SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

SCHEDULE 13E-3

RULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT

UNDER SECTION 13(E) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 


 

EQGP Holdings, LP

(Name of Issuer)

 


 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

(Name of Person Filing Statement)

 


 

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

26885J103

(CUSIP Numbers of Class of Securities)

 


 

Kirk R. Oliver
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 395-2688

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Filing
Person)

 


 

COPIES TO:

Joshua Davidson
Mike L. Bengtson
Mollie H. Duckworth
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002-4995
(713) 229-1234

 


 

This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):

 

o a.                        The filing of solicitation materials or an information statement subject to Regulation 14A, Regulation 14C or Rule 13e-3(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

o b.                        The filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

o c.                         A tender offer.

 

x d.                      None of the above.

 

Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information statement referred to in checking box (a) are preliminary copies: o

 

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the transaction: o

 


 

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE

 

TRANSACTION VALUATION*

 

AMOUNT OF FILING FEE+

$529,234,160

 

$64,144

 


*                  Estimated for purposes of calculating the amount of the filing fee only. The amount assumes the purchase of all outstanding common units representing limited partner interests (the EQGP Common Units) of EQGP Holdings, LP (EQGP) not owned by Equitrans Midstream Corporation (ETRN) and its affiliates at a purchase price of $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit, net to the seller in cash. On November 29, 2018, 302,470,474 EQGP Common Units were outstanding, of which 276,008,766 are owned by ETRN and its affiliates. Accordingly, this calculation assumes the purchase of 26,461,708 EQGP Common Units, the maximum number of EQGP Common Units that may be acquired in the transactions.

+                  The amount of the filing fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Fee Rate Advisory #1 for Fiscal Year 2019 issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, equals $121.20 per million dollars of the transaction value.

 

o             Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

Amount previously paid: n/a

Filing party: n/a

Form or registration No.: n/a

Date filed: n/a

 

This transaction has not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities Exchange Commission (the SEC) or any state securities commission, nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the fairness or merits of such transaction or upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained in the document. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.

 

 

 


 

This Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 (as amended from time to time, this Transaction Statement), together with the exhibits hereto, is being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), by Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (ETRN).

 

This Transaction Statement relates to the execution of (a) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Neuberger Berman Investment Adviser LP (Neuberger Berman), whereby ETRN will acquire 5,200,000 common units representing limited partner interests (EQGP Common Units) in EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (EQGP), from Neuberger Berman for $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit (the Purchase Price), (b) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM), whereby ETRN will acquire 1,865,020 EQGP Common Units from GSAM for the Purchase Price, (c) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Cushing Asset Management, LP (Cushing), whereby ETRN will acquire 920,130 EQGP Common Units from Cushing for the Purchase Price, (d) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. (Kayne Anderson), whereby ETRN will acquire 1,363,974 EQGP Common Units from Kayne Anderson for the Purchase Price and (e) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, by and between ETRN and ZP Energy Fund, L.P. (Zimmer, and collectively with Neuberger Berman, GSAM, Cushing and Kayne Anderson, the Selling Unitholders), whereby ETRN will acquire 3,414,168 EQGP Common Units from Zimmer for the Purchase Price (collectively, the Unit Purchases, and such agreements, the Unit Purchase Agreements). The aggregate consideration to be paid by ETRN pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements is $255,265,840.00. In addition, ETRN agreed to purchase from the Selling Unitholders any additional EQGP Common Units acquired by the Selling Unitholders after the date of the Unit Purchase Agreements for the Purchase Price.

 

As of November 29, 2018, there were 302,470,474 outstanding EQGP Common Units, and ETRN and its affiliates owned 276,008,766 of such EQGP Common Units, representing an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP. Following the closings of the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreements (the Closings), ETRN will own at least 288,772,058 EQGP Common Units representing approximately 95.5% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units. As such, assuming the Closings occur for all Unit Purchase Agreements, ETRN will purchase any and all remaining outstanding EQGP Common Units (other than EQGP Common Units owned by ETRN and its affiliates, including those acquired in the Unit Purchases) pursuant to the exercise of the limited call right (the Limited Call Right) provided for in Section 15.1(a) of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of EQGP, dated as of October 12, 2018 (as may be amended from time to time, the EQGP Partnership Agreement), at a price per EQGP Common Unit not less than the Purchase Price. After giving effect to the exercise of the Limited Call Right, ETRN and its affiliates will own all the outstanding EQGP Common Units. If one or more Closings do not occur such that ETRN and its affiliates do not own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units, ETRN may not be able to exercise the Limited Call Right. For purposes of calculating the number of EQGP Common Units owned by ETRN and its affiliates, directors and officers of ETRN and EQGP are deemed not to be “affiliates.”

 

The Unit Purchases and exercise of the Limited Call Right are referred to in this Transaction Statement as the “Transactions.”

 

As of the date of this Transaction Statement, ETRN has not acquired the EQGP Common Units subject to the Unit Purchase Agreements and has not exercised the Limited Call Right. However, the execution of the Unit Purchase Agreements may be deemed to constitute a step towards one or more transactions that may constitute a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” under the rules and regulations of the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. Accordingly, no Closings will occur until at least 30 days after the filing of this Transaction Statement with the SEC. This Transaction Statement is being provided to holders of EQGP Common Units in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 13e-3 in connection with the consummation of the Unit Purchases.

 

Each Closing is expected to occur at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless ETRN delivers written notice to a Selling Unitholder no later than one calendar day prior to December 31, 2018 specifying a later closing date (which later date is no more than 30 days following December 31, 2018).

 

Attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(3) is a Disclosure Statement (the Disclosure Statement) that provides disclosure concerning the Transactions. All information in the Disclosure Statement is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in answer to all items in this Transaction Statement and is supplemented by the information specifically provided herein, except as otherwise set forth below.

 

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Item 1. Summary Term Sheet.

 

Item 1001 of Regulation M-A

 

The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2. Subject Company Information.

 

Item 1002 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The exact title and class of the subject equity securities is “Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests.” As of November 29, 2018, there were 302,470,474 outstanding EQGP Common Units.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Price Range of EQGP Common Units; Distributions on EQGP Common Units ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Price Range of EQGP Common Units; Distributions on EQGP Common Units ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(e)                                   None.

 

(f)                                    The information set forth in Disclosure Statement under “ Who are the parties to the Unit Purchase Agreements? ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3. Identity and Background of Filing Person.

 

Item 1003(a)-(c) of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP ,” “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning ETRN, ” and “ Schedule A—Directors and Executive Officers of ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning ETRN ” and “ Schedule A—Directors and Executive Officers of ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4. Terms of the Transaction.

