section 8.1
shall not constitute a breach of any duty
including any fiduciary duty on the part of the Director or designating Member to the Company or
any other Member or Director. Except as required by the Act, the Companys debts, obligations, and
liabilities, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations
and liabilities of the Company, and no Officer, Member or Director shall be personally responsible
for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being an Officer,
Member or Director. No Member shall be responsible for any debts, obligations or liabilities,
whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, of any other Member.
8.2
Indemnification
.
(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Members (when not acting in violation of
this Agreement or applicable law), Directors and Officers (each, a
Company Affiliate
) from and
against any and all losses, claims, demands, costs, damages, liabilities, expenses of any nature
(including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements), judgments, fines, settlements and other
amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which a Company Affiliate may be involved, or threatened to be
involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of his, her or its status as a Company Affiliate,
regardless of whether a Company Affiliate continues to be a Company Affiliate at the time any such
liability or expense is paid or incurred, unless it is determined in a final and non-appealable
judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Company Affiliate acted in bad faith or
engaged in fraud or willful misconduct, and with respect to any criminal proceeding, unless such
Company Affiliate had knowledge that his, her or its conduct was unlawful.
19
(b) Expenses incurred by a Company Affiliate in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding subject to
Section 8.2(a)
shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company
prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by
the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Company Affiliate to repay such amounts if it
is ultimately determined that the Company Affiliate is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized
in this
Section 8.2
.
(c) The indemnification provided by this
Section 8.2
shall be in addition to any other
rights to which a Company Affiliate may be entitled pursuant to any approval of a Majority in
Interest, as a matter of law or equity, or otherwise, and shall continue as to a Company Affiliate
who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors,
assigns, and administrators of such Company Affiliate. The Company shall not be required to
indemnify any Member in connection with any losses, claims, demands, actions, disputes, suits or
proceedings, of any Member against any other Member.
(d) The Company may purchase and maintain directors and officers insurance or similar coverage
for its Directors and Officers in such amounts and with such deductibles or self-insured retentions
as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, which may include coverage shared with Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P. and its Affiliates.
(e) Any indemnification hereunder shall be satisfied only out of the assets of the Company,
and the Members shall not be subject to personal liability by reason of the indemnification
provisions under this
Section 8.2
.
(f) A Company Affiliate shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this
Section 8.2
because the Company Affiliate 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 and all material facts relating to such indemnitees interest were adequately
disclosed to the Board at the time the transaction was consummated.
(g) Subject to
Section 8.2(c
), the provisions of this
Section 8.2
are for the
benefit of the Company Affiliates and the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the
Company Affiliates and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other
Persons.
(h) Any repeal or amendment of any provisions of this
Section 8.2
shall be prospective
only and shall not adversely affect any Company Affiliates rights existing at the time of such
repeal or amendment.
ARTICLE 9
TRANSFERS OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
9.1
General Restrictions
.
(a) No Member may Transfer all or any part of such Members Membership Interest to any Person
except to a Permitted Transferee pursuant to
Section 9.2
. Any purported Transfer of a
Membership Interest or a portion thereof in violation of the terms of this Agreement shall be null
and void and of no force and effect. Except upon a Transfer of all of a Members
20
Membership Interest in accordance with this
Section 9.1
, no Member shall have the
right to withdraw as a Member of the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Class B Member may pledge,
mortgage or otherwise subject its Member Interest to any Encumbrance.
9.2
Permitted Transferees
.
(a) Each Member shall, subject to
Section 9.1(b)
, have the right to Transfer (but not
to substitute the transferee as a substitute Member in such Members place, except in accordance
with
Section 9.3
), by a written instrument, all or any part of a Members Membership
Interest to a Permitted Transferee.
(b) Unless and until admitted as a substitute Member pursuant to
Section 9.3
, a
transferee of a Members Membership Interest in whole or in part shall be an assignee with respect
to such Transferred Membership Interest and shall not be entitled to participate in the management
of the business and affairs of the Company or to become, or to exercise the rights of, a Member,
including the right to appoint Directors, the right to vote, the right to require any information
or accounting of the Companys business, or the right to inspect the Companys books and records.
Such transferee shall only be entitled to receive, to the extent of the Membership Interest
Transferred to such transferee, the share of distributions and profits, including distributions
representing the return of Capital Contributions, to which the transferor would otherwise be
entitled with respect to the Transferred Membership Interest. The transferor shall have the right
to vote such Transferred Membership Interest until the transferee is admitted to the Company as a
substitute Member with respect to the Transferred Membership Interest.
9.3
Substitute Members
. No transferee of all or part of a Members Membership
Interest shall become a substitute Member in place of the transferor unless and until:
(a) Such Transfer is in compliance with the terms of
Section 9.1
;
(b) the transferee has executed an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company accepting and adopting, and agreeing to be bound by, the terms and provisions of the
Certificate and this Agreement; and
(c) the transferee has caused to be paid all reasonable expenses of the Company in connection
with the admission of the transferee as a substitute Member.
Upon satisfaction of all the foregoing conditions with respect to a particular transferee, the
books and records of the Company shall be adjusted to reflect the admission of the transferee as a
substitute Member to the extent of the Transferred Membership Interest held by such transferee.
9.4
Effect of Admission as a Substitute Member
. A transferee who has become a
substitute Member has, to the extent of the Transferred Membership Interest, all the rights, powers
and benefits of, and is subject to the obligations, restrictions and liabilities of a Member under,
the Certificate, this Agreement and the Act. Upon admission of a transferee as a substitute
Member, the transferor of the Membership Interest so held by the substitute Member
21
shall cease to be a Member of the Company to the extent of such Transferred Membership
Interest.
9.5
Consent
. Each Member hereby agrees that upon satisfaction of the terms and
conditions of this
Article 9
with respect to any proposed Transfer, the transferee may be
admitted as a Member without any further action by a Member hereunder.
9.6
No Dissolution
. If a Member Transfers all of its Membership Interest pursuant to
this
Article 9
and the transferee of such Membership Interest is admitted as a Member
pursuant to
Section 9.3
, such Person shall be admitted to the Company as a Member effective
on the effective date of the Transfer and the Company shall not dissolve pursuant to
Section
10.1
.
9.7
Additional Members
. Subject to
Section 3.2
, any Person acceptable to the
Board may become an additional Member of the Company for such consideration as the Board shall
determine,
provided that
such additional Member complies with all the requirements of a transferee
under
Section 9.3(b)
and
(c)
.
ARTICLE 10
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION
10.1
Events Causing Dissolution
.
(a) The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up upon the first to occur of the
following events:
(i) The affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest to dissolve;
(ii) The Transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the
receipt and distribution of all the proceeds therefrom; or
(iii) The entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 18-802 of the
Act.
(b) The withdrawal, death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of
any Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of any
Member in the Company shall not, in and of itself, cause the Companys dissolution.
10.2
Final Accounting
. Upon dissolution and winding up of the Company, an accounting
will be made of the accounts of the Company and each Member and of the Companys assets,
liabilities and operations from the date of the last previous accounting to the date of such
dissolution.
10.3
Distributions Following Dissolution and Termination
.
(a)
Liquidating Trustee
. Upon the dissolution of the Company, such party as is
designated by a Majority in Interest will act as liquidating trustee of the Company (the
Liquidating Trustee
) and proceed to wind up the business and affairs of the Company in
22
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and applicable law. The Liquidating Trustee will
use its reasonable best efforts to sell all Company assets (except cash) in the exercise of its
best judgment under the circumstances then presented, that it deems in the best interest of the
Members. The Liquidating Trustee will attempt to convert all assets of the Company to cash so long
as it can do so consistently with prudent business practice. The Members and their respective
designees will have the right to purchase any Company property to be sold on liquidation,
provided
that
the terms on which such sale is made are no less favorable than would otherwise be available
from third parties. The gains and losses from the sale of the Company assets, together with all
other revenue, income, gain, deduction, expense, loss and credit during the period, will be
allocated in accordance with
Article 5
. A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for
the period of winding up in light of prevailing market conditions and so as to avoid undue loss in
connection with any sale of Company assets. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
during the period of winding up. In addition, upon request of the Board and if the Liquidating
Trustee determines that it would be imprudent to dispose of any non-cash assets of the Company,
such assets may be distributed in kind to the Members in lieu of cash, proportionately to their
right to receive cash distributions hereunder.
(b)
Accounting
. The Liquidating Trustee will then cause proper accounting to be made
of the Capital Account of each Member, including recognition of any unrealized gain or loss on any
asset to be distributed in kind as if such asset had been sold for consideration equal to the fair
market value of the asset at the time of the distribution.
(c)
Liquidating Distributions
. In settling accounts after dissolution of the Company,
the assets of the Company shall be paid to creditors of the Company and distributed to the Members
in the following order:
(i) to creditors of the Company (including Members) in the order of priority as
provided by law whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment
thereof, and in connection therewith there shall be withheld such reasonable reserves for
contingent, conditioned or unconditioned liabilities as the Liquidating Trustee in its
reasonable discretion deems adequate, such reserves (or balances thereof) to be held and
distributed in such manner and at such times as the Liquidating Trustee, in its discretion,
deems reasonably advisable;
provided, however
, that such amounts be maintained in a separate
bank account and that any amounts in such bank account remaining after three years be
distributed to the Members or their successors and assigns as if such amount had been
available for distribution under
Section 10.3(c)(ii)
; and then
(ii) (A) First, an amount equal to Initial Grant Date Membership Capital, 100% to the
Class A Partners pro rata based on the number of Class A Units held; and
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(B)
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Second, with respect to each Subsequent Grant
Date (determined in order of Subsequent Grant Date), an amount equal to
the difference, if any, between the Subsequent Grant Date Membership
Capital for such Subsequent Grant Date and the Subsequent Grant Date
Membership Capital for the immediately preceding Subsequent Grant Date
or, if there is no previous Subsequent Grant Date, the Initial Grant
Date Membership Capital, 100% to the Class A
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23
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Members and the holders of Earned Units and Vested Units that were
outstanding as of such Subsequent Grant Date, in accordance with their
Liquidation Percentages calculated as of such Subsequent Grant Date;
and
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(C)
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Third, any remaining amounts shall be
distributed among the Members in accordance with their respective
Liquidation Percentages calculated as of the liquidation date.
|
(iii) Any distribution to the Members in liquidation of the Company shall be made by
the later of the end of the taxable year in which the liquidation occurs or 90 days after
the date of such liquidation. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term
liquidation shall have the same meaning as set forth in Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii) as in effect at such time and liquidating distributions shall be further
deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement upon the event of a liquidation as defined in
such Regulation for which no actual liquidation occurs with a deemed recontribution by the
Members of such deemed liquidating distributions to the continuing Company pursuant to this
Agreement.
(d) Profits and Losses arising from the dissolution and termination of the Company shall be
allocated among the Member so that after such allocations and the other allocations under this
Agreement, to the maximum extent possible, the final Capital Account balances of the Member are at
levels which would permit liquidating distributions, if made in accordance with such final Capital
Account balances, to be equal to the distributions to be made under
Section 10.3(c)(ii)
.
(e) The provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, this
Section
10.3
, are intended solely to benefit the Members and, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of the Company, and no such
creditor of the Company shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement, and no Member or
Director shall have any duty or obligation to any creditor of the Company to issue any call for
capital pursuant to this Agreement.
10.4
Termination of the Company
. The Company shall terminate when all assets of the
Company, after payment or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company,
shall have been distributed to the Members in the manner provided for in this
Article 10
,
and the Certificate of Formation of the Company shall have been canceled in the manner required by
the Act.
10.5
No Action for Dissolution
. The Members acknowledge that irreparable damage would
be done to the goodwill and reputation of the Company if any Member should bring an action in court
to dissolve the Company under circumstances where dissolution is not required by
Section
10.1
. Accordingly, except where the Board has failed to cause the liquidation of the Company
as required by
Section 10.1
and except as specifically provided in Section 18-802, each
Member hereby to the fullest extent permitted by law waives and renounces his right to initiate
legal action to seek dissolution of the Company or to seek the appointment of a receiver
24
or trustee to wind up the affairs of the Company, except in the cases of fraud, violation of
law, bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or willful violation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 11
TAX MATTERS
11.1
Tax Matters Member
. The Class A Member shall be the Tax Matters Member of the
Company as provided in the Regulations under Section 6231 of the Code and analogous provisions of
state law. The Board shall have the authority to remove or replace the Tax Matters Member of the
Company and designate its successor.
11.2
Certain Authorizations
. The Tax Matters Member shall represent the Company, at
the Companys expense, in connection with all examinations of the Companys affairs by tax
authorities including any resulting administrative or judicial proceedings. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject to the restrictions set forth herein, the Tax Matters
Member, but only with the consent of a Majority in Interest, is hereby authorized:
(a) to enter into any settlement agreement with respect to any tax audit or judicial review,
in which agreement the Tax Matters Member may expressly state that such agreement shall bind the
other Members except that such settlement agreement shall not bind any Member that has not approved
such settlement agreement in writing;
(b) if a notice of a final administrative adjustment at the Company level of any item required
to be taken into account by a Member for tax purposes is mailed to the Tax Matters Member, to seek
judicial review of such final adjustment, including the filing of a petition for readjustment with
the Tax Court, the District Court of the United States for the district in which the Companys
principal place of business is located, or elsewhere as allowed by law, or the United States Claims
Court;
(c) to intervene in any action brought by any other Member for judicial review of a final
adjustment;
(d) to file a request for an administrative adjustment at any time and, if any part of such
request is not allowed, to file a petition for judicial review with respect to such request;
(e) to enter into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to extend the period for
assessing any tax that is attributable to any item required to be taken into account by a Member
for tax purposes, or an item affected by such item; and
(f) to take any other action on behalf of the Members (with respect to the Company) or the
Company in connection with any administrative or judicial tax proceeding to the extent permitted by
applicable law or the Regulations.
Each Member shall have the right to participate in any such actions and proceedings to the
extent provided for under the Code and Regulations.
11.3
Indemnity of Tax Matters Member
. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable
law and without limiting Article 8, the Company shall indemnify and reimburse the
25
Tax Matters Member for all expenses (including reasonable legal and accounting fees) incurred
as Tax Matters Member pursuant to this
Article 11
in connection with any administrative or
judicial proceeding with respect to the tax liability of the Members as long as the Tax Matters
Member has determined in good faith that the Tax Matters Members course of conduct was in, or not
opposed to, the best interest of the Company. The taking of any action and the incurring of any
expense by the Tax Matters Member in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent
provided herein or required by law, is a matter in the sole discretion of the Tax Matters Member.
11.4
Information Furnished
. To the extent and in the manner provided by applicable
law and Regulations, the Tax Matters Member shall furnish the name, address, profits and loss
interest, and taxpayer identification number of each Member to the Internal Revenue Service.
11.5
Notice of Proceedings, etc
. The Tax Matters Member shall use its reasonable best
efforts to keep each Member informed of any administrative and judicial proceedings for the
adjustment at the Company level of any item required to be taken into account by a Member for
income tax purposes or any extension of the period of limitations for making assessments of any tax
against a Member with respect to any Company item, or of any agreement with the Internal Revenue
Service that would result in any material change either in Profits or Losses as previously
reported.
11.6
Notices to Tax Matters Member
. Any Member that receives a notice of an
administrative proceeding under Section 6233 of the Code relating to the Company shall promptly
provide Notice to the Tax Matters Member of the treatment of any Company item on such Members
Federal income tax return that is or may be inconsistent with the treatment of that item on the
Companys return. Any Member that enters into a settlement agreement with the Internal Revenue
Service or any other government agency or official with respect to any Company item shall provide
Notice to the Tax Matters Member of such agreement and its terms within sixty (60) days after the
date of such agreement.
11.7
Preparation of Tax Returns
. The Tax Matters Member shall arrange for the
preparation and timely filing of all returns of Company income, gains, deductions, losses and other
items necessary for Federal, state and local income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable
efforts to furnish to the Members within ninety (90) days of the close of the taxable year a
Schedule K-1 and such other tax information reasonably required for Federal, state and local income
tax reporting purposes. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses
and deductions and other items shall be on the cash or accrual method of accounting for Federal
income tax purposes, as the Tax Matters Member shall determine in its sole discretion in accordance
with applicable law.
11.8
Tax Elections
. Subject to
Section 11.9
, a Majority in Interest shall, in
its sole discretion, determine whether to make any available election.
11.9
Taxation as a Partnership
. No election shall be made by the Company or any
Member for the Company to be excluded from the application of any of the provisions of Subchapter
K, Chapter I of Subtitle A of the Code or from any similar provisions of any state tax laws or to
be treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes.
26
ARTICLE 12
ACCOUNTING AND BANK ACCOUNTS
12.1
Fiscal Year and Accounting Method
. The fiscal year and taxable year of the
Company shall be the calendar year. The Company shall use an accrual method of accounting.
12.2
Books and Records
. The Company shall maintain at its principal office, or such
other office as may be determined by the Company, all the following:
(a) A current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each
Member, and of each member of the Board, together with information regarding the amount of cash and
a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services contributed by
each Member and which each Member has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which
each Member became a Member of the Company;
(b) A copy of the Certificate and this Agreement, including any and all amendments to either
thereof, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate,
this Agreement, or any amendments have been executed;
(c) Copies of the Companys Federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and
reports, if any, which shall be retained for at least six fiscal years;
(d) The financial statements of the Company; and
(e) The Companys books and records.
12.3
Delivery to Members; Inspection
. Upon the request of any Class A Member, for any
purpose reasonably related to such Members interest as a member of the Company, the Company shall
cause to be made available to the requesting Member the information required to be maintained by
clauses (a) through (e) of
Section 12.2
and such other information regarding the business
and affairs and financial condition of the Company as any Class A Member may reasonably request.
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1
Waiver of Default
. No consent or waiver, express or implied, by the Company or a
Member with respect to any breach or default by the Company or a Member hereunder shall be deemed
or construed to be a consent or waiver with respect to any other breach or default by any party of
the same provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Failure on the part of the Company or
a Member to complain of any act or failure to act of the Company or a Member or to declare such
party in default shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver by the Company or the Member of any
rights hereunder.
27
13.2
Amendment
.
(a) This Agreement shall not be altered, modified or changed except by an amendment approved
by a Majority in Interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement may be
amended without the consent or approval of any Class B Member.