 

Item 1004(a) of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—What are the material terms of the Unit Purchase Agreements? ,” “ Summary Term Sheet—What are the United States federal income tax consequences of having EQGP Common Units purchased as a result of the Limited Call Right, ” “ The Transactions—The Unit Purchase Agreements, ” and “ The Transactions—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives, ” and “ The Transactions—Appraisal Rights; “Going-Private” Rules ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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(d)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Appraisal Rights; “Going-Private” Rules ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(e)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(f)                                    Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Past Contacts, Negotiations and Agreements.

 

Item 1005(a)-(b) and (e) of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ,” “ Special Factors—Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units ,” “ Special Factors—Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right ,” and “ Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ,” “ Special Factors—Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units ,” “ Special Factors—Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right ,” and “ Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ” and “ Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(e)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions, ” “ Special Factors—Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the ETRN Common Units, ” “ Special Factors—Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Call Right, ” and “ Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 6. Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.

 

Item 1006(b) and (c)(1)-(8) of Regulation M-A

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—Is this the first step in a “going-private” transaction ?,” “ Special Factors—Certain Effects of the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right, ” “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives, ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(1)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives, ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(2)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives, ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(3)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock

 

4


 

Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(4)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(5)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(6)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(7)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)(8)                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—Is this the first step in a “going-private” transaction? ,” “ Special Factors—Certain Effects of the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right, ” and “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7. Purposes, Alternatives, Reasons and Effects.

 

Item 1013 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet, ” “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions, ” and “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ” and “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ” and “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet, ” “ Summary Term Sheet—What are the United States federal income tax consequences of having EQGP Common Units purchased as a result of the Limited Call Right?, ” “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions ,” “ Special Factors—Purposes of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives, ” “ The Transactions—Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations ,” “ The Transactions—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences, ” and “ The Transactions—Appraisal Rights; “Going-Private” Rules ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

5


 

Item 8. Fairness of the Transaction.

 

Item 1014 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—The Position of ETRN Regarding the Fairness of the Transactions ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—The Position of ETRN Regarding the Fairness of the Transactions ” and “ Special Factors—Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—Am I requested, required or entitled to make any decisions in connection with the Transactions? ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d)                                  An unaffiliated representative was not retained for the purpose of representing unaffiliated security holders in negotiating the terms of the Transactions, or preparing a report concerning the fairness of the transaction.

 

(e)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—Has ETRN negotiated, or sought the approval of, the Unit Purchases with EQGP? ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(f)                                    The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—The Position of ETRN Regarding the Fairness of the Transactions ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9 of Schedule 13E-3. Reports, Opinions, Appraisals and Negotiations.

 

Item 1015 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 10. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

 

Item 1007 of Regulation M-A.

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—Will ETRN have the financial resources to pay for all of the EQGP Common Units that it is acquiring pursuant to the Transactions? ” and “ The Transactions—Source and Amount of Funds ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet—What are the material terms of the Unit Purchase Agreements?, ” “ Summary Term Sheet—Will ETRN have the financial resources to pay for all of the EQGP Common Units that it is acquiring pursuant to the Transactions? ,” “ The Transactions—The Unit Purchase Agreements, ” and “ The Transactions—Source and Amount of Funds ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Fees and Expenses ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Source and Amount of Funds ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

6


 

Item 11. Interest in Securities of the Subject Company.

 

Item 1008 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units ” and “ Schedule B—Ownership of EQGP Common Units by ETRN and Certain Related Persons ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Special Factors—Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units ” and “ Schedule B—Ownership of EQGP Common Units by ETRN and Certain Related Persons ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12 of Schedule 13E-3. The Solicitation or Recommendation.

 

Item 1012(d) and (e) of Regulation M-A

 

(d)                                  Not applicable.

 

(e)                                   Not applicable.

 

Item 13. Financial Statements.

 

Item 1010(a) and (b) of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning EQGP ” is incorporated herein by reference. The financial statements of EQGP are also incorporated herein by reference to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements filed on Form 8-K/A on July 23, 2018, “ Part II— Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ” of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and “ Part I—Item 1—Financial Statements (Unaudited) ” of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

 

(b)                                  Pro forma financial information is not material to Transactions.

 

(c)                                   The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Summary Consolidated Financial Information ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used.

 

Item 1009 of Regulation M-A

 

(a)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ The Transactions—Fees and Expenses ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)                                  The information set forth in the Disclosure Statement under “ Summary Term Sheet ,” “ Special Factors—Background of the Transactions, ” and “ Special Factors—Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right ” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 15. Additional Information.

 

Item 1011(b) and (c) of Regulation M-A

 

(b)                                  None.

 

(c)                                   Certain financial statements of EQGP are incorporated herein by reference to “ Item 9.01(b)—Financial Statements and Exhibits ” of its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2018.

 

7


 

Item 16 of Schedule 13E-3. Exhibits.

 

Item 1016(a)-(d), (f) and (g) of Regulation M-A

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

(a)(3)

 

Disclosure Statement, dated November 30, 2018

 

 

 

(a)(5)

 

Press Release, dated November 30, 2018, issued by ETRN

 

 

 

(b)

 

Commitment Letter, dated November 28, 2018, among Equitrans Midstream Corporation, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and certain other financing sources party thereto.

 

 

 

(c)(1)

 

Materials prepared by Guggenheim Securities LLC for the Board of Directors of Equitrans Midstream Corporation, dated November 17, 2018

 

 

 

(c)(2)

 

Materials prepared by Guggenheim Securities LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC for the Board of Directors of Equitrans Midstream Corporation, dated November 24, 2018

 

 

 

(d)(1)

 

Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of EQGP Holdings, LP, dated as of October 12, 2018 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed by EQGP Holdings, LP on October 15, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(2)

 

Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2018 by and among Equitrans Midstream Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the other lenders party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on October 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(3)

 

Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2018, by and among EQT Corporation, Equitrans Midstream Corporation and, solely for certain limited purposes therein, EQT Production Company (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on November 13, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(4)

 

Working Capital Loan Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2018, between Equitrans Midstream Corporation and EQGP Holdings, LP (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on November 13, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(5)

 

Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2018, by and among Equitrans Midstream Corporation, EQGP Holdings, LP and EQGP Services, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on November 13, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(6)

 

Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2018, by and among Equitrans Midstream Corporation, EQM Midstream Partners, LP and EQM Midstream Services, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on November 13, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(7)

 

Secondment Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2018, by and among Equitrans Midstream Corporation, EQM Midstream Partners, LP and EQM Midstream Services,  LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K filed by Equitrans Midstream Corporation on November 13, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

 

 

(d)(8)

 

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among Equitrans Midstream Corporation and funds managed by Neuberger Berman Investment Adviser LP

 

 

 

(d)(9)

 

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among Equitrans Midstream Corporation and funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

 

 

 

(d)(10)

 

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among Equitrans Midstream Corporation and funds managed by Cushing Asset Management, LP 

 

 

 

(d)(11)

 

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among Equitrans Midstream Corporation and funds managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.

 

 

 

(d)(12)

 

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, by and between Equitrans Midstream Corporation and ZP Energy Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

(f)

 

None

 

 

 

(g)

 

None

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Date: November 30, 2018

 

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

Name:

Kirk R. Oliver

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit (a)(3)

 

Disclosure Statement

 

This Disclosure Statement is being furnished to you by Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (ETRN), in connection with the execution of (a) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Neuberger Berman Investment Adviser LP (Neuberger Berman), whereby ETRN will acquire 5,200,000 common units representing limited partner interests (EQGP Common Units) in EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (EQGP), from Neuberger Berman for $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit (the Purchase Price), (b) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM), whereby ETRN will acquire 1,865,020 EQGP Common Units from GSAM for the Purchase Price, (c) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Cushing Asset Management, LP (Cushing), whereby ETRN will acquire 920,130 EQGP Common Units from Cushing for the Purchase Price, (d) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, among ETRN and funds managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. (Kayne Anderson), whereby ETRN will acquire 1,363,974 EQGP Common Units from Kayne Anderson for the Purchase Price and (e) a Unit Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2018, by and between ETRN and ZP Energy Fund, L.P. (Zimmer, and collectively with Neuberger Berman, GSAM, Cushing and Kayne Anderson, the Selling Unitholders), whereby ETRN will acquire 3,414,168 EQGP Common Units from Zimmer for the Purchase Price (collectively, the Unit Purchases, and such agreements, the Unit Purchase Agreements). The aggregate consideration to be paid by ETRN pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements is $255,265,840.00. In addition, ETRN agreed to purchase from the Selling Unitholders any additional EQGP Common Units acquired by the Selling Unitholders after the date of the Unit Purchase Agreements for the Purchase Price.

 

As of November 29, 2018, there were 302,470,474 outstanding EQGP Common Units, and ETRN and its affiliates owned 276,008,766 of such EQGP Common Units, representing an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP. Following the closings of the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreements (the Closings), ETRN will own 288,772,058 EQGP Common Units representing approximately 95.5% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units. As such, assuming the Closings occur for all Unit Purchase Agreements, ETRN will purchase any and all remaining outstanding EQGP Common Units (other than EQGP Common Units owned by ETRN and its affiliates, including those acquired in the Unit Purchases) pursuant to the exercise of the limited call right (the Limited Call Right) provided for in Section 15.1(a) of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of EQGP, dated as of October 12, 2018 (as may be amended from time to time, the EQGP Partnership Agreement), at a price per EQGP Common Unit not less than the Purchase Price. After giving effect to the exercise of the Limited Call Right, ETRN and its affiliates will own all the outstanding EQGP Common Units. If one or more Closings do not occur such that ETRN and its affiliates do not own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units, ETRN may not be able to exercise the Limited Call Right. For purposes of calculating the number of EQGP Common Units owned by ETRN and its affiliates, directors and officers of ETRN and EQGP are deemed not to be “affiliates.”

 

The Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right are referred to in this Disclosure Statement as the “Transactions.”

 

As of the date of this Disclosure Statement, ETRN has not acquired the EQGP Common Units subject to the Unit Purchase Agreements and has not exercised the Limited Call Right. However, the execution of the Unit Purchase Agreements may be deemed to constitute a step towards one or more transactions that may constitute a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” under the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Accordingly, no Closings will occur until at least 30 days after the filing of a Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 with the SEC. This Disclosure Statement is being provided to holders of EQGP Common Units in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 13e-3 in connection with the consummation of the Unit Purchases.

 

Each Closing is expected to occur at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless ETRN delivers written notice to a Selling Unitholder no later than one calendar day prior to December 31, 2018 specifying a later date (which later date is no more than 30 days following December 31, 2018).

 

NO VOTE OR ACTION OF THE HOLDERS OF EQGP COMMON UNITS IS REQUIRED OR REQUESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. ASSUMING THE CLOSINGS OCCUR AND ETRN EXERCISES THE LIMITED CALL RIGHT, THE HOLDERS OF EQGP COMMON UNITS (OTHER THAN THE SELLING UNITHOLDERS) ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY DECISION IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS.

 

This transaction has not been approved or disapproved by the SEC or any state securities commission, nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the fairness or merits of such transaction or upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained in this document. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.

 

You are urged to read the Disclosure Statement in its entirety for a description of the Transactions.

 

The date of this Disclosure Statement is November 30, 2018.

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

SUMMARY TERM SHEET

 

1

SPECIAL FACTORS

 

6

Background of the Transactions

 

6

Purpose of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives

 

7

The Position of ETRN Regarding the Fairness of the Transactions

 

9

Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN

 

11

Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN

 

21

Financial Projections

 

21

Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units

 

22

Conditions of the Limited Call Right

 

22

Certain Effects of the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right

 

22

Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right

 

23

Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP

 

25

Effects on EQGP if the Transactions are Not Consummated

 

26

Possible Actions by ETRN with Regard to EQGP if the Transactions are Not Completed

 

26

THE TRANSACTIONS

 

26

The Unit Purchase Agreements

 

26

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

28

Price Range of EQGP Common Units; Distributions on EQGP Common Units

 

30

Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

 

31

Appraisal Rights; “Going-Private” Rules

 

32

Certain Information Concerning EQGP

 

32

Certain Information Concerning ETRN

 

34

Source and Amount of Funds

 

35

Fees and Expenses

 

36

Miscellaneous

 

36

 

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SUMMARY TERM SHEET

 

The following summary highlights and provides an overview of the transactions discussed in this Disclosure Statement and may not present all the information that is important to you. The summary also contains cross-references to the more detailed discussions elsewhere in the Disclosure Statement. You should carefully read this entire Disclosure Statement, the Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement of which it forms a part and the other exhibits to the Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement.

 

Who are the parties to the Unit Purchase Agreements?

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

 

ETRN is acquiring the EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements. ETRN was formed on May 11, 2018 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQT Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (EQT), to hold the assets, liabilities and results of operations of EQT’s separately-operated natural gas gathering, transmission and storage and water services of EQT (collectively, the Midstream Business). On February 21, 2018, EQT announced plans to separate (the Separation) the Midstream Business from its natural gas, oil and natural gas liquid development, production and sales and commercial operations (collectively, the Upstream Business). On November 12, 2018, the Separation was effected through a series of transactions that culminated in the contribution of the Midstream Business to ETRN and the distribution of 80.1% of the shares in ETRN to existing EQT shareholders (the Distribution). Following the Distribution, EQT retained a 19.9% ownership interest in ETRN. In addition, as a result of the Distribution ETRN holds investments in the entities conducting the Midstream Business, including (i) an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP, which holds (a) an approximate 17.9% limited partner interest in EQM Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware publicly traded limited partnership and indirect subsidiary of each of ETRN and EQGP (EQM), (b) an approximate 1.2% general partner interest in EQM, and (c) all the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) in EQM, and (ii) an approximate 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM. See Introduction and The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning ETRN for more information.