(b) In addition to any amendments otherwise authorized herein, the Company may make any
amendments to any of the Schedules to this Agreement from time to time to reflect transfers of
Membership Interests and issuances of additional Membership Interests. Copies of such amendments
shall be delivered to the Members promptly upon execution thereof.
(c) The Company shall cause to be prepared and filed any amendment to the Certificate that may
be required to be filed under the Act as a consequence of any amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Any modification or amendment to this Agreement or the Certificate made in accordance with
this
Section 13.2
shall be binding on all Members.
13.3
No Third Party Rights
. Except as provided in
Article 8
, none of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third
parties, including creditors of the Company.
13.4
Severability
. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the legality, validity and enforceability of the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect
and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
13.5
Nature of Interest in the Company
. A Members Membership Interest shall be
personal property for all purposes.
13.6
Binding Agreement
. Subject to the restrictions on the disposition of Membership
Interests herein contained, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to
the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors
and permitted assigns.
13.7
Headings
. The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience
only and shall not be considered in construing or interpreting any of the terms or provisions
hereof.
13.8
Word Meanings
. The words herein, hereinafter, hereof, and hereunder
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear
unless the context otherwise requires. The singular shall include the plural, and vice versa,
unless the context otherwise requires. Whenever the words include, includes or including are
used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation.
When verbs are used as nouns, the nouns correspond to such verbs and vice-versa.
28
13.9
Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all of
which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that
all the parties have not signed the same counterpart.
13.10
Entire Agreement
. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and thereto and supersedes all prior writings or agreements with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
13.11
Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue
. This Agreement shall be
construed according to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
principles of conflict of laws. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue
of the state courts of Harris County, Texas or to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and of the United States
District Court for the District of Delaware, as the case may be, and agree that the Company or
Members may, at their option, enforce their rights hereunder in such courts.
Approved and Authorized by the
Class A Member
May 5, 2010
29
Exhibit 10.4
Published CUSIP Number: 69312FAA2
EXECUTION COPY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 7, 2010
among
PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,
DNB NOR BANK ASA,
as Syndication Agent,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, and CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Co-Documentation Agents,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC and
DNB NOR BANK ASA,
as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section
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Page
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1
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1.01 Defined Terms
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1
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1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions
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23
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1.03 Accounting Terms
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24
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1.04 Rounding
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25
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1.05 Times of Day
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25
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1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts
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25
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ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
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25
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2.01 Committed Loans
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25
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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans
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25
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2.03 Reserved
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27
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2.04 Letters of Credit
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27
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2.05 Swing Line Loans
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36
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2.06 Prepayments
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39
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2.07 Termination or Reduction of Commitments
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40
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2.08 Repayment of Loans
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41
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2.09 Interest
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41
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2.10 Fees
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42
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2.11 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable
Rate
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42
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2.12 Evidence of Debt
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43
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2.13 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback
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44
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2.14 Sharing of Payments by Lenders
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45
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2.15 Reserved
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46
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2.16 Increase in Commitments
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46
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2.17 Cash Collateral
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47
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2.18 Defaulting Lenders
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49
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ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
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51
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3.01 Taxes
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51
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3.02 Illegality
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55
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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates
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55
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3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans
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56
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3.05 Compensation for Losses
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57
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3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
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58
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3.07 Survival
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58
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ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
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59
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4.01 Conditions Precedent to Closing
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59
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4.02 Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Extension
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60
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i
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Section
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Page
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4.03 Conditions to all Credit Extensions
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62
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ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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62
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5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power
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62
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5.02 Authorization; No Contravention
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62
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5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents
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63
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5.04 Binding Effect
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63
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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
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63
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5.06 Litigation
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64
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5.07 No Default
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64
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5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens
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64
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5.09 Environmental Compliance
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64
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5.10 Insurance
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64
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5.11 Taxes
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65
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5.12 ERISA Compliance
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65
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5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
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66
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5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act
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66
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5.15 Disclosure
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66
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5.16 Compliance with Laws
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66
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5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number
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67
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ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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67
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6.01 Financial Statements
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67
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6.02 Certificates; Other Information
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68
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6.03 Notices
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69
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6.04 Payment of Taxes, Etc
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70
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6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc
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70
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6.06 Maintenance of Properties
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70
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6.07 Maintenance of Insurance
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70
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6.08 Compliance with Laws
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70
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6.09 Books and Records
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71
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6.10 Inspection Rights
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71
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6.11 Use of Proceeds
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71
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ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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71
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7.01 Liens
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71
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7.02 Reserved
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73
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7.03 Indebtedness
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73
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7.04 Fundamental Changes; Dispositions
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74
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7.05 Reserved
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74
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7.06 Restricted Payments
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74
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7.07 Change in Nature of Business
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74
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7.08 Transactions with Affiliates
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74
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7.09 Burdensome Agreements
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75
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7.10 Use of Proceeds
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75
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7.11 Financial Covenants
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75
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ii
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Section
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Page
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7.12 Unrestricted Subsidiaries
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77
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ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
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78
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8.01 Events of Default
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78
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8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default
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80
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8.03 Application of Funds
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81
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ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
|
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82
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9.01 Appointment and Authority
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82
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9.02 Rights as a Lender
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82
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9.03 Exculpatory Provisions
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82
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent
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83
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9.05 Delegation of Duties
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83
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9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent
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83
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
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84
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9.08 No Other Duties, Etc
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|
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85
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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
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85
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9.10 Collateral Matters
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86
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ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
|
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86
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10.01 Amendments, Etc
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86
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10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
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87
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10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement
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89
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10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
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90
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10.05 Payments Set Aside
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92
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10.06 Successors and Assigns
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93
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10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
|
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97
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10.08 Right of Setoff
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98
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10.09 Interest Rate Limitation
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98
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10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
|
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99
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10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties
|
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99
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10.12 Severability
|
|
|
99
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10.13 Replacement of Lenders
|
|
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99
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10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc
|
|
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100
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10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial
|
|
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101
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10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
|
|
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101
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10.17 No Recourse to Other Persons
|
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102
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10.18 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents
|
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102
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10.19 USA PATRIOT Act
|
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102
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10.20 Time of the Essence
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103
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10.21 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
|
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103
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SIGNATURES
|
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S-1
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iii
SCHEDULES
|
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2.01
|
|
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Commitments and Applicable Percentages
|
|
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5.03
|
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Governmental Authorization; Other Consents
|
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5.06
|
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Litigation
|
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5.07
5.09
|
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No Default
Environmental Matters
|
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5.12
|
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ERISA Matters
|
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5.13
|
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Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments
|
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5.16
|
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Compliance with Laws
|
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10.02
|
|
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Administrative Agents Office; Certain Addresses for Notices; Borrowers U.S.
Taxpayer Number
|
EXHIBITS
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Form of
|
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A
|
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Committed Loan Notice
|
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B
|
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Swing Line Loan Notice
|
|
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C
|
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Committed Loan Note
|
|
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D
|
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Swing Line Note
|
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E
|
|
Compliance Certificate
|
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F-1
|
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Assignment and Assumption
|
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F-2
|
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Administrative Questionnaire
|
iv
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (
Agreement
) is entered into as of April 7, 2010, among PAA
NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Borrower
), each lender
from time to time party hereto (collectively, the
Lenders
and individually, a
Lender
), DNB NOR BANK ASA, as Syndication Agent, WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, AND CITIBANK, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the
Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms
. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
Acquired Indebtedness
means, as to any Person, Indebtedness of a Person acquired in
an acquisition, whether in the acquisition of a Person, of assets or otherwise, in each case,
existing at the time of such acquisition and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition.
Acquisition Period
means the period beginning, at the election of the Borrower, with
the funding date of the purchase price for a Specified Acquisition and ending on the earliest of
(a) the third following fiscal quarter end, (b) Borrowers receipt of proceeds of a Specified
Equity Offering; and (c) Borrowers election in writing to terminate such Acquisition Period
(
provided
, at the time of such election of such Acquisition Period, the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio shall not, on a pro forma basis, exceed 4.75 to 1.00);
provided
,
however
, if the Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds 4.75 to 1.00 at the end of the fiscal
quarter ending next following such funding date, then the Acquisition Period shall be deemed to
have commenced as of such funding date;
provided
,
further
, during any Acquisition
Period, no additional Acquisition Period shall commence, nor shall such Acquisition Period be
extended, by any subsequent Specified Acquisition until the current Acquisition Period shall have
expired and Borrower shall be in compliance with
Section 7.11(b)(ii)
.
Administrative Agent
means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent
under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with
Section 9.06
.
Administrative Agents Office
means the Administrative Agents address and, as
appropriate, account as set forth on
Schedule 10.02
, or such other address or account as
the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders pursuant to
Section 10.02
.
1
Administrative Questionnaire
means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially
the form of
Exhibit F-2
or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate
means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common
Control with the Person specified.
Aggregate Commitments
means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial
Aggregate Commitments as of the Closing Date are $400,000,000.
Agreement
means this Credit Agreement.
Applicable Percentage
means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lenders
Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 2.18
. If the
commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit
Extensions have been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02
or if the Aggregate Commitments
have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the
Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent
assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of
such Lender on
Schedule 2.01
or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such
Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
Applicable Rate
means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based
upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate
received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 6.02(b)
:
Applicable Rate
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Eurodollar
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Rate +
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Pricing
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Consolidated
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Commitment
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Letters of
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Base Rate
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Level
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Leverage Ratio
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Fee
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Credit
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+
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1
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<2.50:1
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0.350
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%
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2.250
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%
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1.250
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%
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2
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≥2.50:1 but <3.50:1
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0.400
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%
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2.500
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%
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1.500
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%
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3
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≥3.50:1 but <4.50:1
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0.500
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%
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2.750
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%
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1.750
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%
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4
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≥4.50:1
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0.625
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%
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3.250
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%
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2.250
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%
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Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a
Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to
Section 6.02(b)
;
provided
,
however
, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such
Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 4 shall apply as of the
first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been
delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is
delivered. Subject to the foregoing, the Applicable Rate in effect from the IPO Closing Date
through the first date on which a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to
Section
6.02(b)
2
shall be determined based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio set forth in the
certificate to be delivered on the IPO Closing Date pursuant to
Section 4.02(a)
.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of
the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of
Section 2.11(b)
.
Approved Fund
means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
Arrangers
means each of BAS and DnB, in its capacity as co-lead arranger and joint
book manager.
Assignee Group
means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one
another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
Assignment and Assumption
means an assignment and assumption entered into by a
Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section 10.06(b)
), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of
Exhibit F-1
or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Attributable Indebtedness
means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of
any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease
Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that
would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if
such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease.
Audited Financial Statements
means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower (or its predecessor) and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and
the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders equity and cash flows
for such fiscal year of the Borrower (or its predecessor) and its Subsidiaries, including the notes
thereto.
Availability Period
means the period from and including the IPO Closing Date to the
earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments
pursuant to
Section 2.07
, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender
to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to
Section 8.02
.
Bank of America
means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
BAS
means Banc of America Securities LLC and its successors.
Base Rate
means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the
highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of
interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its
prime rate, and (c) the Eurodollar Rate in effect on such day as determined pursuant to clause
(b) of the definition
3
thereof plus 1.00%. The prime rate is a rate set by Bank of America based
upon various factors including Bank of Americas costs and desired return, general economic
conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be
priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of
America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public
announcement of such change.
Base Rate Committed Loan
means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
Base Rate Loan
means (i) a Committed Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate
or (ii) a Swing Line Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
Bluewater
means Bluewater Natural Gas Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
Bluewater Storage Facility
means the natural gas storage facility owned by Bluewater
and located in St. Clair County, Michigan, which facility includes certain buildings, equipment,
compressors, structures and pipelines located on a substantially depleted reservoir known as the
Columbus III Reservoir.
Borrower
has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Borrower Materials
has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02
.
Borrowing
means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may
require.
Business Day
means (a) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state
where the Administrative Agents Office is located and (b) if such day relates to any Eurodollar
Rate Loan, means any such day that satisfies clause (a) hereof that is also a London Banking Day.
Capital Lease
means a lease with respect to which the lessee is required
concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in
accordance with GAAP.
Cash and Carry Purchases
means purchases of Petroleum Products for physical storage
or in storage or in transit in pipelines which has been hedged by either a NYMEX contract, an OTC
contract, an Intercontinental Exchange contract, or a contract for physical delivery.
Cash Collateralize
means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative
Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as
collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations of
Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or
deposit account balances or, if the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender benefitting from such
collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to
documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b)
the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable). Cash Collateral shall have a
4
meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other
credit support.
Change in Law
means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the
following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change
in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
Change of Control
means an event or series of events by which PAA or its Affiliates
cease to be, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of a majority of the outstanding general
partnership interests in the Borrower, or cease to control, directly or indirectly, the election of
a majority of the directors of the General Partner.
Closing Date
means the first date on which all the conditions precedent in
Section 4.01
are satisfied or waived in accordance with
Section 10.01
.
Code
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commitment
means, (a) as to each Lender other than the Swing Line Lender, such
Lenders obligation to (i) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01
,
(ii) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (iii) purchase participations in Swing Line
Loans and (b) as to the Swing Line Lender, its obligation to make Swing Line Loans to the Borrower
pursuant to
Section 2.05
; in each case, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lenders name on
Schedule
2.01
, as such amount may from time to time be increased pursuant to
Section 2.16
or
decreased pursuant to
Section 2.07
, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which
such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time
in accordance with this Agreement.
Committed Borrowing
means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of
the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, having the same Interest Period
made by each of the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.01
.
Committed Loan
has the meaning specified in
Section 2.01
.
Committed Loan Note
means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a
Lender evidencing Committed Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit C
.
Committed Loan Notice
means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion
of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loans, pursuant to
Section 2.02(a)
, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the
form of
Exhibit A
.
Compliance Certificate
means a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit
E
.
5
Consolidated EBITDA
means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on
a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries), an amount
equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period
plus
(a) the following to the extent
deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges and other
interest charges and expenses for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and
foreign income taxes (or franchise taxes, to the extent based upon net income) payable by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries)
for such period, (iii) depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, (iv) costs or expenses
resulting from distributions or redemptions of the Borrowers units issued pursuant to the
Borrowers long-term incentive plan and (v) other non-recurring expenses of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) reducing such
Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period and
minus
(b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:
(i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) for such period and (ii) all
non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period;
provided
, that, only for
purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set forth in
Section 7.11
,
if, since the beginning of the period ending on the date for which Consolidated EBITDA is
determined, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) shall have made any asset Disposition or acquisition, shall have consolidated or
merged with or into any Person (other than Borrower or another Subsidiary), or shall have made any
Disposition or acquisition of a Restricted Person or of any partial ownership interest in any other
Person, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto as if the
Disposition, acquisition, consolidation or merger had occurred on the first day of such period, and
such calculation shall be determined (i) in good faith by a financial officer of the Borrower and
(ii) without giving effect to any anticipated or proposed change in operations, revenues, expenses
or other items included in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA, except cost reductions
specifically identified at the time of Disposition, acquisition, consolidation or merger that are
attributable to personnel reductions, non-recurring maintenance and environmental costs and
allocated corporate overhead. The Borrower shall deliver on or prior to the last day of any fiscal
quarter for which the Borrower desires to include such adjustments, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and certified by a financial officer of the
Borrower, written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such
adjustments, and such other related information and documentation reasonably requested by and
reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent in all respects.
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness
means, as of any date of determination, for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
Unrestricted Subsidiaries), the sum of (without duplication): (i) the outstanding principal
amount of all Indebtedness which is classified as long-term indebtedness on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the
avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP
(subject to year-end audit adjustments with respect to non-year end periods) and any current
maturities and other principal amount in respect of such Indebtedness due within one year but which
was classified as long-term indebtedness at the creation thereof; (ii) the outstanding principal
amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) outstanding
6
under a revolving credit, term or similar agreement (and renewals and extensions thereof); and (iii) the
outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries);
provided
,
however
, Consolidated Funded Indebtedness shall not, if
otherwise applicable, include (x) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, (y) Indebtedness
incurred to finance Cash and Carry Purchases or (z) margin deposits.
Consolidated Interest Charges
means, for any period, for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries), the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and
related expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
Unrestricted Subsidiaries) in connection with borrowed money or in connection with the deferred
purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP,
and (b) the portion of rent expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the
avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) with respect to such period under Capital Leases
that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, the calculation of
Consolidated Interest Charges shall not include any interest, premium payments, debt discount,
fees, charges, related expenses and rent expense that are capitalized in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio
means, as of any date of determination, the
ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period
to
(b) Consolidated Interest Charges for such
period.
Consolidated Leverage Ratio
means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a)
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date
to
(b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period, as
Consolidated EBITDA may be adjusted pursuant to
Section 7.11(b)
.
Consolidated Net Income
means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries), the net
income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) for that period (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses).
Consolidated Net Income shall not include (i) any gain or loss from the sale of assets other than
in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) any non-cash gains or losses resulting from mark to
market activity as a result of the implementation of SFAS 133 or EITF 98-10. In addition,
Consolidated Net Income shall not include the cost or proceeds of purchasing or selling
options which are used to hedge future activity, until the period in which such hedged future
activity occurs.
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth
means, as of any date of determination, for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
Unrestricted Subsidiaries), Shareholders Equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding,
for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) on that date
minus
the Intangible Assets of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) on that date.
7
Contractual Obligation
means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued
by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party
or by which it or any of its property is bound.
Control
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to
exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.
Controlling
and
Controlled
have meanings correlative thereto.
Credit Extension
means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit
Extension.
Debtor Relief Laws
means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the
rights of creditors generally.
Default
means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that,
with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Default Rate
means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of
Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate
plus
(ii) the Applicable Rate, if
any, applicable to Base Rate Loans
plus
(iii) 2% per annum;
provided
,
however
, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest
rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan
plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the
Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.
Default Rate Period
means (a) any period during which an Event of Default, other
than pursuant to
Section 8.01(a)
, is continuing, provided that such period shall not begin
until notice of the commencement of the Default Rate has been given to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent upon the instruction by the Required Lenders and (b) any period during which
any Event of Default pursuant to
Sections 8.01(a)
is continuing unless the Borrower has
been notified otherwise by the Administrative Agent upon the instruction by the Required Lenders.