 

Funds managed by Neuberger Berman

 

Funds managed by Neuberger Berman are selling 5,200,000 EQGP Common Units pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Funds managed by GSAM

 

Funds managed by GSAM are selling 1,865,020 EQGP Common Units pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Funds managed by Cushing

 

Funds managed by Cushing are selling 920,130 EQGP Common Units pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Funds managed by Kayne Anderson

 

Funds managed by Kayne Anderson are selling 1,363,974 EQGP Common Units pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Zimmer

 

Zimmer is selling 3,414,168 EQGP Common Units pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Why is ETRN acquiring the EQGP Common Units?

 

As of the date of this Disclosure Statement, ETRN and its affiliates beneficially own 276,008,766 EQGP Common Units, representing an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP, and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP. ETRN is acquiring the EQGP Common Units in the Unit Purchases for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient number of EQGP Common Units to permit it to exercise the Limited Call Right. ETRN desires to exercise the Limited Call Right in order to take EQGP private and to simplify ETRN’s corporate structure. See

 

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Purpose of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives beginning on page 7 for more information.

 

What are the material terms of the Unit Purchase Agreements?

 

Number of EQGP Common Units; Purchase Price

 

Pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements, ETRN will acquire 12,763,292 EQGP Common Units for a purchase price of $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit, or approximately $255,262,840.00 million in the aggregate. If one or more of the Closings does not occur, the number of EQGP Common Units acquired and the aggregate purchase price paid by ETRN will be reduced by the amounts applicable to the Unit Purchase Agreements for which Closings do not occur. In addition, ETRN agreed to acquire any additional EQGP Common Units acquired by the Selling Unitholders after the date of the Unit Purchase Agreements, at the option of the Selling Unitholders, for the Purchase Price.

 

Closing

 

Each Closing is expected to occur at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless ETRN delivers written notice to a Selling Unitholder no later than one calendar day prior to December 31, 2018 specifying a later date (which later date is no more than 30 days following December 31, 2018).

 

Conditions to Closing

 

Each Closing is subject to the condition that no governmental authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered into any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Unit Purchases. In addition, ETRN’s and the Selling Unitholders’ obligations under the Unit Purchase Agreements are subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions by the Selling Unitholders.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Unit Purchase Agreements contain customary representations and warranties of ETRN and the Selling Unitholders.

 

Indemnification

 

ETRN and each Selling Unitholder will indemnify each other from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) incurred by the indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in the applicable Unit Purchase Agreement or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant in the applicable Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Termination

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement may only be terminated by mutual written consent of the parties.

 

The summaries of the Unit Purchase Agreements set forth above are qualified by reference to the full text of the Unit Purchase Agreements, which are filed as Exhibits (d)(8), (d)(9), (d)(10), (d)(11) and (d)(12) to the Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3. For more information, see The Transactions—The Unit Purchase Agreements .

 

Will ETRN have the financial resources to pay for all of the EQGP Common Units that it is acquiring pursuant to the Transactions?

 

Yes, ETRN will have sufficient financial resources available to it. ETRN estimates that the total amount of funds necessary to purchase all outstanding EQGP Common Units that ETRN and its affiliates do not already own pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, will be approximately $539.4 million. ETRN has entered into a commitment letter (the Debt Commitment Letter) with Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and certain financing sources party thereto (Goldman Sachs Bank USA and such financing sources, the Commitment Parties) pursuant to which the Commitment Parties have committed to provide ETRN with a senior secured term loan B facility of up to an aggregate principal amount of $650 million (the Term Facility). The Term Facility will be available to ETRN to finance, among other things, the Unit Purchases, the exercise of the Limited Call

 

2


 

Right and the payment of associated fees and expenses, subject to customary conditions contained in the Debt Commitment Letter, including, without limitation, (1) the execution and delivery of definitive documentation, (2) the substantially concurrent consummation of the Unit Purchases and (3) since November 12, 2018, there not occurring a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of ETRN and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. See The Transactions—Source and Amount of Funds for more information.

 

Is this the first step in a “going-private” transaction?

 

Yes, assuming that the Unit Purchases are consummated and ETRN and its affiliates own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units after the Closings. As a result of the exercise of EQGP Services, LLC’s (the EQGP General Partner) Limited Call Right (which ETRN will exercise if it and its affiliates own more than 95% of the EQGP Common Units outstanding after the Closings), ETRN will purchase all of the remaining EQGP Common Units. As a result, following the exercise of the Limited Call Right, EQGP will cease to be a public company, registration of EQGP under the Exchange Act will be terminated, and the EQGP Common Units will cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In addition, if the Closings occur but we do not exercise the Limited Call Right, the EQGP Common Units could become ineligible to continue trading on the NYSE or another national securities exchange, and the more limited number of holders of EQGP Common Units could result in a lower liquidity and trading volume in the EQGP Common Units. If ETRN does not exercise the Limited Call Right, then certain of the relationships described in Special Factors—Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP may survive the consummation of the Unit Purchases and ETRN may take additional actions in the future to seek to acquire additional EQGP Common Units.

 

Are there any conditions to the exercise of the Limited Call Right?

 

Yes. Pursuant to Section 15.1(a) of the EQGP Partnership Agreement, if at any time the EQGP General Partner and its affiliates hold more than 95% of the total EQGP Common Units then outstanding, the EQGP General Partner will have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to ETRN or any other affiliate of the EQGP General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the EQGP Common Units then outstanding held by persons other than the EQGP General Partner and its affiliates, at a price equal to the greater of (i) the average of the daily closing price per EQGP Common Unit for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date three business days prior to the date that the notice of exercise of the Limited Call Right is delivered pursuant to the EQGP Partnership Agreement and (ii) the highest price paid by the EQGP General Partner or any of its affiliates for any such EQGP Common Unit purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that such notice is mailed, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 15.1 of the EQGP Partnership Agreement.

 

As a result, in order to exercise the Limited Call Right, ETRN and its affiliates must collectively hold more than 95% of the total EQGP Common Units then outstanding following the completion of the Unit Purchases. Accordingly, ETRN will be able to exercise the Limited Call Right only if the Unit Purchases are consummated. If ETRN does not exercise the Limited Call Right, or if one or more Closings do not occur, then ETRN may take additional actions in the future to seek to acquire the EQGP Common Units that ETRN does not currently own.