Defaulting Lender
means, subject to
Section 2.18(b)
, any Lender that, as
determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations
hereunder in respect of its Loans or participations in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line
Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has
notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its
funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding
obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has
failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a
manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations,
or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator,
assignee for
8
the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation
of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or
indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment;
provided
that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership
or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company
thereof by a Governmental Authority.
Disposition
or
Dispose
means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other
disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including
any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or
accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
DnB
means DnB NOR Bank ASA and its successors.
Dollar
and
$
mean lawful money of the United States.
Eligible Assignee
means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee
under
Section 10.06(b)(iii)
, and
(v)
(subject to such consents, if any, as may be
required under
Section 10.06(b)(iii)
).
Environmental Laws
means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the
protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those
related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
Environmental Liability
means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any
liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the
Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly
resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use,
handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure
to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into
the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to
which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
Equity Interests
means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital
stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or
other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or
other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, and all of the other ownership or profit
interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting
or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are
outstanding on any date of determination, excluding, however, all debt securities convertible into
or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such
Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such
shares (or such other interests).
ERISA
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
9
ERISA Affiliate
means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under
common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and
Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the
Code).
ERISA Event
means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the
withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of
ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a substantial employer as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under
Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization;
(d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan
amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan
in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or
Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA,
other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate.
Eurodollar Rate
means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal
to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (
BBA LIBOR
), as published by Reuters
(or such other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as may be designated
by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London
Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery
on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to
such Interest Period or, (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the
rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars
for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount
of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such
Interest Period would be offered by Bank of Americas London Branch to major banks in the London
interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London
Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and
(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per
annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two London
Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market
for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such
time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at
which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the
approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equal
to one month would be offered by Bank of Americas London Branch to major banks in the London
interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.
10
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan
means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate
based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurodollar Rate.
Eurodollar Rate Loan
means (i) a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or (ii) a Swing Line
Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.
Event of Default
has the meaning specified in
Section 8.01
.
Excluded Taxes
means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C
Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the
Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income or net profits
(however denominated), and franchise taxes or capital taxes imposed on it (in lieu of or in
addition to net income or net profits taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision
thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is
located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any
branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by
the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender, and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender
(other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under
Section 10.13
), any
United States withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign
Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or
designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor,
if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to
receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to
Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c)
, or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lenders failure or
inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of
Section
3.01(e)(ii)
.
FASB ASC
means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board.
Federal Funds Rate
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the
weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day;
provided
that (a) if such
day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business
Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole
multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined
by the Administrative Agent.
Fee Letters
means each of the letter agreements dated February 23, 2010 (i) among
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and BAS, and (ii) between the Borrower and DnB.
Foreign Lender
means any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction
other than the United States (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C
11
Issuer). For purposes of this definition, the term United States shall include the United
States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia.
FRB
means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fronting Exposure
means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect
to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C
Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation
obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the
terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable
Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lenders
participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance
with the terms hereof.
Fund
means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in
the ordinary course of its business.
GAAP
means those generally accepted accounting principles and practices which are
recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any generally recognized
successor) and which, in the case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are
applied for all periods after the date hereof in a manner consistent with the manner in which such
principles and practices were applied to the Audited Financial Statements.
General Partner
means PNGS GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its
capacity as the sole general partner of the Borrower.
Governmental Authority
means the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to
government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
Guarantee
means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation payable or performable by another Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of
assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or
performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other
obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in
respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to
12
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any
assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or
not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or
otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any
Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related
primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not
stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term Guarantee as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
Hazardous Materials
means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all
hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum
distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas,
infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to
any Environmental Law.
Indebtedness
means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all
of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
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(a)
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its obligations for the repayment of borrowed money,
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(b)
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its obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services
(excluding trade account payables arising in the ordinary course of business), other than
contingent purchase price or similar obligations incurred in connection with an
acquisition and not yet earned or determinable,
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(c)
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its obligations evidenced by a bond, debenture, note or similar instrument,
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(d)
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its obligations, as lessee, constituting principal under Capital Leases,
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(e)
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its direct or contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to the face amount
of letters of credit pursuant to the applications or reimbursement agreements therefor,
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(f)
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its obligations for the repayment of outstanding bankers acceptances, whether
matured or unmatured,
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(g)
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Synthetic Lease Obligations, or
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(h)
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its obligations under guaranties of any obligations of any other Person described
in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g).
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For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any
partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited
liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the
extent that such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any
Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of
Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.
13
Indemnified Taxes
means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
Indemnitees
has the meaning specified in
Section 10.04(b)
.
Information
has the meaning specified in
Section 10.07
.
Initial Pro Forma Financial Statements
means the
pro forma
financial projections and
forecasts prepared by or at the direction of the Borrower and delivered by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent for the second half of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 and for the
fiscal years ending December 31, 2011, December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2013, in each case,
including adjustments for scheduled commencement of commercial operations for Pine Prairie Storage
Facility caverns #3, #4 and #5.
Intangible Assets
means assets that are considered to be intangible assets under
GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software, copyrights, trade names, trademarks,
patents, franchises, licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt discount and
capitalized research and development costs.
Interest Payment Date
means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the
last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date;
provided
,
however
, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective
dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be
Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last
Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
Interest Period
means as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the
date of such Borrowing or the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is converted to or continued as a
Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date seven days, fourteen days, one month, two months, three
months or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice or such
other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the
Lenders;
provided
that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest
Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Rate Loan that begins on the last
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the
last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
IPO Closing Date
means the date on which the Borrower consummates its initial public
offering as contemplated by and pursuant to the Registration Statement, and all conditions
precedent to the initial Credit Extension under
Section 4.02
have been satisfied or waived
in accordance with
Section 10.01
.
14
IRS
means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
ISP
means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the International Standby
Practices 1998 published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such
later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
Issuer Documents
means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit
Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and
the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of
Credit.
Laws
means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local
statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or
judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and
all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not
having the force of law.
L/C Advance
means, with respect to each Lender, such Lenders funding of its
participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
L/C Borrowing
means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter
of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date as required pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)
or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.
L/C Credit Extension
means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance
thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
L/C Issuer
means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit
hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
L/C Obligations
means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount
available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit
plus
the aggregate of all
Unreimbursed Amounts, including (without duplication) all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of
computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of
Credit shall be determined in accordance with
Section 1.06
. For all purposes of this
Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any
amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding in the amount so remaining available to be
drawn.
Lender
has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the
context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.
Lender Parties
means the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and all Lenders.
Lending Office
means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender
described as such in such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a
15
Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in accordance
with the terms hereof.
Letter of Credit
means any letter of credit issued at the request of the Borrower
hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.
Letter of Credit Application
means an application and agreement for the issuance or
amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
Letter of Credit Expiration Date
means the day that is seven days prior to the
Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business
Day).
Letter of Credit Fee
has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(h)
.
Letter of Credit Sublimit
means an amount equal to the Aggregate Commitments. The
Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
Lien
means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest
or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or
other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Loan
means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under
Article
II
in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
Loan Documents
means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement
creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2.17
of this Agreement, Fee Letters and any guaranty of the Obligations delivered in connection
herewith.
Loan Party
means each of (i) the Borrower and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower
that, at such time, is obligated under or pursuant to a guaranty of the Obligations.
London Banking Day
means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted
by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
Material Adverse Effect
means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material
adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or
contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole; (b) a material impairment (i) of the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender under any Loan Document, determined without regard to any event, circumstance or the like
that exists or may exist solely by reason of any actions, operations, activities or status of any
Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be; or (ii) of the ability of the Borrower to
perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse
effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against Borrower of any
material terms of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
16
Maturity Date
means such date that is three years from the IPO Closing Date;
provided
,
however
, that if such date does not satisfy clause (a) of the definition
of Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
Multiemployer Plan
means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make
contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
Multiple Employer Plan
means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors
(including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control
at such times and meeting the requirements of such a plan as described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
Notes
means, collectively, the Committed Loan Notes and the Swing Line Note.
Obligations
means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants
and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan
or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and
fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates of
any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding,
regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
Organization Documents
means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate
or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents
with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the
certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect
to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint
venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument,
filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with
the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if
applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
Other Taxes
means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Outstanding Amount
means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on
any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings
and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be,
occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of
such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such
date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as
17
of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed
Amounts.
PAA
means Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
Participant
has the meaning specified in
Section 10.06(d)
.
PBGC
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Pension Act
means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
Pension Funding Rules
means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum
required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth
in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412
of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter,
Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
Pension Plan
means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer
Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA
Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards
under Section 412 of the Code.
Person
means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Petroleum Products
means crude oil, condensate, natural gas, natural gas liquids
(NGLs), liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs), refined petroleum products or any blend thereof.
Pine Prairie
means Pine Prairie Energy Center, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
Pine Prairie Lease
means, collectively, that certain Agreement to Lease With Option
to Purchase, dated as of May 1, 2006, and that certain Conveyance and Lease Addendum No. 1, dated
as of November 12, 2007, each by and between Industrial Revenue Board No. 1 of the Parish of
Louisiana, Inc. and Pine Prairie.
Pine Prairie Storage Facility
means the natural gas storage facility owned by Pine
Prairie and located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, which facility includes certain buildings,
equipment, compressors, structures and pipelines located on a salt-dome storage cavern.
Plan
means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA
(including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any
such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any
of its employees.
Platform
has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02
.
Pre-IPO Commitment Termination Date
means September 30, 2010.
18
Principal Property
means, whether owned or leased on the date hereof or hereafter
acquired:
(a) any Storage Facility, including all storage caverns and reservoirs, injection, compression
and production wells, injection and withdrawal sites and facilities, transportation and gathering
pipelines, treating and processing plants and facilities, compressors and compression units, and
other facilities, equipment and other assets owned or leased by Borrower and its Subsidiaries
employed in the injection, storage, withdrawal, transportation, gathering, terminalling, treating,
processing, distribution, transportation and marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude
oil and refined petroleum products;
(b) all rights, titles, interests and estates in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and
mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous Hydrocarbon leases, and mineral fee interests associated
with the foregoing; and
(c) all volumes of natural gas stored at any Storage Facility required to remain in such
Storage Facility (base gas) in order to provide necessary pressurization sufficient to extract
(i) all third-party natural gas stored therein (third-party gas) and (ii) any other volumes of
natural gas owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and stored in such Storage Facility
(working gas). For the avoidance of doubt, Principal Property shall not include third-party
gas or working gas;
except, in the case of either clause (a) or (b): (i) any such assets consisting of inventories,
furniture, office fixtures and equipment, including data processing equipment, vehicles and
equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles, and (ii) any such asset, plant or terminal (other than
the Bluewater Storage Facility or the Pine Prairie Storage Facility) which, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, is not material in relation to the activities of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Public Lender
has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02
.
Register
has the meaning specified in
Section 10.06(c)
.
Registration Statement
means the Borrowers Form S-1 Registration Statement filed
January 25, 2010 with the SEC, including exhibits thereto, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form
S-1 Registration Statement filed March 3, 2010 with the SEC, and Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1
Registration Statement filed April 2, 2010 with the SEC, as may be further amended, supplemented or
restated.
Related Parties
means, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such
Persons Affiliates.
Reportable Event
means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA,
other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
Request for Credit Extension
means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or
continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit
19
Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing
Line Loan Notice.
Required Lenders
means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than
50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the
obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02
, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings
(with the aggregate amount of each Lenders risk participation and funded participation in L/C
Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed held by such Lender for purposes of this
definition);
provided
that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings
held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a
determination of Required Lenders.
Responsible Officer
means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial
officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, or any general partner
thereof or any general partner of any such general partner or any sole member thereof, as the case
may be, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates and other certificates in
respect of certain documents to be attached thereto pursuant to
Sections 2.16
,
4.01
and
4.02
, the secretary or any assistant secretary of such Loan Party, or any general
partner thereof or any general partner of any such general partner or any sole member thereof, as
the case may be, and solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to
Article II
, any other
officer or employee of the Borrower, or any general partner thereof or any general partner of any
such general partner or any sole member thereof, as the case may be, designated by any of the
foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that
is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party, or any general partner thereof or any general
partner of any such general partner or any sole member thereof, as the case may be, shall be
conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership or other
equivalent action on the part of such Loan Party, and such Responsible Officer shall be
conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
Restricted Payment
means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash or
other property, but excluding dividends or other distributions payable in Equity Interests in the
Borrower) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower, or any payment (whether in cash or
other property, but excluding dividends or other distributions payable in Equity Interests in the
Borrower), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption,
retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination for value of any Equity Interest, or on
account of any return of capital to the Borrowers stockholders, partners or members (or the
equivalent Person thereof).
Restricted Person
means any of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower,
including but not limited to Bluewater and Pine Prairie, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Restriction Exception
means (a) any applicable Law or any instrument governing
Indebtedness or Equity Interests, or any applicable Law or any other agreement relating to any
property, assets or operations of a Person whose Equity Interests are acquired, in whole or part,
by a Restricted Person pursuant to an acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation,
20
amalgamation or otherwise), as such instrument or agreement is in effect at the time of such
acquisition (except with respect to Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation
of, such acquisition), or such applicable Law is then or thereafter in effect (as applicable),
which is not applicable to the acquiring Restricted Person, or the property, assets or operations
of the acquiring Restricted Person, other than the acquired Person, or the property, assets or
operations of such acquired Person or such acquired Persons Subsidiaries;
provided
that in
the case of Indebtedness, the incurrence of such Indebtedness is not prohibited hereunder, (b)
provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets in joint venture agreements or
other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) (i) a lease, license
or similar contract, which restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment, encumbrance
or transfer of any property or asset that is subject thereto or the assignment, encumbrance or
transfer of any such lease, license or other contract, (ii) mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges or
other security instruments, the entry into which does not result in a Default, securing
Indebtedness of a Restricted Person, which restricts the transfer of the property subject to such
mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges or other security instruments, or (iii) customary provisions
restricting disposition of, or encumbrances on, real property interests set forth in any reciprocal
easements of any Restricted Person, (d) restrictions imposed pursuant to this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, (e) restrictions on the transfer or encumbrance of property or assets which
are imposed by the holder of Liens on property or assets of a Restricted Person,
provided
that neither the incurrence of such Lien nor any related Indebtedness results in a Default, (f) any
agreement to, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise dispose of assets or Equity Interests to
any Person pending the closing of such sale,
provided
that such sale is consummated in
compliance with any applicable provisions of this Agreement, (g) net worth provisions in leases and
other agreements entered into by any Restricted Person in the ordinary course of business, and (h)
an agreement governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance the Indebtedness issued, assumed or
incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clauses (d) and (e) above;
provided
,
however
, that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in any
such Indebtedness are no less favorable to the such Restricted Person in any material respect as
determined by the Board in its reasonable and good faith judgment than the provisions relating to
such encumbrance or restriction contained in agreements referred to in such clauses (d) and (e).
SEC
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Shareholders Equity
means, as of any date of determination, consolidated
shareholders equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance
with GAAP.
Significant Restricted Persons
means the Borrower, Bluewater, Pine Prairie, and each
other subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries) that would be a
significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933, each as amended.
Specified Acquisition
means one or more acquisitions of assets or entities or
operating lines or divisions in any rolling 12-month period for an aggregate purchase price of not
less than $50,000,000.
21
Specified Equity Offering
means one or more issuances of equity by the Borrower for
aggregate net cash proceeds of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate purchase price of
the Specified Acquisition.
Storage Facilities
means each of the Bluewater Storage Facility, the Pine Prairie
Storage Facility and any other gas storage facility from time to time owned by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
Subsidiary
of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other
interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other
than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency)
are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person;
provided
,
however
, that no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Subsidiary of any
Restricted Person for purposes of any Loan Document except as provided in
Section 7.12
hereof. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Subsidiary or to Subsidiaries
shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
Swap Contract
means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit
derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward
commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index
swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest
rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options,
spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing
(including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is
governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and
the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any
form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.,
any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master
agreement, together with any related schedules, a
Master Agreement
), including any such
obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
Swap Termination Value
means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after
taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap
Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and
termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any
date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market
value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily
available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a
Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
Swing Line Borrowing
means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to
Section
2.05
.
22
Swing Line Lender
means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line
Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
Swing Line Loan
has the meaning specified in
Section 2.05(a)
.
Swing Line Loan Notice
means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to
Section 2.05(b)
, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit
B
.
Swing Line Note
means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swing
Line Lender evidencing Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D
.
Swing Line Sublimit
means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $20,000,000 and (b)
the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the
Aggregate Commitments.
Synthetic Lease Obligation
means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a
so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or
possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person
but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the
indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
Taxes
means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any
Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Threshold Amount
means $20,000,000.
Total Outstandings
means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C
Obligations.
Type
means with respect to a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan, its character as a
Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
United States
and
U.S.
mean the United States of America.
Unreimbursed Amount
has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(c)(i)
.
Unrestricted Subsidiary
has the meaning specified in
Section 7.12
.
Working Capital Borrowing
has the meaning specified in
Section 2.02(a)
.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions
. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan
Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The word
or
is not exclusive and the
23
words
include
,
includes
and
including
shall be deemed to be
followed by the phrase without limitation. The word
will
shall be construed to have
the same meaning and effect as the word
shall
. Unless the context requires otherwise,
(i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any
Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other
document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan
Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons
successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words
hereto
,
herein
,
hereof
and
hereunder
, and words of similar import when used in any Loan
Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any
particular provision thereof, unless expressly so limited, (iv) all references in a Loan Document
to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections
of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any
reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending,
replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless
otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time
to time, and (vi) the words
asset
and
property
shall be construed to have the
same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the
word
from
means
from and including
; the words
to
and
until
each mean
to but excluding
; and the word
through
means
to and
including
.
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms
.
(a)
Generally
. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein
shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other
financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in
conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a
manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements,
except
as
otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b)
Changes in GAAP
. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation
of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or
the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall
negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof
in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders);
provided
that
, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the
Administrative Agent financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as
reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between
24
calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change
in GAAP.
1.04 Rounding
. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to
this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component,
carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed
herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no
nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day
. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be
references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts
. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of
Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at
such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the
terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the
stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated
amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such
maximum stated amount is in effect at such time;
provided
,
further
, that with
respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related
thereto, provides for one or more automatic reductions in the stated amount thereof, the amount of
such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit at such time.
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Committed Loans
. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender
severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a
Committed Loan
) to the Borrower from
time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to
exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lenders Commitment;
provided
,
however
, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the
Committed Loans of any Lender,
plus
such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding
Amount of all L/C Obligations,
plus
such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding
Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lenders Commitment. Within the limits of
each Lenders Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may
borrow under this
Section 2.01
, prepay under
Section 2.06
, and reborrow under this
Section 2.01
. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further
provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans
.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other,
and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be made upon the Borrowers
irrevocable (subject to
Section 3.03
) notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be
given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any
25
Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or of any
conversion of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the
requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans;
provided
,
however
,
that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans having an Interest Period
other than seven days, fourteen days, one month, two months, three months or six months in duration
as provided in the definition of Interest Period, the applicable notice must be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of
such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent (x) shall give
prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is
acceptable to all of them and (y) not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the
requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, shall notify the Borrower (which
notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by
all the Lenders;
provided
,
further
, if any requested Committed Borrowing or portion
thereof is to be utilized exclusively for working capital purposes (such Committed Borrowing or
such portion being called a
Working Capital Borrowing
), the Borrower shall specify in the
Committed Loan Notice that such Committed Borrowing or such portion is a Working Capital Borrowing.
In addition, any repayment of a Loan that is intended as a repayment of all or any part of the
outstanding amount of one or more Working Capital Borrowings shall be so identified to the
Administrative Agent at the time of such repayment. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower
pursuant to this
Section 2.02(a)
must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the
Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$100,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in
Sections 2.04(c)
and
2.05(c)
,
each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether
telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing,
a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate
Committed Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case
may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be
borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which
existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest
Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a
Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or
continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate
Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of
the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans.
If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate
Committed Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will
be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans,
and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base
Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each
Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to
26
the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agents Office
not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.
Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in
Section 4.02
(and, if such
Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension,
Section 4.01
), the Administrative Agent shall
make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the
Administrative Agent, at the Borrowers election, either by (i) crediting the account of the
Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of
such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to the Administrative Agent by
the Borrower as set forth in the Committed Loan Notice;
provided
,
however
, that if,
on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower,
there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing,
first
, shall be
applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and
second
, shall be made
available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan may be continued or
converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan. Upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as,
converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans without the consent of the Required
Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans upon
determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of Americas
prime rate used in determining the Base Rate and the effective date thereof promptly following the
public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from
one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not
be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
2.03 Reserved
.
2.04 Letters of Credit
.
(a)
The Letter of Credit Commitment
.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in
reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this
Section 2.04
, (1) from
time to time on any Business Day during the period from the IPO Closing Date until the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the
Borrower, for its use and the use of any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters
of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor
drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in
Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower, for its use and the use of any of
its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder;
provided
that after giving effect to
any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total
27
Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding
Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender,
plus
such Lenders Applicable
Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations,
plus
such Lenders
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed
such Lenders Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not
exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or
amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that
the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso
to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Borrowers ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully
revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of
Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and
reimbursed.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) subject to
Section 2.04(b)(iii)
, the expiry date of the requested
Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or
last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry
date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator
shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing the
Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority
with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer
refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in
particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit
any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not
otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose
upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable
on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of
the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
provided
that,
upon request of the Borrower, the L/C Issuer shall provide to the Borrower a
reasonably detailed description thereof;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer,
the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000;
28
(D) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;
(E) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has
entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory
to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to
eliminate the L/C Issuers Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to
Section
2.18(a)(iv
)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the
Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other
L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in
its sole discretion; or
(F) the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of
the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be
permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms
hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A)
the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its
amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not
accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of
Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have
all of the benefits and immunities (A) to the extent provided to the Administrative Agent in
Article IX
with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in
connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer
Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term Administrative
Agent as used in
Article IX
included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or
omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b)
Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of
Credit
.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the
request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by
a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received
by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two
Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer
may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance
date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial
issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and
detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date
29
of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount
thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof;
(E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F)
the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing
thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other
matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment
of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form
and detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended;
(B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature
of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably
require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative
Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit
issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the
Administrative Agent may reasonably require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will
confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative
Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if
not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the
L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender (who hereby agrees to provide
contemporaneous notice to the Borrower), the Administrative Agent (who hereby agrees to
provide contemporaneous notice to the Borrower) or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day
prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit,
that one or more applicable conditions contained in
Article IV
shall not then be
satisfied, specifying in reasonable detail the relevant condition or conditions not then
satisfied, and the basis for such assertion, and such condition or conditions, as
applicable, remain unsatisfied on such requested date of issuance or amendment, then,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date,
issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or
enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the
L/C Issuers usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each
Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an
amount equal to the product of such Lenders Applicable Percentage
times
the amount
of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the
L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that
has automatic extension provisions (each, an
Auto-Extension Letter of Credit
);
provided
that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to
prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the
date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving written prior notice to the beneficiary
thereof not later than a day (the
Non-Extension Notice Date
) in each such
twelve-month period to be agreed upon between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer at the time
such Letter of Credit is issued. The L/C Issuer of any Auto-Extension Letter of Credit
hereby agrees to contemporaneously furnish to the Borrower a copy of any denial of the
extension of such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit. Unless otherwise directed by
30
the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the
L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued,
the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to
permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than
the Letter of Credit Expiration Date;
provided
,
however
, that the L/C Issuer
shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not
be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in
its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause
(ii) or (iii) of
Section 2.04(a)
or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which
may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before
the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent (who hereby agrees to
provide contemporaneous notice to the Borrower) that the Required Lenders have elected not
to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent (who hereby agrees to provide
contemporaneous notice to the Borrower), any Lender (who hereby agrees to provide
contemporaneous notice to the Borrower) or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable
conditions specified in
Section 4.03
is not then satisfied, specifying in reasonable
detail the relevant condition or conditions not then satisfied, and such condition or
conditions, as applicable, are unsatisfied on such extension date, and the basis for such
assertion, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter
of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C
Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete
copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c)
Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations
.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a
drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent thereof. If the L/C Issuer shall give notice to the Borrower prior to
11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by such L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such
date, an
Honor Date
), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the
Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing (and if the L/C Issuer
shall give notice to the Borrower at or after such time, the Borrower shall reimburse the
L/C Issuer by such time on the following Business Day). If the Borrower fails to so
reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the
Unreimbursed
Amount
), and the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event,
the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to
be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard
to the minimum and multiples specified in
Section 2.02
for the principal amount of
Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate
Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.03
(other than the delivery of
a Committed Loan Notice and without giving effect to the Borrowers failure to so reimburse
the L/C Issuer as provided in this
Section 2.04(c)(i)
). Any notice given by the L/C
Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to
31
this
Section 2.04(c)(i)
may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in
writing;
provided
that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect
the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender shall, upon any notice pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)(i)
prior to
11:00 a.m., make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral
provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agents
Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later
than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent
(and, if such notice pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)(i)
is at or after 11:00 a.m., each
such Lender shall make such funds available not later than 1:00 p.m. on the following
Business Day), whereupon, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.04(c)(iii)
, each
Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan
to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received
to the L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a
Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in
Section
4.03
(other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice and without giving effect to
the Borrowers failure to reimburse the L/C Issuer as provided in
Section
2.04(c)(i)
) cannot be satisfied because the L/C Issuers notice pursuant to
Section
2.04(c)(i)
is at or after 11:00 a.m. or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be
deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the
Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable
on the second Business Day following the corresponding Honor Date (together with interest)
and shall bear interest on the amount thereof from time to time outstanding at the Base Rate
in effect from time to time, and if not repaid by 11:00 a.m. on such second succeeding
Business Day, shall thereafter bear interest on the amount thereof from time to time
outstanding at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lenders payment to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)(ii)
shall be
deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an
L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this
Section 2.04
.
(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.04(c)
to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of
Credit, interest in respect of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be
solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lenders obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the
L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this
Section
2.04(c)
, shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right
which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any
reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other
occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided
,
however
, that each Lenders obligation to make Committed Loans
pursuant to this
Section 2.04(c)
is subject to the conditions set forth in
Section 4.03
(other than delivery
32
by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice and without giving effect to the Borrowers
failure to so reimburse the L/C Issuer as provided in this
Section 2.04(c)(i)
). No
such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the
Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer
under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this
Section 2.04(c)
by the time specified in
Section
2.04(c)(ii)
, then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C
Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative
Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such
payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C
Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate
determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the
L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest
and fees as aforesaid), the portion thereof equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of
the Unreimbursed Amount shall constitute such Lenders Committed Loan included in the
relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the
case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
(d)
Repayment of Participations
.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and
has received from any Lender such Lenders L/C Advance in respect of such payment in
accordance with
Section 2.04(c)
, if the Administrative Agent receives for the
account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or
interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of
Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will
distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the
case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lenders L/C
Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C
Issuer pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)(i)
is required to be returned under any of the
circumstances described in
Section 10.05
(including pursuant to any settlement
entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on
demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to
the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal
Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause
shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
33
(e)
Obligations Absolute
. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer
for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or
any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the
Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of
such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee
may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement
or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any
statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the
transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such
Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of
a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person
purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of
creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary
or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or
(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of
the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto
that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrowers
instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer and the L/C
Issuer will correct such claim in conformity with the Borrowers instructions or as otherwise
agreed between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer, subject to the terms hereof. The Borrower shall be
conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents
unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f)
Role of L/C Issuer
. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any
drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any
document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter
of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the
authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant
34
or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or
omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required
Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any
document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby
assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use
of any Letter of Credit;
provided
,
however
, that this assumption is not intended
to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against
the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or
assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in
clauses (i) through (v) of
Section 2.04(e)
;
provided
,
however
, that
anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the
L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the
extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower
which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuers willful misconduct, gross negligence or
the material breach of any of its obligations hereunder or under any Issuer Document or under any
Letter of Credit issued on the Borrowers behalf or the L/C Issuers willful failure to pay under
any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and
certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear
on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any
notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity
or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a
Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part,
which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(g)
Applicability of ISP and UCP
. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer
and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each
standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of
issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.
(h)
Letter of Credit Fees
. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the
Letter of Credit Fee
) for each commercial or standby Letter of Credit equal to the
Applicable Rate
times
the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit;
provided
, however, any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a
Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender or the
Borrower has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this
Section 2.04
shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the
other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages
allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to
Section 2.18(a)(iv)
, with the balance of
such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. For purposes of computing the
daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit
shall be determined in accordance with
Section 1.06
. Such Letter of Credit Fees shall be
(i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and
December, commencing with the first
35
such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit
Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If
there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be
drawn under each standby Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate
separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during any Default Rate Period, all
Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(i)
Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer
. The
Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (i) with respect
to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter among the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent, and BAS, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable
upon the issuance thereof, and (ii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per
annum specified in the Fee Letter among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and BAS, computed
on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in
arrears. Such fronting fee with respect to standby Letters of Credit shall be due and payable on
the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the
most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment),
commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily
amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall
be determined in accordance with
Section 1.06
. In addition, the Borrower shall pay
directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and
other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters
of credit as from time to time in effect, effective schedules of which will be provided to the
Borrower upon its request. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable
quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and
December and are nonrefundable.
(j)
Conflict with Issuer Documents
. In the event of any conflict between the terms
hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(k)
Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries
. Notwithstanding that a Letter of
Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of a Subsidiary, the
Borrower (and not any such Subsidiary) shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for
any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the
issuance of Letters of Credit in support of the obligations of any of its Subsidiaries inures to
the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrowers business derives benefits from the business of
such Subsidiary.
2.05 Swing Line Loans
.
(a)
The Swing Line
. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing
Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this
Section 2.05
, to make loans (each such loan, a
Swing Line Loan
) to the Borrower
from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to
exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that
such
36
Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the
amount of such Lenders Commitment;
provided
,
however
, that after giving effect to
any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and
(ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender,
plus
such
Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations,
plus
such
Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed
such Lenders Commitment, and
provided
,
further
, that the Borrower shall not use
the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the
foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow
under this
Section 2.05
, prepay under
Section 2.06
, and reborrow under this
Section 2.05
. Swing Line Loans may be either Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans.
Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan to the Borrower, each Lender shall be deemed to,
and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk
participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lenders Applicable
Percentage
times
the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b)
Borrowing Procedures
. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrowers
irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent
not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be
borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000, (ii) whether such Swing Line Loan is a Base Rate
Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan (and if a Eurodollar Rate Loan, either (x) the applicable Interest
Period thereof or (y) that the daily floating Eurodollar Rate provided in clause (b) of the
definition thereof shall apply) and (iii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business
Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender
and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and
signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender
of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the
Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received
such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent
(by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received
notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any
Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing
Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first
proviso to the first sentence of
Section 2.05(a)
, or (B) that one or more of the applicable
conditions specified in
Article IV
is not then satisfied, specifying in reasonable detail
the relevant condition or conditions not then satisfied and the basis for such assertion, and such
condition or conditions, as applicable, remain unsatisfied on such requested date of issuance or
amendment, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later
than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of
its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower, at the Borrowers election, either by (i) crediting
the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii)
wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to the
Administrative Agent by the Borrower as set forth in the Swing Line Loan Notice.
37
(c)
Refinancing of Swing Line Loans
.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of
the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its
behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such
Lenders Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such
request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed
Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of
Section
2.02
, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal
amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate
Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.03
. The Swing Line Lender
shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly
after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount
equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice
available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative
Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan)
for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agents Office not later than
1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to
Section 2.05(c)(ii)
, each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to
have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative
Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed
Borrowing in accordance with
Section 2.05(c)(i)
or pursuant to a Borrowing requested
in accordance with
Section 2.02
, as the case may be, the request for Base Rate
Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be
a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in
the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to
Section 2.05(c)(i)
shall be deemed
payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.05(c)
by the time specified in
Section
2.05(c)(i)
, the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting
through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the
period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of
the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with
banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or
similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing.
If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the portion thereof
equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line
Loans shall constitute such Lenders Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed
Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A
certificate of the Swing Line
38
Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any
amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Lenders obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk
participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this
Section 2.05(c)
shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any
setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against
the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the
occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided
,
however
, that each
Lenders obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this
Section 2.05(c)
is
subject to the conditions set forth in
Section 4.03
. No such funding of risk
participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay
Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d)
Repayment of Participations
.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a
Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line
Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof
(appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time
during which such Lenders risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those
received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or
interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under
any of the circumstances described in
Section 10.05
(including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay
to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative
Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is
returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent
will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the
Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the
termination of this Agreement.
(e)
Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender
. The Swing Line Lender shall be
responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender
funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this
Section 2.05
to
refinance such Lenders Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such
Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f)
Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender
. The Borrower shall make all payments of
principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.06 Prepayments
.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to
time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or
39
penalty;
provided
that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent
not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar
Rate Committed Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any
prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a
whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans
shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof or, in
each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall
specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid
and, if Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.
The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and
of the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given
by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such
notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate
Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any
additional amounts required pursuant to
Section 3.05
. Subject to
Section 2.18
,
each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with
their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part
without premium or penalty;
provided
that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing
Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment,
and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice
shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the
Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due
and payable on the date specified therein.
(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then
in effect, the Borrower shall immediately upon demand prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the
L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess;
provided
,
however
,
that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c)
unless after the prepayment in full of the Committed Loans and Swing Line
Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.
(d) For an economically meaningful period of time in each fiscal year of the Borrower, as
reasonably determined by General Partner, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all
Working Capital Borrowings shall be reduced to a relatively small amount as may be reasonably
specified by General Partner.
2.07 Termination or Reduction of Commitments
. The Borrower may, upon notice to the
Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce
the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. two Business Days prior to the date of termination
or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any
whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce
the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments
hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate
40
Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments,
the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate
Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or
reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be
applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued
until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the
effective date of such termination.
2.08 Repayment of Loans
. (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity
Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten
Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.
2.09 Interest
. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for
each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period
plus
the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal
to the Base Rate
plus
the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Eurodollar Rate Swing Line Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per
annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period
plus
the Applicable Rate; and
(iv) each Base Rate Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof
from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate
plus
the
Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any
applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount
shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the
Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any
Loan Document is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear
interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) During any Default Rate Period, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal
amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at
all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due
interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest
41
hereunder shall be
due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after
the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.10 Fees
. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of
Section
2.04
:
(a)
Commitment Fee
. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the
Applicable Rate
times
the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the
sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C
Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 2.18
. The commitment fee shall
accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during the Availability
Period during which one or more of the conditions in
Section 4.03
is not met, and shall be
due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and
December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day
of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if
there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be
computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that
such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b)
Ticking Fee
. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a ticking fee equal to 0.20% per annum
times
the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments. The ticking fee shall accrue
at all times during the period from and including the 90
th
day after the Closing Date
through the earlier of (i) the IPO Closing Date and (ii) the Pre-IPO Commitment Termination Date,
and shall be due and payable in arrears on the last day of such period.
(c)
Other Fees
. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative
Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in their
respective Fee Letters. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for
any reason whatsoever, except as expressly set forth therein.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately
agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and/or Lenders, as the case
may be, in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully
earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever, except as expressly
agreed to in writing.
2.11 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate
. (a) All
computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to
the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be,
and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and
interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results
in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day
year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not
accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid,
provided
42
that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to
Section 2.13(a)
, bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent
of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(b) If, prior to the delivery of any Compliance Certificate pursuant to
Section
6.02(b)
, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of
the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower pursuant to the most recently delivered
Compliance Certificate was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage
Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and
retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable
Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or,
after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the
Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action
by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the
amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest
and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under
Section
2.04(c)(iii)
,
2.04(h)
or
2.09(b)
or under
Article VIII
. The Borrowers
obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments but
shall terminate upon the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
2.12 Evidence of Debt
.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or
records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of
business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be
conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the
Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so
shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any
amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts
and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in
respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the
absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent,
the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a
Committed Loan Note and/or a Swing Line Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lenders
Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and
endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with
respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the
Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records
evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit
and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records
maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of
such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of
manifest error.
43
2.13 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback
.
(a)
General
. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition
or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent,
for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative
Agents Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date
specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable
Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received
by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative
Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any
applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower
shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following
Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the
case may be.