 

For purposes of calculating the number of EQGP Common Units owned by ETRN and its affiliates, directors and officers of ETRN and EQGP are deemed not to be “affiliates.”

 

In addition, the exercise of the Limited Call Right is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Special Factors—Conditions of the Limited Call Right beginning on page 22.

 

How long will it take to complete the Unit Purchases and the subsequent exercise of the Limited Call Right?

 

Pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements, each Closing is expected occur at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless ETRN delivers written notice to a Selling Unitholder no later than one calendar day prior to December 31, 2018 specifying a later date (which later date is no more than 30 days following December 31, 2018). ETRN will exercise the Limited Call Right to allow ETRN to purchase all remaining outstanding EQGP Common Units promptly, but in any event not more than 90 days, after the Closings. Pursuant to the EQGP Partnership Agreement, ETRN or the EQGP General Partner must provide at least ten (and not more than 60) days’ notice of its exercise of the Limited Call Right prior to the purchase date.

 

3


 

Has ETRN negotiated, or sought the approval of, the terms of the Unit Purchases with EQGP?

 

No. The Unit Purchases are transactions between ETRN and third parties and do not require negotiations with, or approvals of, EQGP. Since the Unit Purchases involve direct negotiations with the Selling Unitholders and the Limited Call Right is a pre-existing contractual provision in the EQGP Partnership Agreement, EQGP has not retained an unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of unaffiliated holders of EQGP Common Units for purposes of negotiating the terms of the Transactions.

 

Are appraisal rights available in connection with the Limited Call Right?

 

Appraisal rights are not available in connection with the exercise of the Limited Call Right. Unlike the stock of a corporation, the Delaware law governing limited partnerships does not provide for appraisal rights unless such rights are contained in the partnership agreement. The EQGP Partnership Agreement does not provide for any rights to appraisal. See The Transactions—Appraisal Rights; Going-Private Rules  beginning on page 32.

 

Does ETRN have any plans for EQGP after the consummation of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right?

 

Upon completion of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, if available, ETRN intends to cause the EQGP Common Units to be delisted from the NYSE and deregistered under the Exchange Act. Once the registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act has been terminated, EQGP will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC. See The Transactions Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations .

 

Concurrently with the filing of this Disclosure Statement, ETRN expects to make a proposal to the board of directors of EQM Midstream Services, LLC, the general partner of EQM (the EQM General Partner), conditioned upon completion of the Transactions, such that EQGP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETRN, pursuant to which a subsidiary of EQM will merge with and into EQGP, with EQGP surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQM. In the merger, (i) ETRN’s noneconomic general partner interest in EQGP will be converted into the noneconomic general partner interest in EQM, (ii) ETRN’s economic interests in EQGP will be converted into a combination of EQM Common Units and Payment-In-Kind units in EQM (EQM PIK Units) and (iii) the incentive distribution rights and economic general partner interest in EQM held by EQGP will be cancelled (together, the IDR Exchange Merger). The aggregate number of EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units issued by EQM in the proposed IDR Exchange Merger would be 95 million.

 

ETRN presently expects that after the completion of the Transactions and pending completion of the IDR Exchange Merger, ETRN will retain ownership of its EQGP Common Units. Following the IDR Exchange Merger, EQGP will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQM. However, there can be no guarantee that the IDR Exchange Merger will occur in the manner described or at all, and if the IDR Exchange Merger does not occur, ETRN expects to operate EQGP as a going concern under its control and to review EQGP’s assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel to determine what changes, if any, may be advisable. ETRN expressly reserves the right to make any changes to its future plans that it deems necessary or appropriate in light of its review or future developments. See Special Factors Purpose of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives beginning on page 7 for more information.

 

Am I requested, required or entitled to make any decisions in connection with the Transactions?

 

Other than the Selling Unitholders, you are not requested, required or entitled to make any decisions in connection with the Transactions. If the Closings occur and ETRN exercises the Limited Call Right, ETRN will acquire all remaining outstanding EQGP Common Units through no action of the holders of those EQGP Common Units due to the fact that the Limited Call Right is a contractual provision contained in the EQGP Partnership Agreement that the holders of EQGP Common Units are deemed to accept.

 

4


 

What are the United States federal income tax consequences of having EQGP Common Units purchased as a result of the Limited Call Right?

 

In general, if you are a U.S. Holder (as defined in The Transactions—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences), the sale of EQGP Common Units for cash pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right will be a taxable transaction in which you will recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences to you of the exercise of the Limited Call Right in light of your particular circumstances, including the consequences under applicable United States federal estate, gift and other non-income tax laws, and under any applicable state, local or foreign income or other tax laws. See The Transactions—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences beginning on page 28 for more information.

 

5


 

SPECIAL FACTORS

 

Background of the Transactions

 

In preparation for the consummation of the Separation (as defined in Special Factors Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units ), members of the management team and board of directors designated to serve as officers or directors of ETRN post-Separation received presentations from various investment banks regarding the effects of incentive distribution rights on the ability of master limited partnerships to raise capital, recent “simplifications” undertaken by a number of master limited partnerships and the market outlook for midstream energy companies generally. In its Statement on Schedule 13D filed on November 14, 2018, ETRN stated that it was evaluating a wide range of potential transactions and strategic alternatives, including one or more of a combination of EQGP and EQM or the modification or elimination of the IDRs, or similar transactions.

 

On November 13, 2018, representatives of ETRN’s management and several members of ETRN’s board of directors (the ETRN Board) met with representatives of Guggenheim Securities, LLC (Guggenheim) to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a simplification with respect to one or both of EQGP and EQM, possible structuring approaches for a simplification and timing considerations. Over the course of the following weeks, representatives of ETRN’s management held a series of discussions with its advisors to further evaluate the corporate structure and analyze options for addressing the IDRs.

 

On November 16 and 17, 2018, representatives of ETRN’s management held discussions with representatives of Guggenheim, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (Goldman Sachs) and Baker Botts L.L.P., legal advisors to ETRN (Baker Botts), regarding preparation of materials and subject matter for the meeting of the ETRN Board scheduled for November 17, 2018.

 

On November 17, 2018, the ETRN Board held a special meeting, by teleconference, to discuss potential transactions that would simplify the corporate structure of ETRN, EQGP and EQM and address the IDRs. Representatives of ETRN’s management, Baker Botts, Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs were in attendance. One of the transactions discussed at the meeting involved the purchase by ETRN of EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates pursuant to one or more of the following: (i) privately negotiated purchases of EQGP Common Units by ETRN, (ii) a tender offer for all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates, and (iii) the exercise of the Limited Call Right, followed by an exchange of the IDRs and general partner interest in EQM for (a) EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units and (b) a non-economic general partner interest in EQM. The ETRN Board also discussed the possibility of a merger between EQGP and EQM.