(b) (i)
Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent
. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any
Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base
Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Committed Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in
accordance with
Section 2.02
(or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans,
that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by
Section 2.02
) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable
Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the
date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the
Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the
Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking
industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees
customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the
case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If
the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an
overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of
such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the
applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall
constitute such Lenders Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the
Borrower shall be without
prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make
such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii)
Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent
. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which
any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders
44
or the L/C
Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may
assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may,
in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case
may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment,
then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to
the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the
L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and
including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to
the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by
the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount
owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c)
Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent
. If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing
provisions of this
Article II
, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in
Article IV
are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such
Lender, without interest.
(d)
Obligations of Lenders Several
. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make
payments pursuant to
Section 10.04(c)
are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender
to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under
Section
10.04(c)
on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding
obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under
Section 10.04(c)
.
(e)
Funding Source
. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any
Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or
manner.
2.14 Sharing of Payments by Lenders
. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff
or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of
the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing
Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the
aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater
than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater
proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at
face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and
Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so
45
that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the
aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other
amounts owing them,
provided
that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any
portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such
recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment
made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a
Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in
Section
2.17
, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or
sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C
Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any permitted assignee or participant, other than an
assignment to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this
Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation.
2.15 Reserved.
2.16 Increase in Commitments
.
(a)
Request for Increase
. Provided there exists no Default, upon (i) notice to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) and (ii) substantially
contemporaneous notice (with copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) to Eligible Assignees not
then Lenders (each such Eligible Assignee, a
Proposed Lender
), the Borrower shall have
the right promptly to effectuate from time to time and at any time, in accordance with the terms
hereof, an increase in the aggregate amount of the then Aggregate Commitments
provided
that
(y) the aggregate amount of the Aggregate Commitments as so increased shall not at any time exceed
$600,000,000, and (z) each such increase shall be in a minimum amount of $50,000,000. At the time
of sending such notices, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify
the time period within which each Lender and Proposed Lender is requested
to respond (which shall in no event be less than five Business Days from the date of delivery
of such notice to the Lenders, and which may be extended upon agreement by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent).
(b)
Lender Elections to Increase
. Each Lender shall promptly notify the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase
the amount of its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than
its Applicable Percentage (as it existed immediately prior to such proposed increase)
46
of such proposed increase. Each Proposed Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower within such time period whether or not it agrees to participate in such increased amount
of the Aggregate Commitments, and at what amount it proposes to participate in such increased
amount. Any Lender or Proposed Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to
have declined to increase its Commitment, or participate in the increase in the aggregate amount of
the Aggregate Commitments, as the case may be.
(c)
Effective Date and Allocations
. If the aggregate amount of Aggregate Commitments
are increased in accordance with this
Section 2.16
, the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower shall promptly thereafter determine the effective date thereof (the
Increase
Effective Date
) and the final allocation of such increase, and the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders (including Proposed Lenders that have agreed to
participate in such increase) of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective
Date.
(d)
Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase
. As conditions precedent to each
increase, (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan
Party dated as of the applicable Increase Effective Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of such
Loan Party, (y) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party authorizing or
consenting to such increase, as the case may be, and (z) in the case of the Borrower, certifying
that, immediately before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and
warranties of the Loan Parties contained in
Article V
of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of such applicable Increase
Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to
an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such
earlier date, and except that for purposes of this
Section 2.16,
the representations and
warranties contained in
Section 5.05(a)
and
(b)
shall be deemed to refer to the
most recent statements furnished pursuant to
clauses (a)
and
(b)
, respectively, of
Section 6.01
, and (B) no Default or Event of Default exists, and (ii) each Proposed Lender
that is becoming a Lender shall (y) be subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative
Agent , the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, which approvals shall not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned, and (z) execute and deliver a joinder agreement in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line
Lender and the Borrower. The Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on such
applicable Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to
Section
3.05
) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with the
Applicable Percentages resulting from any non-ratable increase in the amount of the Aggregate
Commitments under this
Section 2.16
and in effect after giving effect thereto.
(e)
Conflicting Provisions
. This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Section 2.14
or
10.01
to the contrary.
2.17 Cash Collateral
.
(a)
Certain Credit Support Events
. Within one Business Day following the request of
the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial
drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing
47
that remains outstanding for more than two Business Days, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit
Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each
case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. At any
time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the request of
the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall deliver to
the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the Fronting Exposure (after giving
effect to
Section 2.18(a)(iv)
and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(b)
Grant of Security Interest
. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not
constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit
accounts at Bank of America. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender,
hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and agrees
to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances
therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of
the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied
pursuant to
Section 2.17(c)
. If at any time the Administrative Agent reasonably determines
that (i) Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person (other than a claim of a
nature residual to the claim of the Administrative Agent) other than the Administrative Agent as
herein provided, or (ii) the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable
Fronting Exposure (and, following the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, all outstanding L/C
Obligations), the Borrower or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, promptly upon demand by the
Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral (x) not
subject to any such right or claim or (y) in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.
(c)
Application
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, but subject to subsection (d) below, Cash Collateral provided under any of this
Section 2.17
or
Sections 2.04
,
2.05
,
2.06
,
2.18
or
8.02
in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the
satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans and obligations to fund
participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any
interest accrued on such obligation), prior to any other application of such property as may be
provided for herein.
(d)
Release
. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce
Fronting Exposure (and, following the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to secure all outstanding
L/C Obligations) shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable
Fronting Exposure (or, following the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, all secured L/C
Obligations) (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable
Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with
Section 10.06(b)(vi)
))
or (ii) the Administrative Agents good faith determination that there exists excess Cash
Collateral;
provided
, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan
Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following
application as provided in this
Section 2.17
may, during the continuance of an Event of
Default, be otherwise applied in accordance with
Section 8.03
), and (y) the Person
providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may agree that
Cash Collateral shall not be
48
released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting
Exposure or other obligations, and any such future Fronting Exposure shall be reduced by the amount
so held.
2.18 Defaulting Lenders
. (a)
Adjustments
. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such
time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent not prohibited by applicable
Law:
(i)
Waivers and Amendments
. That Defaulting Lenders right to approve or
disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be
restricted as set forth in
Section 10.01
.
(ii)
Reallocation of Payments
. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or
other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender
(whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to
Article VIII
or otherwise,
and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting
Lender pursuant to
Section 10.08
), shall, following application by Administrative
Agent of any such payment by or on behalf of a Loan Party to the account of such Defaulting
Lender with respect to such Obligation paid (and in lieu of being distributed to such
Defaulting Lender pursuant to
Section 2.12(a)
or such other provision of this
Agreement applicable with respect to the distribution thereof), be applied at such time or
times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:
first
, to the payment of
any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder;
second
,
to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the L/C
Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder;
third
, if so determined by the Administrative Agent
or requested by the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for
future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any outstanding
Swing Line Loan or outstanding Letter of Credit;
fourth
, as the Borrower may request (so
long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of
which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this
Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent;
fifth
, if so determined by the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in an interest bearing deposit account and
released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this
Agreement;
sixth
, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or
Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained
by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a
result of that Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement;
seventh
,
to the
payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result
of that Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and
eighth
, to
that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction;
provided
that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans
or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its
appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the
conditions set forth in
Section 4.03
were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be
applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-
49
Defaulting Lenders
on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings
owed to, that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable
to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender
or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this
Section 2.18(a)(ii)
shall be deemed paid
to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii)
Certain Fees
. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to
receive any commitment fee pursuant to
Section 2.10(a)
for any period during which
that Lender is a Defaulting Lender and (y) shall be limited in its rights to receive Letter
of Credit Fees as provided in
Section 2.04(h)
and, in each case, the Borrower shall
not be required to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Defaulting Lender
or the Defaulting Lender any such fee, and no such fees shall accrue for the account of the
Defaulting Lender, that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that
Defaulting Lender.
(iv)
Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure
.
During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the
amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund
participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to
Sections 2.04
and
2.05
, the Applicable Percentage of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be
computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender;
provided
, that, (A) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if (x) on the
date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, or (y) if a Default or Event of Default occurred and was
continuing on such date, on a subsequent Business Day no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, and (B) the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender
to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall
not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Commitment of that non-Defaulting
Lender
minus
(2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of that
Lender.
(v)
Replacement of Defaulting Lender
. The Borrower may replace any Defaulting
Lender in accordance with
Section 10.13
.
(b)
Defaulting Lender Cure
. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line
Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should
no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify
the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to
any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash
Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans
of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be
necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit
and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their
Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to
Section 2.18(a)(iv)
), whereupon that
Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender;
provided
that no adjustments will be made
retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower
50
while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and
provided
,
further
, that except to the
extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting
Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising
from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes
.
(a)
Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes
. (i)
Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any
other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and
without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require the Borrower
or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted
in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case
may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection
(e) below.
(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to
withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and
withholding taxes, from any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower
hereunder or under any other Loan Document, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold
or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based
upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B)
the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the
withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum
payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required
withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to
additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer,
as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
withholding or deduction been made.
(b)
Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower
. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes imposed thereon under
applicable Law to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c)
Tax Indemnifications
. (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or
(b) above, the Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and
the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after demand
therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes
or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid
by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties,
interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant
Governmental Authority. The Borrower shall also, and does hereby,
51
indemnify the Administrative
Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any
amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer (other than a Lender or L/C Issuer that is an affiliate of
the Administrative Agent) for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as
required by clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or
liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or
the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. However, neither the Administrative
Agent, any Lender, nor the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes that are incurred or accrued more than 180 days prior to the date
the Administrative Agent, such Lender, or the L/C Issuer gives notice and demand thereof to the
Borrower.
(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and the
L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and
shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, against any and
all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and
expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender
or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy,
inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender or
the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection (e). Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent
to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer,
as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due
to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii)
shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment
of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the
Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(d)
Evidence of Payments
. As soon as reasonably practicable after request by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, and after any payment of Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as
provided in this
Section 3.01
, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or
the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment,
a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment
reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e)
Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation
. (i) Each Lender shall deliver to the
Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or
when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and
executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any
jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, as the case may be, (A) to determine (1) whether or not
52
payments made to such
Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes or information reporting,
(2) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction with respect to such payments, and
(3) such Lenders entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in
respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or (B) to establish such Lenders status for withholding tax purposes in the
applicable jurisdiction.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, if the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes in the United States,
(A) any Lender that is a United States person within the meaning of Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
(in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) executed originals
of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information
prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the
case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup
withholding or information reporting requirements; and
(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable
treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the
recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender
(and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so,
or at such times prescribed by applicable Law), whichever of the following is
applicable:
(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
successor applicable form, claiming eligibility for benefits of an income
tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or
successor applicable form,
(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, or
successor applicable form, and all required supporting documentation,
(IV) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the
exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a
certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a bank
within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a 10 percent
shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of
the Code, or (C) a controlled foreign corporation described in section
53
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN, or successor applicable form, or
(V) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws
as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States
Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as
may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to
be made.
(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of
any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or
reduction in withholding taxes, (B) take such steps as shall not be materially
disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably
necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of
applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any
withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender, and (C) deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (1) such other documentation or information
prescribed by applicable Law following the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the
most recent documentation previously delivered pursuant to clause (ii) above so as to
maintain compliance with such Lenders obligations thereunder, and (2) prior to the date on
which any documentation delivered pursuant to clause (ii) above expires or becomes obsolete,
such documentation as may be necessary to maintain compliance with such Lenders obligations
thereunder.
(f)
Treatment of Certain Refunds
. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time
shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a
Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund
of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as
the case may be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole
discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been
indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts
pursuant to this
Section 3.01
, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund
(but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower
under this
Section 3.01
with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such
refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the
L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the
relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund),
provided
that the
Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to
repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed
by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer
in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such
refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other
information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
54
3.02 Illegality
. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or
that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable
Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the
Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any
Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to
purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice
thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such
Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality
of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by
reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate
Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the
Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each
case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances
giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower
shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if
applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate
on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined
by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate),
either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to
maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully
continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of
such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the
Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to
such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative
Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to
determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or
conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates
. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in
connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof
that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market
for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and
reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period
with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or in connection with an existing or
proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any
requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan does not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative
Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the
Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans (i) in respect to the applicable amount and
Interest Period referred to in the preceding clause (a), or (ii) in the circumstances referred to
in the preceding clauses (b) and (c), shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination
described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate,
the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended,
in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes
such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any
55
pending request for a
Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or, failing that,
will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate
Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans
.
(a)
Increased Costs Generally
. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan,
insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account
of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement
contemplated by
Section 3.04(e)
) or the L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with
respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or
any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such
Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
covered by
Section 3.01
and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any
Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other
condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such
Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or
maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate (or of
maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the
L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its
obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest
or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or
reduction suffered.
(b)
Capital Requirements
. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change
in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or
such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has
or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the L/C Issuers
capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company, if any, as a
consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or
participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the
L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lenders or the L/C
Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration
such Lenders or the L/C Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers
holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
56
compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company for
any such reduction suffered.
(c)
Certificates for Reimbursement
. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer
setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its
holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and
delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such
Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate
within 10 days after receipt thereof. Upon request by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, as
the case may be, shall also provide a certificate that such Lender or L/C Issuer is generally
requesting such compensation from its other borrowers.
(d)
Delay in Requests
. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer
to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a
waiver of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers right to demand such compensation,
provided
that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more
than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies
the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such
Lenders or the L/C Issuers intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change
in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e)
Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans
. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long
as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency
liabilities), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan
equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by
such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which
shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan,
provided
the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days
prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10
days from receipt of such notice.
3.05 Compensation for Losses
. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such
Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate
Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary,
mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a
Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in
the amount notified by the Borrower; or
57
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest
Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 10.13
;
excluding any loss of anticipated profits but including any loss (other than loss of anticipated
profits) or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to
maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were
obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in
connection with the foregoing.
A certificate of such Lender setting forth the amount of any such loss, cost or expense, including
reasonably detailed calculations thereof, shall be delivered to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent and be conclusive absent manifest error. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the
Borrower to the Lenders under this
Section 3.05
, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded
each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching
deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and
for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
.
(a)
Designation of a Different Lending Office
. If any Lender requests compensation
under
Section 3.04
, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender,
the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer
pursuant to
Section 3.01
, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to
Section 3.02
,
then such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a
different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts
payable pursuant to
Section 3.01
or
3.04
, as the case may be, in the future, or
eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to
Section 3.02
, as applicable, and (ii) in each
case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost
or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case
may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender
or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b)
Replacement of Lenders
. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under
Section
3.04
, or gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 (which notice is not given by other similarly
situated Lenders) and does not subsequently designate a different Lending Office or assign its
rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates as provided
above, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 3.01
or (iii) any Lender
becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with
Section
10.13
.
3.07 Survival
. All of the Borrowers obligations under this
Article III
shall survive
termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and
resignation of the Administrative Agent.
58
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions Precedent to Closing
. This Agreement shall become effective upon the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agents receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals,
telecopies or other electronic copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified,
each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, if applicable, each dated the
Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the
Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to
the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) a Swing Line Note executed by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender, and
a Committed Loan Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a
Committed Loan Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or
other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible
Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
require to evidence that each of the Borrower, General Partner, Bluewater and Pine Prairie
is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and
qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction as required by
Section 5.01
;
(v) favorable opinions of Tim Moore, Esq., General Counsel of the sole member of the
General Partner, and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., special counsel for the Borrower,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;
(vi) the Audited Financial Statements and the Initial Pro Forma Financial Statements;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that
the condition specified in
Section 4.03(a)
has been satisfied, (B) the Initial Pro
Forma Financial Statements were prepared in good faith upon assumptions deemed reasonable by
the Borrower at the time made, (C) that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
and (D) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the most recent
Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to
Section
6.07
has been obtained and is in effect;
59
(ix) environmental assessment reports, audits and certifications as reasonably
requested by Administrative Agent identifying existing and potential environmental concerns
and quantifying related costs and liabilities, associated with any Storage Facilities; and
(x) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably require.
(b) All consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to
which it is a party shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.
(c) There shall not have occurred during the period from the date of the most recent Audited
Financial Statements through and including the Closing Date any event or condition that has had or
could reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and there shall be no actions, suits, investigations, proceedings, claims or disputes
pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in
arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the
aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to
the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date.
(e) Copies (or electronic access to copies pursuant to the Borrowers website or EDGAR) of the
Registration Statement, including exhibits thereto, as amended through the Closing Date, with any
material amendment to any financial statements, projections or forecasts contained therein, or any
other material amendment to the Borrowers operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities
(actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) as described in the initial
Registration Statement filed with the SEC reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
Administrative Agent.
(f) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before April 30, 2010.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section
9.03
, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this
Section
4.01
, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved
or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be
consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its
objection thereto and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to promptly provide the Borrower with
a copy of any such notice received by the Administrative Agent.
4.02 Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Extension
. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and
each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:
60
(a) The Administrative Agents receipt on the IPO Closing Date, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer
of the Borrower certifying (i) that the conditions specified in
Sections 4.03(a)
and
(b)
have been satisfied, (ii) that there has been no event or circumstance since the
Closing Date that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) that the Borrower has consummated its initial public
offering, substantially on the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, (iv) an attached pro
forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the last day of the most recent fiscal
quarter of the Borrower prior to the IPO Closing Date for which quarterly financials have been
delivered to the Administrative Agent, after giving effect to the consummation of the Borrowers
initial public offering and the initial drawing hereunder, (v) calculation of Consolidated EBITDA
for the four fiscal quarter period ending the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of the
Borrower prior to the IPO Closing Date for which quarterly financials have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent, with (A) such pro forma adjustments as may be approved by Administrative
Agent with respect to Dispositions, acquisitions, consolidations or mergers as described in the
proviso of the first sentence of (and subject to the delivery of information with respect thereto
as required pursuant to the second sentence of) the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and (B) any
New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments or Material Project EBITDA Adjustments as may be approved by
Administrative Agent pursuant to (and subject to the delivery of information with respect thereto
as required by)
Section 7.11(b)
, and (vi) calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as
of the IPO Closing Date.