 

On November 20, 2018, representatives of ETRN’s management held a meeting, by teleconference, to discuss mechanics and timing of a potential tender offer for all outstanding EQGP Common Units and other potential transactions with representatives of Baker Botts, Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs. Over the next several days, representatives of ETRN’s management held a series of discussions with its advisors regarding, among other things, alternatives for acquiring EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates and the financing arrangements with respect to the proposed transaction.

 

On November 24, 2018, a special meeting of the ETRN Board was held, by teleconference, to consider whether to authorize management to commence a series of transactions intended to (i) acquire all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates and (ii) simplify the Midstream Business structure. Representatives of Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs made a presentation to the ETRN Board of, and key considerations for, certain simplification alternatives including (i) the purchase of all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates through one or more of (x) privately negotiated purchases of EQGP Common Units from certain unaffiliated unitholders through a wall-cross process, (y) the commencement of a tender offer and (z) the exercise of the Limited Call Right, and (ii) a merger between EQGP and EQM with either EQGP or EQM surviving. For more information on this presentation see Special Factors—Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN . Representatives of ETRN’s management then made a presentation to the ETRN Board considering the potential financial impacts of a tender offer by ETRN to acquire all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates, as compared to an alternative merger transaction through which EQM could acquire EQGP. Representatives of ETRN’s management then discussed the contemplated key terms of the Term Facility, which would

 

6


 

be used to consummate the transactions discussed. For more information on this presentation see Special Factors— Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN . Representatives of ETRN’s management, Baker Botts, Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs were in attendance.

 

Representatives of ETRN’s management then presented the ETRN Board with proposed resolutions and requested that it consider and authorize ETRN to (i) proceed with a private wall-cross process to approach certain unaffiliated holders of EQGP Common Units, including the Selling Unitholders (each, a Wall-Cross Holder), and offer to purchase their EQGP Common Units, (ii) in the event that the private negotiations were not sufficient to result in ETRN’s and its affiliates’ ownership of more than 95% of the then outstanding EQGP Common Units, commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates, (iii) in the event ETRN reaches the 95% threshold either privately or by tender offer, to exercise the Limited Call Right, (iv) deliver a non-binding proposal, subject to the consummation of the Limited Call Right, to the board of directors (the EQM Board) of the EQM General Partner, for an exchange, through a merger, of the IDRs and general partner interest in EQM for (a) EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units and (b) a non-economic general partner interest in EQM, and (v) enter into the Term Facility in an amount not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of $650 million. The ETRN Board approved such resolutions.

 

On November 26, 2018, representatives of Guggenheim approached the Wall-Cross Holders on a no-names basis to determine whether they would have any interest in reviewing material non-public information in connection with a potential transaction. On November 26 and 27, 2018, certain of those Wall-Cross Holders, including the Selling Unitholders, agreed to receive information regarding a potential transaction on a confidential basis and, at that time, were informed that the transaction related to ETRN, EQGP and EQM.

 

On November 28, 2018, certain members of management of ETRN met with the Wall-Cross Holders to discuss the terms of the proposed transaction. Following such discussions, ETRN and the Wall-Cross Holders agreed in principle to the unit purchase transactions at an initial purchase price of $19.75 per EQGP Common Unit, and began to negotiate the Unit Purchase Agreements.

 

On November 29, 2018, following further discussions with the Wall-Cross Holders regarding the proposed terms of the unit purchase transactions, the logistics of closing the Unit Purchases, and the minimum number of EQGP Common Units to be sold pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements by each Wall-Cross Holder, ETRN and certain of the Wall-Cross Holders negotiated the final Purchase Price of $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit. Thereafter, ETRN and the Selling Unitholders executed the Unit Purchase Agreements. On November 30, 2018, ETRN issued a press release announcing the Unit Purchases as well as ETRN’s intention to exercise the Limited Call Right and pursue the IDR Exchange Merger Proposal.

 

Purpose of and Reasons for the Transactions; Plans for EQGP After the Transactions; Consideration of Alternatives

 

As described above, the Transactions constitute a “going-private” transaction. A number of developments, opportunities and potential outcomes were considered in ETRN’s decision to undertake the Transactions at the present time, including the following material reasons:

 

·                   the ETRN Board’s familiarity with the business, operations, properties, assets, financial condition, business strategy, and prospects of ETRN, EQGP and EQM, the nature of the midstream natural gas industry and the energy industry in general, industry trends, the regulatory and legislative environment relevant to the industry in which ETRN, EQGP and EQM operate, global and national economic and market conditions, the evolving market for master limited partnerships, and the ability of master limited partnerships to access the debt and equity capital markets, both on a historical and on a prospective basis;

·                   the small public float and relative illiquidity of EQGP Common Units;

·                   the slower growth profile of EQM given current energy market conditions and the Separation from EQT, which historically has been a source of acquisitions of midstream assets for EQM;

·                   the fact that the majority of EQGP’s cash flows are from the IDRs, which ETRN is seeking to eliminate to improve EQM’s cost of capital and competitiveness in the midstream industry, among other things;

·                   lack of a meaningful set of comparable publicly traded pure-play general partner peers with IDRs stemming from the recent wave of simplification transactions in the industry;

·                   investors’ desire for simpler corporate structures with fewer conflicts of interest;

·                   the ability to realize cost savings through the elimination of a public company, which management estimates to be approximately $3 million per year;

 

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·                   the historical trading price of EQGP Common Units, including the fact that the Purchase Price of $20.00 per EQGP Common Unit represents a premium of approximately 17.5% based upon the closing price of the EQGP Common Units of $17.02 on November 29, 2018, the last trading day before announcement of the Unit Purchase Agreements;

·                   the oral presentation of management of ETRN, delivered on November 24, 2018, as more fully described below in Special Factors—Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN ;

·                   the presentation of Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs, delivered on November 24, 2018, as more fully described below in Special Factors—Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN ; and

·                   that the consideration to be received by the holders of EQGP Common Units in the Transactions will consist of cash, which permits holders of EQGP Common Units the flexibility to reinvest the proceeds as they see fit, including in ETRN common stock or EQM Common Units if they wish to maintain a continuing equity interest in the combined company.

 

The ETRN Board was aware of and considered the interests that certain executive officers and directors of ETRN may have with respect to the Limited Call Right in addition to their interests as unitholders, as described in Special Factors—Interests of Certain Persons in the Exercise of the Limited Call Right beginning on page 23.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes the material factors considered by the ETRN Board in its consideration of the Unit Purchases and, if available, the subsequent exercise of the Limited Call Right. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the ETRN Board, the amount of information considered and the complexity of these matters, the ETRN Board did not find it practicable to, and did not attempt to, rank, quantify, make specific assignments of, or otherwise assign relative weights to, the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual members of the ETRN Board may have given different weights to different factors. The ETRN Board considered these factors as a whole, and in their totality considered them to be favorable to, and support, its determination to authorize the Transactions.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Unit Purchase Agreements, ETRN made a non-binding proposal to the EQM Board that, conditioned on the completion of the Transactions such that EQGP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETRN, a subsidiary of EQM will merge with and into EQGP, with EQGP surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQM. In the IDR Exchange Merger, (i) ETRN’s noneconomic general partner interest in EQGP will be converted into the noneconomic general partner interest in EQM, (ii) ETRN’s economic interests in EQGP will be converted into a combination of EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units and (iii) the incentive distribution rights and economic general partner interest in EQM held by EQGP will be cancelled. The aggregate number of EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units issued by EQM in the proposed IDR Exchange Merger would be 95 million.

 

Having come to a determination to pursue the acquisition of the publicly held EQGP Common Units, ETRN considered alternative transaction structures and determined to, as a first step, pursue a private wall-cross process to privately purchase EQGP Common Units from unaffiliated holders. Representatives of Guggenheim approached six Wall-Cross Holders on a confidential basis and five of such Wall-Cross Holders elected to move forward with the potential opportunity, after which they were informed of the proposed terms of the Transactions and the identity of EQGP, as the subject issuer.

 

As a result of the interest in the proposed transaction by the Selling Unitholders, ETRN elected to execute the Unit Purchase Agreements followed by an exercise of the Limited Call Right. In choosing this structure, ETRN considered, among other things, the following:

 

·                   the Unit Purchase Agreements provided greater certainty that ETRN and its affiliates will own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units after the Closings than a tender offer would provide, leading to greater certainty that ETRN will be able to exercise the Limited Call Right;

·                   the unaffiliated unitholders of EQGP would likely receive the consideration in payment for their EQGP Common Units sooner in the Unit Purchases and subsequent exercise of the Limited Call Right than under a merger structure; and

 

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·                   no approval of the board of directors of EQGP Services, LLC, the general partner of EQGP (the EQGP Board), is required as the Unit Purchase Agreements are with the Selling Unitholders directly and the Limited Call Right is a pre-existing contractual provision in the EQGP Partnership Agreement.

 

Except as otherwise described in this Disclosure Statement, ETRN has no current plans or proposals or negotiations that relate to or would result in (i) an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation involving EQGP; (ii) any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of EQGP; (iii) any material change in the present distribution rate or distribution policy of EQGP; (iv) any change in the management of EQGP or any change in any material term of the employment contract of any executive officer; or (v) any other material change in the business of EQGP.

 

ETRN presently expects that after the completion of the Transactions and pending completion of the IDR Exchange Merger, ETRN will retain ownership of its EQGP Common Units. Following the IDR Exchange Merger, EQGP will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of EQM. However, there can be no guarantee that the IDR Exchange Merger will occur, and if the IDR Exchange Merger does not occur, ETRN expects to operate EQGP as a going concern under its control and to review EQGP’s assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel to determine what changes, if any, may be advisable. ETRN expressly reserves the right to make any changes to its future plans that it deems necessary or appropriate in light of its review or future developments.

 

Upon completion of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, if available, ETRN intends to cause the EQGP Common Units to be delisted from the NYSE and deregistered under the Exchange Act. Once the registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act has been terminated, EQGP will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC. See The Transactions Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations .

 

The Position of ETRN Regarding the Fairness of the Transactions

 

The rules of the SEC require ETRN to express its belief as to the fairness of the Transactions to holders of EQGP Common Units who are not affiliated with ETRN. For purposes of this section, the directors and officers of ETRN shall be deemed affiliates of ETRN. ETRN has concluded that the Transactions are both financially and procedurally fair to holders of EQGP Common Units that are not affiliates of ETRN (whether those holders of EQGP Common Units are the Selling Unitholders or will remain holders of EQGP Common Units until the Limited Call Right is exercised promptly following the Unit Purchases). ETRN based this conclusion on the following material factors:

 

·       the Purchase Price resulted from an arm’s length negotiation between ETRN and the Selling Unitholders;

·                   the Purchase Price represents a premium of approximately 17.5% over the closing price of EQGP Common Units on November 29, 2018, the last trading day prior to the public announcement by ETRN of the Transactions;

·                   assuming that the Closings occur, ETRN will exercise the Limited Call Right promptly, but in any event not more than 90 days, following the Closings, which will require that ETRN pay no less than the Purchase Price for EQGP Common Units to be purchased in the exercise of the Limited Call Right;

·                   the oral presentation of management of ETRN, delivered on November 24, 2018, as more fully described below in Special Factors— Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN and the presentation of Guggenheim and Goldman Sachs, delivered on November 24, 2018, as more fully described below in Special Factors— Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN ;

·                   EQGP’s historical and current financial performance and results of operations, its prospects and long-term strategy, its competitive position in its industry, the outlook for the natural gas midstream industry generally and general economic and market conditions;

·                   the exercise of the Limited Call Right is pursuant to a pre-existing contractual provision in the EQGP Partnership Agreement;

·                   that the consideration to be paid in the Unit Purchases and, assuming it is exercised, the exercise of the Limited Call Right is all cash, which provides certainty of value to holders of EQGP Common Units and provides them with the ability to invest the proceeds as they see fit, including in ETRN common stock

 

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or EQM Common Units if they wish to maintain a continuing equity interest in the combined company; and

·                   neither the Unit Purchases nor the exercise of the Limited Call Right is subject to any financing condition.

 

ETRN also considered the following factors, each of which it considered negatively in its considerations concerning the fairness of the terms of the Unit Purchases and, assuming it is exercised, the exercise of the Limited Call Right:

 

·                   with respect to the Purchase Price, ETRN’s financial interest in acquiring the EQGP Common Units for a lower price is adverse to the financial interest of other holders of EQGP Common Units in selling their EQGP Common Units for a higher price;

·                   EQGP Common Units have in the past traded at higher levels than the Purchase Price. EQGP Common Units reached an all-time high trading price of $35.25 per EQGP Common Unit in the second quarter of 2015 and an all-time low trading price of $15.36 per EQGP Common Unit in the fourth quarter of 2018.  This trading price history suggests that certain holders of EQGP Common Units may have acquired their EQGP Common Units at prices higher than the current trading levels and at a higher price than the Purchase Price;

·                   ETRN has not requested or received any opinion as to the fairness of the Transactions, the terms of the Unit Purchases or the Purchase Price, from a financial point of view, to the unaffiliated holders of EQGP Common Units or any other person;

·                   any holder of EQGP Common Units who sells all its EQGP Common Units in the Unit Purchases or has its EQGP Common Units purchased in the exercise of the Limited Call Right will cease to participate in future earnings or growth, if any, of EQGP and will not benefit from increases, if any, in EQGP’s value; and

·                   as described in The Transactions—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences , the sale of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right will be a taxable transaction to holders of EQGP Common Units.