(b) On and as of the IPO Closing Date, Administrative Agent shall have received copies (or
electronic access to copies pursuant to the Borrowers website or EDGAR) of any amendments to the
Registration Statement filed with the SEC after the Closing Date, any exhibits to the Registration
Statement, as amended through the IPO Closing Date, not previously delivered prior to the IPO
Closing Date, and a copy of the Borrowers prospectus with respect to its initial public offering,
all certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
(c) Any material amendment to any financial statements, projections or forecasts contained in
the Registration Statement, or any other material amendment to the Borrowers operations, business,
assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) as
described in the Registration Statement, and any agreements described in
Section 7.08(c)
attached as exhibits thereto, filed with the SEC after the Closing Date and prior to the
IPO Closing Date shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative
Agent.
(d) There shall not have occurred during the period from the Closing Date through and
including the IPO Closing Date any event or condition that has had or could reasonably be expected,
either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Any fees, including any arrangement fees, agency fees and upfront fees, and any expenses
of the Arrangers and Administrative Agent, in each case, as agreed in writing by the Borrower,
required to be paid on or before the IPO Closing Date shall have been paid.
(f) The Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the IPO Closing Date.
61
(g) The IPO Closing Date shall have occurred on or before the Pre-IPO Commitment Termination
Date.
4.03 Conditions to all Credit Extensions
. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request
for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed
Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) is subject to the
following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in
Article V
or any
other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished by or at the request of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true
and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the
extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which
case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except
that for purposes of this
Section 4.03
, the representations and warranties contained in
subsections (a) and (b) of
Section 5.05
shall be deemed to refer to the most recent
statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of
Section 6.01
.
(b) No Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would immediately result from such
proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall
have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a
conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the
conditions specified in
Sections 4.03(a)
and
(b)
have been satisfied on and as of
the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power
. Each Significant Restricted Person (a) is duly
organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate or equivalent
power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals
to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is
licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its
ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent
that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention
. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan
Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party have been duly
62
authorized by all
necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) violate (i) the
terms of such Persons Organization Documents, (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any
Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, or
(iii) any provision of Law applicable to it; (b) result in the acceleration of any Indebtedness
owed by it; or (c) result in any breach of, or a default under, or the creation of any consensual
Lien under, any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or to which its
properties are bound.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents
. Except as expressly contemplated in or
permitted by the Loan Documents, disclosed in
Schedule 5.03
or disclosed pursuant to
Section 6.03
, no approval, consent, exemption or authorization of, or other action by, or
notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be made or
obtained by any Restricted Person a party thereto pursuant to the provisions of any material Law
applicable to it as a condition to its execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.
5.04 Binding Effect
. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which a Loan
Party is a party, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by such
Loan Party. This Agreement constitutes, and each other such Loan Document when so executed and
delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Loan Party a party hereto
or thereto, as the case may be, enforceable against such Loan Party that is party thereto in
accordance with its terms.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii)
fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower (or its predecessor, as the case may be) and
its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and their results of operations for the period
covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period
covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) as required by GAAP,
reflect all material Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates
thereof, including, if applicable, liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries most
recently delivered pursuant to
Section 6.01(b)
, and the related consolidated statements of
income or operations, shareholders equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date
(i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered
thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial
condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of
operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the
absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(c) As of the Closing Date, for the period from December 31, 2009 through the Closing Date,
there exists no event or circumstance with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, either individually or in the aggregate, that has then resulted in, or could then reasonably
be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
63
(d) As of the IPO Closing Date, for the period from December 31, 2009 through the IPO Closing
Date, there exists no event or circumstance with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole, either individually or in the aggregate, that has then resulted in, or could then
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation
. Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule
5.06
or pursuant to
Section 6.03
, (a) there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims
or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened in writing, at law, in
equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (i) purport to adversely
affect this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
or (ii) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) there has been no adverse change to the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party in the status, or financial effect on the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, of the matters described in
Schedule
5.06
or disclosed pursuant to
Section 6.03
, which either individually or in the
aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default
. Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule
5.07
or pursuant to
Section 6.03
, neither the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries nor any
other Loan Party is in default of its express and existing obligations under any Contractual
Obligation to which it is a party that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing, except
as has been waived in accordance with this Agreement, or as of the Closing Date or the IPO Closing
Date, would result upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens
. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have good and defensible
title to all of their respective material property necessary or used in the ordinary
conduct of its business, free and clear of any (a) impediments in such use of such property
except for such impediments that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) Liens, other than Liens permitted by
Section
7.01
.
5.09 Environmental Compliance
. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct their businesses in
material compliance with applicable Environmental Laws and in the ordinary course of business,
review claims received by, and made against, them which overtly allege liability or responsibility
on any of them for violation by any of them of any material Environmental Law on their respective
businesses, operations and material properties, and as a result thereof, the Borrower reasonably
believes that, except as specifically disclosed in
Schedule 5.09
or pursuant to
Section
6.03
, its non-compliance with any such Environmental Laws and such claims could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Insurance
. The properties of the Significant Restricted Persons are insured in
compliance with the provisions of
Section 6.07
.
64
5.11 Taxes
. Except as disclosed in accordance with
Section 6.03
, all Significant
Restricted Persons have complied with and are in compliance with
Section 6.04
. As of the
Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to any tax sharing
agreement.
5.12 ERISA Compliance
.
(a) Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule 5.12
or
pursuant to
Section 6.03
, each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Federal or state laws, to the extent
that any non-compliance therewith could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code
has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan
is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by
the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application
for such a letter has been submitted to the IRS. To the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has
occurred with respect to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate that would prevent or cause the loss
of such tax-qualified status.
(b) Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule 5.12
or
pursuant to
Section 6.03
, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
overtly threatened in writing, claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental
Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule 5.12
or
pursuant to
Section 6.03
, there has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the
fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or, actually known to the
Borrower, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule 5.12
or
pursuant to
Section 6.03
, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any
ERISA Affiliate has actual knowledge of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably
be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the
Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met, in all material respects, all applicable requirements
under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum
funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the
most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as
defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA
Affiliate has actual knowledge of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to
cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most
recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability
to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums or obligations of immaterial amounts, and there
are no premium payments which have become due that are delinquent or are being contested in good
faith; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has, to its actual knowledge, engaged in a
transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) to
Borrowers actual knowledge, no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof
nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be
expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings
65
under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any
Pension Plan; in each case with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) of this
Section 5.12(c)
, except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, in
Schedule
5.12
or pursuant to
Section 6.03
.
5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
. As of the Closing Date and the IPO Closing Date, the
Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those listed in Part (a) of
Schedule 5.13
, and all
of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are (to the
extent applicable or required) fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower in the
amounts specified on Part (a) of
Schedule 5.13
free and clear of all Liens. As of the
Closing Date and the IPO Closing Date, the Borrower has no equity investments in any corporation or
entity other than those disclosed in Part (b) of
Schedule 5.13
. As of the IPO Closing
Date, all of the Equity Interests in the Borrower issued pursuant to the Borrowers initial public
offering pursuant to the Registration Statement have been validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, subject to customary statutory exceptions.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act
.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally, or as one of its important
activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock.
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party is regulated under the Investment Company
Act of 1940.
5.15 Disclosure
. There is no fact known to any Restricted Person that has not been disclosed
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing which, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial
statement, certificate or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the
negotiation of this Agreement (including those delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document
(in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished, when so modified or
supplemented)) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading as of the date made or deemed made (or if such
information expressly relates or refers to an earlier date, as of such earlier date);
provided
that, with respect to projected and forecast financial information, the Borrower
represents only that such projections and forecasts were prepared in good faith based upon
assumptions deemed reasonable by it at the time.
5.16 Compliance with Laws
. Except as set forth in
Schedule 5.16
or in accordance with
Section 6.03
, each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material
respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees
applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of
Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith, and if necessary, by
appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either
66
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number
. The Borrowers true and correct U.S. taxpayer
identification number is set forth on
Schedule 10.02
, as may be updated or modified from
time to time by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and Lenders.
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or (unless a collateral arrangement satisfactory to
the L/C Issuer has been entered into) any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower
shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in
Sections 6.01
,
6.02
, and
6.03
, and except in the case of the covenants set forth in
Sections
6.04
,
6.05
,
6.06
, 6
.07
, and
6.08
, which shall be limited to
Significant Restricted Persons) cause each Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements
. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender the following
statements and reports, at the Borrowers expense:
(a) (i) promptly upon the filing thereof, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the
end of each fiscal year, a copy of the Borrowers Form 10-K, which report shall include the
Borrowers complete Consolidated financial statements together with all notes thereto, prepared in
reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP, together with an opinion, without material
qualification, based on an audit using generally accepted auditing standards, by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or other independent certified public accountants selected by
General Partner, stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been so prepared,
and these financial statements shall contain a Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such
fiscal year and Consolidated statements of earnings for such fiscal year, and such Consolidated
financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the
preceding fiscal year; and (ii) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year,
internally-prepared, unaudited consolidating balance sheets and income statements for the
Significant Restricted Persons (other than the Borrower); and
(b) (i) promptly upon the filing thereof, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the
end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a copy of the Borrowers Form
10-Q, which report shall include the Borrowers unaudited Consolidated balance sheet as of the end
of such fiscal quarter and Consolidated statements of the Borrowers earnings and cash flows for
such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current fiscal year to the
end of such fiscal quarter; and (ii) within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first
three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, internally-prepared unaudited consolidating balance
sheets and income statements for the Significant Restricted Persons (other than the Borrower).
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to
Section 6.02(d)
, the
Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b)
above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish
the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified
therein.
67
6.02 Certificates; Other Information
. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender
(except as otherwise provided in subsection (g) below), in form and detail reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent:
(a) within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter ending prior to the IPO
Closing Date (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010), (i) the Borrowers
unaudited Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and Consolidated
statements of the Borrowers earnings and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the period
from the beginning of the then current fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter; and (ii)
internally-prepared unaudited consolidating balance sheets and income statements for the
Significant Restricted Persons (other than the Borrower).
(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in
Sections
6.01(a)
and
(b)
(commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the
fiscal quarter in which the IPO Closing Date occurs), a duly completed Compliance Certificate
signed by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of General Partner
(i) stating that such Consolidated financial statements are accurate and complete in all material
respects (subject to normal year-end adjustments), (ii) stating that he has reviewed the Loan
Documents, (iii) containing calculations showing compliance (or non compliance) at the end of such
fiscal quarter with the requirements of
Section 7.11
, (iv) stating that, to the best of his
knowledge, no Default exists at the end of such fiscal quarter or at the time of such certificate
or specifying the nature and period of existence of any such Default, and (v) identifying any
Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary since the date of the most-recently delivered
prior certificate under this
Section 6.02(b)
(which delivery may, unless the Administrative
Agent or a Lender requests
executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed
to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);
(c) Reserved.
(d) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of each annual report, proxy or
financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and
copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the
Borrower filed with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and
not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; and
(e) Reserved.
(f) Reserved.
(g) promptly, to either the Administrative Agent or any Lender who may from time to time
reasonably request, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate
affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, in
each case which are not subject to confidentiality restrictions or attorney-client privilege.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 6.01(a)
or
(b)
or
Section 6.02(d)
or
(g)
(to the extent any such documents are included in materials
otherwise filed with the SEC)
68
may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed
to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a
link thereto on the Borrowers website on the Internet at the website address listed on
Schedule 10.02
; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers behalf on an
Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access
(whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent), and
in either case, the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent of such posting or link. The
Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper
copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor
compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be
solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent or its authorized
Affiliates will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information
provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively,
Borrower Materials
) by
posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the
Platform
) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a
Public Lender
) do not wish to
receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the
respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other
market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Borrower hereby agrees
that (w) all Borrower Materials that it instructs to be made available to Public Lenders shall be
clearly and conspicuously marked PUBLIC prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking
Borrower Materials PUBLIC, the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the
Administrative Agent or its authorized Affiliates, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat
such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the
Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws
(
provided
,
however
, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute
Information, they shall be treated as set forth in
Section 10.07
); (y) all Borrower
Materials so marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform
designated Public Side Information; and (z) the Administrative Agent or its authorized Affiliates
shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable
only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public Side Information.
6.03 Notices
. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual
Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation,
proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or
(iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and
69
(d) within the time frames therein provided, the occurrences with respect to an Unrestricted
Subsidiary which are set forth in
Section 7.12(d)
and the last paragraph of
Section
7.12
.
Each notice pursuant to this
Section 6.03
shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and
stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice
pursuant to
Section 6.03(a)
shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of
this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Taxes, Etc
. (a) Timely file all required tax returns (including any
extensions), (b) timely pay all taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges or levies
imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property, and (c) maintain appropriate accruals and
reserves for all of the foregoing as required by GAAP, except to the extent that (i) it is in good
faith contesting the validity thereof by appropriate proceedings, if necessary, diligently
conducted and has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor which are required by GAAP or
(ii) such non-filing, non-payment or non-maintenance would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc
. (a) Preserve and maintain its legal existence and good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (b) take all reasonable action to
maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary in the normal conduct
of its business; and (c) preserve all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and
service marks, except, in each case (i) where the failure so to maintain or preserve (as the case
may be) would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) as
permitted in
Section 7.04
or as a result of statutory conversions.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties
. Maintain all of its material properties and equipment that
are necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear
and tear and obsoleteness excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance
. Maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies, insurance or, at its option, self-insure in such amounts (after giving effect to any
self-insurance compatible with the following standards) and against such risks as are customarily
insured by other Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses and owning similar properties.
The insurance coverages and amounts will be reasonably determined by the Borrower, based on
coverages carried by prudent owners of similar property, and with respect to each other Significant
Restricted Person, may be maintained by the Borrower.
6.08 Compliance with Laws
. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws
and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property,
except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree
is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if necessary, diligently conducted; or
(b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
70
6.09 Books and Records
. Maintain full and accurate books of record and account in conformity
with GAAP consistently applied.
6.10 Inspection Rights
. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the
Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate,
financial and operating records, and to make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss
its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants, all at
such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower.
Each of the foregoing inspections and examinations shall be made subject to compliance with
applicable safety standards and the same conditions applicable to any Restricted Person in respect
of property of that Restricted Person on the premises of Persons other than a Restricted Person or
an Affiliate of a Restricted Person, and all information, books and records furnished or requested
to be made, all information to be investigated or verified, all copies and abstracts of all
information, books and records and all discussion conducted with any officer, employee or
representative of any Restricted Person, in each case, shall be subject to any applicable
attorney-client privilege exceptions which the Restricted Person determines is reasonably necessary
and compliance with conditions to disclosures under non-disclosure agreements between any
Restricted Person and Persons other than a Restricted Person or an Affiliate of a Restricted Person
and the express undertaking of each Person acting at the direction of or on behalf of any Lender
Party to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of
Section 10.07
of this Agreement.
6.11 Use of Proceeds
. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for working capital, capital
expenditures, repayment of intercompany debt, acquisitions not in contravention
of
Section 7.07
, and other general corporate purposes not in violation of any Law
applicable to it and not resulting in a Default or Event of Default.
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or (unless a collateral arrangement satisfactory to
the L/C Issuer has been entered into) any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower
shall not, nor shall it permit (except in the case of the covenant set forth in
Section
7.04
, which shall be limited to Significant Restricted Persons, and in the case of the covenant
in
Section 7.06
, which shall be limited to the Borrower) any Subsidiary to:
7.01 Liens
. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien upon (I) any of its property or
upon the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, securing any
Indebtedness owing to PAA or any of its Affiliates, or (II) any of its Principal Property or upon
the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens (i) pursuant to any Loan Document or securing any of the Obligations and (ii) if
required in connection with the foregoing, on a
pari-passu
basis, any Swap Contracts with Lenders
or their Affiliates;
(b) Liens pursuant to the Pine Prairie Lease and extensions, renewals and replacements
thereof;
71
(c) Liens for taxes, assessments and levies not yet delinquent or which are being contested in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect
thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(d) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens or other like Liens
arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not overdue for a period of more
than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if
necessary, diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the
books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation (other than any Lien
imposed by ERISA), or to secure letters of credit issued with respect thereto;
(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases (other than
Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (or to secure letters of
credit issued in connection therewith);
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real
property or minor imperfections in title thereto which, in the aggregate, are not material in
amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject
thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(h) inchoate Liens in respect of pending litigation, or Liens securing judgments for the
payment of money (or securing letters of credit, appeal or other surety bonds related to such
judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under
Section 8.01(h)
;
(i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to
bankers liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other
funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, that (i) such deposit account is
not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System or pursuant to the Security Documents, and (ii) such
deposit account is not intended by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to provide collateral to the
depository institution;
(j) Liens arising out of all presently existing and future division and transfer orders,
advance payment agreements, processing contracts, gas processing plant agreements, operating
agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, pooling, unitization or
communitization agreements, pipeline, gathering or transportation agreements, platform agreements,
drilling contracts, injection or repressuring agreements, cycling agreements, construction
agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, leases or rental agreements, farm-out and
farm-in agreements, exploration and development agreements, and any and all other contracts or
agreements covering, arising out, used or useful in connection with or pertaining to the
exploration, development, operation, production, sale, use, purchase, exchange,
72
storage, separation, dehydration, treatment, compression, gathering, transportation, processing,
improvement, marketing, disposal, or handling of any oil and gas property of any Loan Party;
(k) Liens in respect of operating leases;
(l) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness,
provided
that (i) each such Lien (A) existed
at the time of its acquisition and was not created in anticipation thereof, or (B) was created
solely for the purpose of securing Indebtedness representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or
refund, the cost (including the cost of construction) of such property or asset, (ii) no such Lien
shall extend to or cover any property or asset other than the property or asset so acquired (or
constructed), and any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or successive
extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings or replacements), in whole or part, of the
foregoing, and (iii) such Lien shall not secure any additional Indebtedness and obligations;
(m) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority by the terms of any right,
power, franchise, grant, license or permit, or by any provision of Law, to revoke or terminate any
such right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit or to condemn or acquire by eminent domain
or similar process;
(n) rights reserved to or vested by Law in any Governmental Authority to in any manner,
control or regulate in any manner any of the properties of any Restricted Person or the
use thereof or the rights and interests of any Restricted Person therein, in any manner under
any and all Laws;
(o) rights reserved to the grantors of any properties of any Restricted Person, and the
restrictions, conditions, restrictive covenants and limitations, in respect thereto, pursuant to
the terms, conditions and provisions of any rights-of-way agreements, contracts or other agreements
therewith; and
(p) Liens otherwise not permitted herein which secure obligations in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed at any time outstanding 10% of Borrowers Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
7.02 Reserved
.
7.03 Indebtedness
. No Subsidiary will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any
Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness of any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any other
wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) Acquired Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party;
(d) Indebtedness incurred to finance Cash and Carry Purchases;
73
(e) Indebtedness under the Pine Prairie Lease and extensions, renewals and replacements of any
such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof except by an amount
equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably
incurred, in connection with such extensions, renewals and replacements; and
(f) other Indebtedness not otherwise permitted pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a), (b),
(c), (d) and (e) in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed 10% of the
Borrowers Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, calculated without regard to the Indebtedness permitted
pursuant to the immediately preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
7.04 Fundamental Changes; Dispositions
. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into
another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of related transactions)
all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of
any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or, upon giving pro forma effect thereto,
would result therefrom:
(a) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may merge with another Person,
provided
that the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary is the acquiring or surviving entity (or, with
respect to any merger by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, the surviving entity becomes a
wholly-owned Subsidiary in the transaction); and
(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary
liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary;
provided
that if the
transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be
the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary.
7.05 Reserved
.
7.06
Restricted Payments
. Declare or make any Restricted Payment unless no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, immediately after giving effect thereto, would
result therefrom.
7.07 Change in Nature of Business
. Engage in any material line of business substantially
different from (a) any of those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
described in the Registration Statement or (b) the businesses of any of transportation, supply and
logistics, and in each case with respect to the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), any business,
activities or services reasonably related or incidental thereto, but in no event will enter into
Swap Contracts except in the ordinary course of its business, with the intent and for the purpose
of mitigating and managing risks and in accordance with the policies described in the Borrowers
most-recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (or, prior to the filing of the Borrowers initial
Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Registration Statement), and not for speculative purposes.
7.08 Transactions with Affiliates
. Enter into any material transaction of any kind with any
Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair
and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be
obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in an arms length
74
transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate,
provided
that the foregoing
restriction shall not apply to any of the following transactions: (a) transactions between or among
the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries or between and among any Subsidiaries; (b) any employment,
equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(c) transactions effected in accordance with the terms of tax sharing, management services,
indemnification, omnibus and other agreements with PAA and its Affiliates contemplated in and/or
attached as exhibits to the Registration Statement; (d) customary compensation, indemnification and
other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or the General Partner, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket
expenses and provisions of officers and directors liability insurance; and (e) transactions as
contemplated by the Borrowers agreement of limited partnership.
7.09 Burdensome Agreements
. Except as expressly provided for in the Loan Documents, as
described in any Schedule hereto or pursuant to a Restriction Exception, the substance of which, in
detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, is promptly reported to Administrative
Agent, enter into any Contractual Obligation that limits the ability (a) of any Subsidiary to make
Restricted Payments to the Borrower or otherwise to transfer property to the Borrower, (b) of any
Subsidiary to redeem Equity Interests held in it by the Borrower, (c) of any Subsidiary to repay
loans and other Indebtedness owing by it to the Borrower, (d) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the
Indebtedness of the Borrower or (e) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or
permit to exist Liens on property of such Person,
provided
,
however
, that this
clause (e) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of
Indebtedness secured by (i) Liens permitted under
Section 7.01(l)
, solely to the extent any
such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, or
(ii) Liens securing Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and
purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets, solely to the extent any such Lien relates
to the property leased thereunder or financed thereby.
7.10 Use of Proceeds
. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or
indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock
(within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
7.11 Financial Covenants
.
(a)
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio.
Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as
of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (the
Test Quarter
), commencing with the
fiscal quarter next following the fiscal quarter in which the IPO Closing Date occurs (the
Initial Test Quarter
), to be less than 3.00:1.00, calculated on a trailing four-quarter
basis;
provided
, for the Initial Test Quarter, and for the next three following fiscal
quarters, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated based on Consolidated EBITDA
and Consolidated Interest Charges for the period commencing with the Initial Test Quarter and
through the end of such Test Quarter.
75
(b)
Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any
fiscal quarter of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter in which the IPO Closing Date
occurs, to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period, calculated, with respect
to Consolidated EBITDA, on a trailing four-quarter basis:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Consolidated Leverage
|
|
Applicable Period
|
|
Ratio
|
|
(i) During an Acquisition Period
|
|
|
5.50:1.0
|
|
(ii) Other than during an Acquisition
Period
|
|
|
4.75:1.0
|
|
provided
; for purposes of this
Section 7.11(b)
, Consolidated EBITDA may include, at
Borrowers option, any New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments and Material Project EBITDA Adjustments as
provided below.
As used herein,
New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments
means, with respect to each new gas
storage cavern at the Pine Prairie Storage Facility which achieves commercial operation (the date
on which such commercial operation is achieved, the
New Cavern Commercial Operations
Date
) after the Closing Date, an amount submitted by the Borrower and approved by
Administrative Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to the additional storage
capacity attributable to such new gas storage cavern (initially giving pro forma effect as if such
New Cavern Commercial Operations Date occurred on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which it
occurred, and thereafter such pro forma quarterly adjustments rolling off and being replaced by
actual performance on a quarterly basis). New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments shall be based only on (i)
projected revenues from firm fixed-fee storage contracts (subject to adjustments for customer
creditworthiness) and tariffs relating to such new cavern, less expenses, (ii) the New Cavern
Commercial Operations Date with respect to each such new cavern, and (iii) other factors reasonably
deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent.
As used herein,
Material Project EBITDA Adjustments
means, with respect to the
construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Unrestricted Subsidiaries), the aggregate capital cost of
which (inclusive of capital costs expended prior to the acquisition thereof) is reasonably expected
by Borrower to exceed, or exceeds, $20,000,000 (a
Material Project
):
(A) prior to the date on which a Material Project has achieved commercial operation
(the
Commercial Operation Date
) (but including the fiscal quarter in which such
Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (based on the then-current completion
percentage of such Material Project) of an amount to be approved by Administrative Agent as
the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material Project for the first
12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project,
such amount based only on (i) projected revenues from firm fixed-fee contracts (subject to
adjustments for customer creditworthiness) and tariffs relating to such Material Project,
less expenses, (ii) projected Commercial Operations Date (to be no more than 18 months from
the fiscal quarter in which such Material Project EBITDA Adjustment is initially proposed),
and (iii) other
76
factors reasonably deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent, which may, at Borrowers
option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter in which construction
or expansion of such Material Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until
the Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (including the fiscal quarter in
which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA
attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date);
provided
that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the
scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for
quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first
full quarter after its Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts
depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated
delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more
than 180 days, 25%
,
(iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, (iv) longer
than 270 days but not more than 365 days, 75%, and (v) longer than 365 days, 100%;
(B) beginning with the first full fiscal quarter following the Commercial Operation
Date of a Material Project and for the two immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an amount
equal to the projected Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Material Project for the
balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date,
which may, at Borrowers option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal
quarters; and
(C) the aggregate amount of all Material Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period
shall be limited to 15% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA for such period (which total
actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any pro forma adjustments
of any kind).
Borrower shall, no later than concurrently with its delivery of a Compliance Certificate for
any fiscal quarter for which Borrower desires to include New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments or Material
Project EBITDA Adjustments, deliver to Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Administrative Agent and certified by a financial officer of the Borrower, written
pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA attributable to New Cavern EBITDA Adjustments or
Material Project EBITDA Adjustments, and such other related information and documentation
reasonably requested by and reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent in all respects,
including with respect to Material Project EBITDA Adjustments, certification as to Material Project
completion percentage, expected Commercial Operations Date and no material delays with respect
thereto.
7.12 Unrestricted Subsidiaries
. So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, and after giving effect to such designation on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event
of Default would result therefrom, the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may
designate one or more Subsidiaries as unrestricted Subsidiaries (each such Subsidiary, and each of
its Subsidiaries, an
Unrestricted Subsidiary
), which Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be
subject to the following:
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(a) No Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Restricted Person or a Subsidiary
of the Borrower for purposes of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be subject to or included within the scope of any provision herein or in any other
Loan Document, including without limitation any representation, warranty, covenant or Event of
Default herein or in any other Loan Document, except as set forth in this
Section 7.12
.
(b) No Restricted Person shall guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of any
Indebtedness of, grant any Lien on any of its property (other than its Equity Interests in an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) to secure any Indebtedness of or other obligation of, or provide any other
form of credit support to, any Unrestricted Subsidiary, and no Restricted Person shall enter into
any contract or agreement with any Unrestricted Subsidiary, except on terms no less favorable to
such Restricted Person, as applicable, than could be obtained in a comparable arms length
transaction with a non-Affiliate of such Restricted Person;
provided
, Restricted Persons
may guarantee trade accounts payable of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that arise in the ordinary course
of business in an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
(c) Borrowers shall at all times maintain, as between Restricted Persons and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, the separate existence of each Unrestricted Subsidiary.
(d) Restricted Persons shall notify each Lender Party, not later than five (5) Business Days
after any executive officer of Restricted Persons has knowledge of, any claim, including any claim
under any Environmental Law, or any notice of potential liability under any Environmental Law,
asserted against any Unrestricted Subsidiary or with respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiarys
properties that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, stating that
such notice is being given pursuant to this
Section 7.12
.
Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Person if a Default
or Event of Default is not continuing, such designation would not, immediately after giving effect
thereto, result in a Default or an Event of Default, and immediately thereafter such Subsidiary has
no outstanding Indebtedness. Immediately thereafter, Borrower shall promptly notify Administrative
Agent of such designation and provide to it an officers certificate that such designation was made
in compliance with this
Section 7.12
.
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default
. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a)
Non-Payment
. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when due and
payable, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three Business
Days after the same becomes due and payable, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or
any fee due hereunder pursuant to
Section 2.10
, or (iii) within five Business Days after
the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b)
Specific Covenants
. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant
or agreement contained in any of
Section 6.03
or
Article VII
; or
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(c)
Other Defaults
. Any Loan Party fails to perform or comply with any of its
obligations under any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above)
contained in any Loan Document to which it is a party on its part to be performed or complied with
and such failure continues for 30 days after notice of such failure is given by the Administrative
Agent to the Borrower; or
(d)
Representations and Warranties
. Any representation or warranty made or deemed
made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or
in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when
made or deemed made in any material respect; or
(e)
Cross-Default
. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment
when due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or
otherwise) of any principal of or interest on any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder
and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Threshold
Amount, and such failure continues after the passing of the applicable notice and grace periods,
(other than such Indebtedness the validity of which is being contested in good faith, by
appropriate proceedings (if necessary) and for which adequate reserves with respect thereto are
maintained on the books of such Restricted Person as required by GAAP) or (B) fails to observe or
perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any
instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, in
each case, beyond the applicable grace, cure, extension, forbearance or similar period, if the
effect of which failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such
Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving
of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased,
prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay,
defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; or (ii) there occurs
under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from
(A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the
Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined)
under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so
defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary
as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount (other than such hedging obligations the
validity of which is being contested in good faith, by appropriate proceedings (if necessary) and
for which adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Restricted
Person as required by GAAP); or
(f)
Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.
Any Loan Party, any other Significant Restricted
Person or the General Partner institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any
Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents
to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or
similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee,
custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the
application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60
calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all
or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and
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continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in
any such proceeding; or
(g)
Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment
. (i) The Borrower or any other Significant
Restricted Person becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its
debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process
is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not
released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or
(h)
Judgments
. There is entered against any Significant Restricted Person a final
judgment for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders)
exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as
to which the insurer has not disputed coverage) and prior to the discharge thereof, (i) enforcement
proceedings are lawfully commenced by any creditor upon such judgment, or (ii) there is a period of
30 consecutive days after the entry of such judgment during which a stay of enforcement of such
judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(i)
ERISA
. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer
Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower
under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount
in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when
due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to
its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate
amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j)
Change of Control
. There occurs any Change of Control.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default
. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the
Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders,
take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer
to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated or suspended (as the case may be), whereupon such
commitments and obligation shall be terminated or suspended (as the case may be);
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and
unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to
the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies
available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;
80
provided
,
however
, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the
obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit
Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and
all interest and other amounts that have accrued and are owing as aforesaid shall automatically
become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C
Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds
. After the exercise of remedies provided for in
Section
8.02
(or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C
Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso
to
Section 8.02
), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the
provisions of
Sections 2.17 and 2.18
, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the
following order:
First
, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities,
expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent and amounts payable under
Article III
) payable to the Administrative
Agent in its capacity as such;
Second
, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities
and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders
and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any
Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under
Article III
), ratably among them in
proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
Second
payable to them;
Third
, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid
Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably
among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this
clause
Third
payable to them;
Fourth
, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of
the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the
respective amounts described in this clause
Fourth
held by them;
Fifth
, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash
Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters
of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to
Sections
2.04 and 2.17
; and
Last
, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to
Sections 2.04(c) and 2.17
, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate
undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause
Fifth
above shall be applied to
satisfy drawings
81
under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral
after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be
applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority
. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably
appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and
to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or
thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The
provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and
the L/C Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such
provisions (other than the right to reasonably approve a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 9.06
).
9.02 Rights as a Lender
. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have
the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the
same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall,
unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person
serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its
Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other
advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder
and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions
. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of
whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any
discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby
or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as
directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents),
provided
that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action
that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to
liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents,
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or
obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any
capacity.
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The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with
the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be
necessary, under the circumstances as provided in
Sections 10.01
and
8.02
) or (ii)
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall
be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire
into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered
hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the
occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in
Article IV
or elsewhere herein, other than to
confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent
. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message,
Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent
also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been
made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of
Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C
Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender
or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The
Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower),
independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action
taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties
. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and
exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or
more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such
sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through
their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any
such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and
shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent
. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give
notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower, which
83
notice shall set forth the proposed date of resignation. Upon receipt of any such notice of
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor (subject to the
approval of the Borrower, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld), which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or
an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have
been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days
after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring
Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor
Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above;
provided
that if the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has
accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance
with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral
security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of
the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral
security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments,
communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent
shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the
Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section.
Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be
discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if
not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the
Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor
unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative
Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article
and
Section 10.04
shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative
Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as
Administrative Agent.
(b) Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall
also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a
successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and
become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and
Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all
of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the
successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if
any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the
retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect
to such Letters of Credit.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer
acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
84
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that
it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or
any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to
time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or
based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document
furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc
. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the
Bookrunners, Arrangers, Syndication Agents or Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof
shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C
Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
. In case of the pendency of any proceeding
under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the
Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall
then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing
and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to
have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any
claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders,
the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all
other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under
Sections 2.04(i)
and
(j)
,
2.10
and
10.04
) allowed in such
judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such
payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent
to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the
Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Administrative Agent under
Sections 2.10
and
10.04
.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the
L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or
the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
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9.10 Collateral Matters
. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the
Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent
under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in
full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the
expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which
other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall have
been made), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale
permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to
Section
10.01
, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and
(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative
Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted
by
Section 7.01(i)
;
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in
writing the Administrative Agents authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular
types or items of property pursuant to this
Section 9.10
.
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc
. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom,
shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the
applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given;
provided
,
however
, that no such amendment, waiver or
consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in
Section 4.01(a)
without the written consent of
each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated
pursuant to
Section 8.02
) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment
(excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders
(or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each
Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C
Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this
Section 10.01
) any fees
or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of
each Lender directly affected thereby;
provided
,
however
, that only the consent of
the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of Default Rate or to waive
any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate, except
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with respect to interest on past-due principal of any Loan, which shall require the written
consent of each Lender, or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used
therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan
or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(e) change
Section 2.14
or
Section 8.03
in a manner that would alter the pro
rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender; or
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of Required Lenders or any other
provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or
otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender;
and,
provided
further
, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights
or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of
Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing
and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or
duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above,
affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document; and (iv) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a
writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no
Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent
hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all
Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other
than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be
increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or
modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects
any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such
Defaulting Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
.
(a)
Notices Generally
. Except in the case of notices and other communications
expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all
notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by
hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as
follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by
telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line
Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number
specified for such Person on
Schedule 10.02
; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address
or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as
87
appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its
Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain
material non-public information relating to the Borrower).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified
or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other
communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not
given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the
opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications
delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall
be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b)
Electronic Communications
. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and
the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including
e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative
Agent,
provided
that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C
Issuer pursuant to
Article II
if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified
the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it is incapable of receiving notices under such
Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by it,
provided
that approval of such
procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement
from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available,
return e-mail or other written acknowledgement),
provided
that if such notice or other
communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day
for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as
described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is
available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c)
The Platform
. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT
PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR
THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR
FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its
Related Parties (collectively, the
Agent Parties
) have any liability to the Borrower, any
Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of
any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers or
88
the Administrative Agents transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to
the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses have resulted from such Agent
Partys gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of any of its obligations under any
Loan Document;
provided
,
however
, that in no event shall any party hereto, Related
Party of any party hereto or Agent Party have any liability to each other party hereto, its Related
Parties, any Agent Party or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d)
Change of Address, Etc
. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C
Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices
and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may
change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder
by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In
addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that
the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number,
telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent
and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to
cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected
the Private Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the
Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public
Lenders compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state
securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the
Public Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public
information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or
state securities laws.
(e)
Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders
. The Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including
telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of
the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete
or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms
thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of
them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on
each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower, as provided in
Section
10.04(b)
. All telephone notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative
Agent may be recorded by any person a party thereto, and each of the parties hereto consent to such
recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement
. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer
or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights,
remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights,
remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
89
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the
authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the
Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law
in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the
Administrative Agent in accordance with
Section 8.02
for the benefit of all the Lenders and
the L/C Issuer;
provided
,
however
, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the
Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its
benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that
inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may
be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in
accordance with
Section 10.08
(subject to the terms of
Section 2.14
), or (d) any
Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the
pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and
provided
,
further
, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative
Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the
rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 8.02
and (ii) in
addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject
to
Section 2.14
, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any
rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
.
(a)
Costs and Expenses
. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the
preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and
(iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer
(including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or the L/C Issuer), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in
connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this
Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including
all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in
respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b)
Indemnification by the Borrower
. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer (each such Person being called an
Indemnitee
) against any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages,
penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements
(including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature
whatsoever (in this section collectively called liabilities and costs) which to any extent (in
whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Lender Party growing out
of, resulting from or in any other way associated with the Loan Documents and the
90
transactions and events (including the enforcement or defense thereof) at any time associated
therewith or contemplated therein and the Borrowers use of Loan proceeds (whether arising in
contract or in tort or otherwise and including any violation or noncompliance with any
Environmental Laws by any Indemnitee or any other Person or any liabilities or duties of any
Indemnitee or any other Person with respect to Hazardous Materials found in or released into the
environment). In the case of an investigation, litigation or proceeding to which the indemnity in
this
Section 10.04
applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such
investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, any of its equity holders,
Affiliates or creditors or an Indemnitee or any third party and whether or not an Indemnitee is
otherwise a party thereto.
(c)
THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN
ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY
OR CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY INDEMNITEE
,
provided only that no Indemnitee shall be entitled under this section to receive indemnification
for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which (i) is proximately caused by its own
(A) individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a final judgment, or (B) material breach of any of its obligations hereunder or
under any other Loan Documents, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final
judgment or (ii) arises by reason of a claim (A) by any one or more Indemnitees against any one or
more other Indemnitees or (B) by an equity-interest owner of any Indemnitee against any one or more
Indemnitees, so long as in either such case, such claim is not proximately caused solely by the
breach hereunder or under any other Loan Document by the Borrower or its Affiliates. If any Person
(including the Borrower or any of its Affiliates) ever alleges gross negligence or willful
misconduct pursuant to the preceding clause (i)(A) (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not with
respect to an allegation of a material breach pursuant to the preceding clause (i)(B)) by any
Indemnitee, the indemnification provided for in this section shall nonetheless be paid upon demand,
subject to later adjustment or reimbursement, until such time as a court of competent jurisdiction
enters a final judgment as to the extent and effect of the alleged gross negligence or willful
misconduct. As used in this section the term Indemnitee shall refer not only to each Person
designated as a Lender Party in
Section 1.01
but also to each director, officer, trustee,
agent, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of such Persons. So long as no Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Borrower is financially solvent, no Indemnitee may settle any
claim to be indemnified without the consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld; provided that the Borrower may not reasonably withhold consent to any settlement that an
Indemnitee proposes, if the Borrower does not have the financial ability to pay all its obligations
outstanding and asserted against the Borrower at that time, including the maximum potential claims
against the Indemnitee to be indemnified pursuant to this
Section 10.04
.
(d)
Reimbursement by Lenders
. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to
indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it
to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any applicable Related
Party of any of the foregoing, without affecting the Borrowers payment obligations with respect
thereto, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent),
the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Applicable
91
Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity
payment is sought) of such unpaid amount,
provided
that the unreimbursed expense or
indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by
or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its
capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The
obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (d) are subject to the provisions of
Section
2.13(d)
.
(e)
Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.
To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, no party hereto or Related Party of any party hereto shall assert, and hereby
waives, any claim against each other party hereto and its Related Parties (including, as
applicable, each Indemnitee), on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as
a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated
hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of
the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any
damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials
distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems
in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby other than as a result of such Indemnitees gross negligence, willful misconduct
or material breach of any of its obligations under any Loan Document.
(f)
Payments
. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten
Business Days after demand therefor and the Borrowers receipt of reasonably detailed invoices or
statements related thereto.
(g)
Survival
. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the
termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the
other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside
. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is
made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the
L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such
setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a)
to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied
shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or
such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so
recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such
demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from
time to time in effect. The obligations of
92
the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the
payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns
.
(a)
Successors and Assigns Generally
. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and
each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this
Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this
Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions
of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party
hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be
construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section
and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by
reason of this Agreement.
(b)
Assignments by Lenders
. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible
Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b),
participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it);
provided
that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i)
Minimum Amounts
.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lenders Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case
of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no
minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the
aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans
outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal
outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such
assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to
such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is
specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less
than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
provided
,
however
, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and
concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible
Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee
93
Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining
whether such minimum amount has been met.
(ii)
Proportionate Amounts
. Each partial assignment shall be made as an
assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations
under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this
clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of the Swing Line Lenders rights and
obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;
(iii)
Required Consents
. No consent shall be required for any such assignment
except to the extent required by
subsection (b)(i)(B)
of this Section and, in
addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)
shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at
the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a
Lender or an Approved Fund;
provided
that the Borrower shall be
deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by
written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after
having received notice thereof;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a
Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with
respect to such Lender;
(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of
such assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit
(whether or not then outstanding); and
(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.
(iv)
Assignment and Assumption
. The parties to each assignment permitted by
Section 10.06(b)
shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment
and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500;
provided
,
however
, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole
discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any
assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v)
No Assignment to Certain Persons
. No such assignment shall be made (A) to
the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting
Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder,
would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a
natural person.
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(vi)
Certain Additional Payments
. In connection with any assignment of rights
and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective
unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties
to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an
aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright
payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other
compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not
funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor
hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then
owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and
interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share
of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with
its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment
of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under
applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee
of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this
Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)
of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the
assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned
by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this
Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by
such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations
under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be
entitled to the benefits of
Sections 3.01
,
3.04
,
3.05
, and
10.04
with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.
Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee
Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that
does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by
such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of
this Section.
(c)
Register
. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of
the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative
Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal
amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from
time to time and recordation of Assignments and Assumptions (the
Register
). The entries
in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the
terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to
the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information
regarding the designation, and revocation of
95
designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(d)
Participations
. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to,
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural
person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries)
(each, a
Participant
) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations
under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such
Lenders participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it);
provided
that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender
shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations
and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to
deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations
under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall
provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any
amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement;
provided
that such
agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the
Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to
Section 10.01
that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section,
the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Sections
3.01
,
3.04
and
3.05
and the obligations imposed by such Sections and shall be
subject to replacement pursuant to
Section 3.06
to the same extent as if it were a Lender
and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the
extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section
10.08
as though it were a Lender,
provided
such Participant agrees to be subject to
Section 2.14
as though it were a Lender.
(e)
Limitations upon Participant Rights
. A Participant shall not be entitled to
receive any greater payment under
Section 3.01
,
3.04
or
3.05
than the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to
such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the
Borrowers prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender
shall not be entitled to the benefits of
Section 3.01
unless the Borrower is notified of
the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the
Borrower, to comply with
Section 3.01(e)
as though it were a Lender.
(f)
Certain Pledges
. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest
in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a
Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender;
provided
that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder
or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g)
Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment
. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America
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assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may,
(i) upon 30 days notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30
days notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as
L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a
successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder;
provided
,
however
, that no
failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of
America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C
Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder
with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as
L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders
to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to
Section 2.04(c)
). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the
rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it
and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the
Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line
Loans pursuant to
Section 2.05(c)
. Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or
Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be,
and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of
Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory
to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such
Letters of Credit.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
. Each of the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (for itself and each of its Related Parties) agrees to maintain the
confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a)
to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates respective partners, directors, officers,
employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to
whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and
instructed to keep such Information confidential and will maintain such confidences), (b) to the
extent requested or required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal
process, including in connection with any pledge or assignment made pursuant to
Section
10.06(f)
, (c) subject to this
Section 10.07
, to any other party hereto, (d) in
connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in connection with
any Default or anticipated Default, the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (e) subject
to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any
assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights
or obligations under this Agreement or any Proposed Lender invited to be a Lender pursuant to
Section 2.16(c)
or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any
swap or derivative transaction relating to, and requested by, the Borrower and its obligations, (f)
with the consent of the Borrower or (g) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
97
For purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Borrower
or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of them, or
any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the
Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the
time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of
Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to
do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the
Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as
the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material
non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance
with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each
Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and
from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and
all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at
any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the
L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any
and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or
the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and
although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or
office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or
obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall
exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the
Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of
Section
2.18
and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other
funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y)
the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in
reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such
right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under
this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that
such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C
Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff
and application,
provided
that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any
Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the
maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the
Maximum Rate
). If
the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum
Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of
98
the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining
whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender
exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a)
characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest,
(b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and
spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of
the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in
Section 4.01
, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof
that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging
means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
All representations and warranties made
hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or
in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.
Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent
and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or
on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice
or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force
and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied
or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to
be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or
impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The
invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable
such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this
Section 10.12
, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this
Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in
good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable,
then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders
. If any Lender requests compensation under
Section 3.04
or gives a notice pursuant to
Section 3.02
(which notice is not given by other similarly
99
situated Lenders) and does not subsequently designate a different Lending Office or assign its
rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates as provided in
Section 3.06(a)
, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender
or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 3.01
, or if
any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the
Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole
expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to
assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained
in, and consents required by,
Section 10.06
), all of its interests, rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided
that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in
Section 10.06(b)
;
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding
principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other
amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under
Section 3.05
) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued
interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.04
or payments required to be made pursuant to
Section 3.01
, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as
a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to
require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc
.
(a)
GOVERNING LAW
. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
(b)
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION
. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS,
FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN
RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT
OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
100
APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL
JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS
AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY
LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY
JURISDICTION.
(c)
WAIVER OF VENUE
. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE
LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d)
SERVICE OF PROCESS
. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN
SECTION 10.02
. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT
THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY
OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE
OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
. In connection with all aspects of each
transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other
modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and
acknowledges its Affiliates understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services
regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are
arms-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on
101
the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand,
(ii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the
extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands
and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers each is and has been
acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties,
has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or
any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger
nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the
other Loan Documents; and (c) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders and their
respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that
differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, any
Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its
Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any
claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any
breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any
transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 No Recourse to Other Persons
. No past, present or future director, officer, partner,
employee, incorporator, manager, stockholder, unitholder or member of the Borrower, General
Partner, PAA, PAA GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, or Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and no
past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager, stockholder,
unitholder or member of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or PAA shall have any liability for any
Obligations or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the Obligations or their
creation. Each party hereto, for itself and each of its Related Parties, waives and releases all
such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the incurrence of
Indebtedness by the Borrower hereunder and, as applicable, the making of the Notes.
10.18 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.
The words execution,
signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any
amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include
electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the
same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a
paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any
applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act,
the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on
the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
10.19 USA PATRIOT Act.
Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and
the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower
that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into
law October 26, 2001)) (the Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that
identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other
information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative
102
Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower
shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all
documentation and other information that is in its or any of its Subsidiarys possession or control
which the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing
obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations,
including the Act (and if any of such requested documentation and other information is not in the
Borrowers or any of its Subsidiarys possession or control, will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain such information and other documentation).
10.20 Time of the Essence
. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
10.21 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL
AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE
PARTIES.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
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PAA NATURAL GAS STORAGE, L.P.
By: PNGS GP LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/
Al Swanson
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Name:
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Al Swanson
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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S - 1
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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
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By:
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/s/
Bridgett J. Manduk
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Name:
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Bridgett
J. Manduk
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Title:
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Assistant
Vice President
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S - 2
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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender, L/C Issuer
and Swing Line Lender
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By:
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/s/ Christen A. Lacey
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Name:
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Christen A. Lacey
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Title:
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Senior Vice President
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S - 3
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DNB NOR BANK ASA
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Philip F. Kurpiewski
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Name:
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Philip F. Kurpiewski
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Title:
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Senior Vice President
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By:
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/s/ Kristin Riise
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Name:
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Kristin Riise
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Title:
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First Vice President
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S - 4
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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Shannan Townsend
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Name:
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Shannan Townsend
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Title:
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Managing Director
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S - 5
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UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Irja R. Otsa
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Name:
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Irja R. Otsa
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Title:
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Associate Director Banking
Products Services, US
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By:
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/s/ Mary E. Evans
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Name:
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Mary E. Evans
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Title:
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Associate Director Banking
Products Services, US
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S - 6
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CITIBANK, N.A.
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ John E. Miller
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Name:
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John E. Miller
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Title:
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Attorney-in-Fact
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S - 7
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BARCLAYS BANK PLC
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Sam Yoo
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Name:
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Sam Yoo
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Title:
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Assistant Vice President
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S - 8
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Stephanie Balette
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Name:
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Stephanie Balette
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Title:
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Vice President
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S - 9
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BNP PARIBAS
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Greg Smothers
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Name:
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Greg Smothers
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Title:
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Director
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By:
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/s/ Edward Pak
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Name:
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Edward Pak
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Title:
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Vice President
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S - 10
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SUNTRUST BANK
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Yann Pirio
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Name:
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Yann Pirio
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Title:
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Director
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S - 11
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MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Raymond Ventura
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Name:
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Raymond Ventura
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Title:
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Deputy General Manager
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S - 12
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SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Masakazu Hasegawa
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Name:
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Masakazu Hasegawa
|
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Title:
|
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General Manager
|
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S - 13
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ING CAPITAL LLC
, as a Lender
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By:
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/s/ Cheryl Labelle
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Name:
|
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Cheryl Labelle
|
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|
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Title:
|
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Managing Director
|
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S - 14
|
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|
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SOCIETE GENERALE
, as a Lender
|
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By:
|
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|
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/s/ Barbara Paulson
|
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|
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Name:
|
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Barbara Paulson
|
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|
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Title:
|
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Managing Director
|
|
|
|
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|
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By:
|
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|
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/s/ Chung-Taek Oh
|
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Name:
|
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Chung-Taek Oh
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|
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|
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Title:
|
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Director
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 15
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
By:
|
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|
|
/s/ Justin M. Alexander
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
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Justin M. Alexander
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
Title:
|
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Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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By:
|
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|
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/s/ Don J. McKinnerney
|
|
|
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|
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Name:
|
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Don J. McKinnerney
|
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|
|
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|
|
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Title:
|
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|
|
|
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|
|
S - 17
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
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|
|
COMERICA BANK
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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By:
|
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|
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/s/ Greg Smith
|
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|
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Name:
|
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Greg Smith
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
S - 18
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
COMPASS BANK
, as a Lender
|
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|
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|
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|
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By:
|
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|
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/s/ Dorothy Marchand
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
|
Name:
|
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Dorothy Marchand
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONS BANK
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
By:
|
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|
|
/s/ Randy Petersen
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
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Randy Petersen
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
SVP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 20
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
NATIXIS
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
/s/ Louis P. Laville, III
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Louis P. Laville, III
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
/s/ Daniel Payer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Daniel Payer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES BANK, FSB
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
/s/ Garrett McKinnon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Garrett McKinnon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.
, as a Lender
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ryan Vetsch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Ryan Vetsch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Authorized Signatory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S - 23
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Applicable
|
|
Lender
|
|
Commitment
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Bank of America, N.A.
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.01
|
|
|
|
5.000000003
|
%
|
DnB NOR Bank ASA
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.01
|
|
|
|
5.000000003
|
%
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
5.000000000
|
%
|
UBS Loan Finance LLC
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
5.000000000
|
%
|
Citibank, N.A.
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
5.000000000
|
%
|
Barclays Bank PLC
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
5.000000000
|
%
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank
|
|
$
|
20,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
5.000000000
|
%
|
BNP Paribas
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
ING Capital LLC
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Societe Generale
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
U.S. Bank National Association
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Royal Bank of Canada
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Comerica Bank
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Compass Bank
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Regions Bank
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Natixis
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Applicable
|
|
Lender
|
|
Commitment
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Raymond James Bank, FSB
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
|
|
$
|
18,571,428.57
|
|
|
|
4.642857143
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
400,000,000.00
|
|
|
|
100.000000000
|
%
|
2
SCHEDULE 5.03
GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; OTHER CONSENTS
None.
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SCHEDULE 5.06
LITIGATION
None.
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SCHEDULE 5.07
NO DEFAULT
None.
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SCHEDULE 5.09
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
None.
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SCHEDULE 5.12
ERISA MATTERS
None.
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SCHEDULE 5.13
SUBSIDIARIES;
OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Closing Date:
Part (a).
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Subsidiaries
.
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None.
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Part (b).
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Other Equity Investments
.
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None.
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IPO Closing Date:
Part (a).
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Subsidiaries
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To be provided on a supplemental Schedule 5.13 on the IPO Closing Date.
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Part (b).
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Other Equity Investments
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To be provided on a supplemental
Schedule 5.13
on the IPO Closing Date.
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As of the Closing Date, the Borrower contemplates that on the IPO Closing Date it will conduct its
business activities through its wholly owned Subsidiaries, Bluewater and Pine Prairie, and their
respective Subsidiaries, as described in the Registration Statement.
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SCHEDULE 5.16
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
None.
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SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
BORROWER:
PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1100
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: 713-646-4100
Telecopier: (713) 646-4313
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 27-1679071
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
Administrative Agents Office
(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):
Bank of America, N.A.
Building B
2001 Clayton Road
Mail Code: CA4-702-02-25
Concord, CA 94520-2405
Attention: Anthony Salvador
Telephone: 925-675-8101
Telecopier: 415-249-5033
Electronic Mail:
anthony.salvador@baml.com
Account No.: 1366212250600
Ref: PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
ABA# 026009593
Other Notices as Administrative Agent
:
Bank of America, N.A.
Agency Management
1455 Market Street, 5
th
Floor
Mail Code: CA5-701-05-19
San Francisco, CA 94103
Attention: Bridgett J. Manduk
Telephone: 415-436-1097
Telecopier: 415-503-5011
Electronic Mail:
bridgett.manduk@baml.com
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L/C ISSUER:
Bank of America, N.A.
Trade Operations
1 Fleet Way
Mail Code: PA6-580-02-30
Scranton, PA 18507
Attention: David J. Carey
Telephone: 570-330-4316
Telecopier: 570-330-3573
Electronic Mail:
david.carey@baml.com
SWING LINE LENDER:
Bank of America, N.A.
Building B
2001 Clayton Road
Mail Code: CA4-702-02-25
Concord, CA 94520-2405
Attention: Anthony Salvador
Telephone: 925-675-8101
Telecopier: 415-249-5033
Electronic Mail:
anthony.salvador@baml.com
Account No.: 1366212250600
Ref: PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.
ABA# 026009593
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