 

ETRN did not find it practicable to assign, nor did it assign, specific relative weights to the individual factors considered in reaching its conclusion as to fairness. While ETRN considered the trading history of the EQGP Common Units and noted that, at various times, this trading history reflected prices above the Purchase Price, ETRN concluded that these factors were not important in determining present value. In ETRN’s judgment, the historical trading prices for EQGP Common Units are not indicative of the value of the EQGP Common Units as of the date of this Disclosure Statement in light of EQGP’s current business operations and future prospects.

 

ETRN is not aware of any firm offers made by third parties to acquire EQGP during the past two years and did not solicit any such offers during the period that it has owned the EQGP General Partner. In any event, ETRN has no intention of selling the EQGP Common Units or any of the general partner interest in EQGP beneficially owned by it, and therefore did not consider the possibility that any such offers might be made in reaching its conclusion as to fairness.

 

ETRN’s consideration of the factors described above reflects its assessment of the fairness of the Purchase Price payable in the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right to unaffiliated holders of EQGP Common Units in relation to the going concern value of EQGP on a stand-alone basis. ETRN did not consider the liquidation value of EQGP’s assets, and did not perform a liquidation analysis, because it considers EQGP to be a viable going concern. ETRN implicitly considered the value of EQGP in a sale as a going concern by taking into account EQGP’s current and anticipated business, financial condition, results and operations, prospects and other forward-looking matters. ETRN did not, however, explicitly calculate a stand-alone going concern value of EQGP because ETRN believes that going concern value is not an appropriate method of determining the value of the EQGP Common Units for purposes of the Transactions. In light of the fact that ETRN already has, and will continue to have, control of EQGP, and that ETRN remains unwilling to sell its EQGP Common Units, ETRN does not believe that it would be appropriate for the EQGP Common Units held by the unaffiliated holders to be valued on a basis that includes a control premium.

 

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The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered and weight given by ETRN is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by ETRN.

 

Analysis Provided by the Financial Advisors to ETRN

 

ETRN separately retained each of Guggenheim Securities, LLC (Guggenheim Securities) and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (Goldman Sachs and together with Guggenheim Securities, the Financial Advisors) as financial advisors to ETRN in connection with its consideration of simplification transaction alternatives available to ETRN.  In this capacity, the Financial Advisors prepared and delivered the Financial Advisor Materials (as defined below) to the management of ETRN and the ETRN Board.  Although the Financial Advisors generally acted as financial advisors to ETRN, the Financial Advisors were not requested to provide, and they did not provide, to ETRN, EQGP, the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of EQGP or ETRN, or any other person (i) any opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view or otherwise, of the Transactions, the terms of the Unit Purchases or the Purchase Price to ETRN, any unitholder of EQGP Common Units, or the holders of any other class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of ETRN or EQGP, (ii) any other valuation of ETRN or EQGP for the purpose of assessing the fairness of the Purchase Price to any such person or (iii) any advice as to the underlying decision by ETRN to engage in the Transactions, or as to any other matter. Because the Financial Advisors were not requested to, and did not, deliver a fairness opinion in connection with the Transactions, they did not follow and were not required to follow all of the procedures in preparing the Financial Advisor Materials that they would ordinarily follow in connection with delivering a fairness opinion. The Financial Advisor Materials were provided solely for the benefit of the members of the ETRN Board (in their capacities as such), and not on behalf of, nor do they convey rights or remedies upon, the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of ETRN or EQGP or any other person other than the members of the ETRN Board (in their capacities as such) and should not be relied on as the basis for any other purpose or any investment decision.

 

On November 17, 2018, at a special telephonic meeting of the ETRN Board, at the invitation of the ETRN Board, representatives of the Financial Advisors discussed with the ETRN Board and the management of ETRN various considerations with respect to a simplification transaction involving one or both of EQGP and EQM, possible structuring approaches for a simplification transaction and related timing considerations, which included materials prepared solely by Guggenheim Securities (the November 17th Materials).  On November 24, 2018, at a special telephonic meeting of the ETRN Board, at the invitation of the ETRN Board, representatives of the Financial Advisors updated the analysis provided on November 17, 2018 as to possible simplification structuring approaches and related process and timing considerations (the November 24th Materials and together with the November 17th Materials, the Financial Advisor Materials).  The possible simplification structuring approaches discussed by the Financial Advisors in the Financial Advisor Materials included (i) the purchase by ETRN of all outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates through one or more of (x) privately negotiated purchases of EQGP Common Units from certain unaffiliated unitholders through a wall-cross process, (y) the launch of a tender offer for EQGP Common Units and (z) the exercise of the Limited Call Right, and (ii) a merger between EQGP and EQM, with either EQGP or EQM surviving.

 

The full text of the Financial Advisor Materials, which sets forth assumptions made and matters considered in connection with the analysis, have been filed as Exhibits to the Schedule 13E-3 Transaction Statement of which this Disclosure Statement forms a part

 

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filed with the SEC in connection with the Transactions and are incorporated herein by reference.  The Financial Advisor Materials may be examined at, and copies may be obtained from, the SEC in the manner described under The Transactions—Certain Information Concerning EQGP—Available Information . The information in the Financial Advisor Materials is subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other conditions contained in such Financial Advisor Materials and is necessarily based on economic, capital markets and other conditions, and the information made available to the Financial Advisors, as of the date of such Financial Advisor Materials.  The Financial Advisor Materials were provided to the ETRN Board (in its capacity as such) solely for its information and assistance in connection with its consideration of simplification transaction alternatives available to ETRN.  The Financial Advisor Materials do not constitute a recommendation to the ETRN Board with respect to the Unit Purchases, or any other matter.  The Financial Advisor Materials do not constitute, and are not intended to represent, any view or opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view or otherwise, of the Transactions, any aspect, term or implication of the Units Purchases or the Purchase Price to ETRN, the unitholders of EQGP Common Units or to any other person.

 

In connection with the Financial Advisor Materials, the Financial Advisors reviewed, among other things, certain publicly available business and financial information concerning ETRN, EQGP and EQM and the industries in which they operate and certain non-public information regarding the business and prospects of ETRN, EQGP and EQM prepared by or at the direction of the management of ETRN, as approved for the Financial Advisors’ use by ETRN.  Neither the management of ETRN nor the ETRN Board gave any specific instructions nor imposed any limitations on the Financial Advisors with respect to the Financial Advisors’ preparation of the Financial Advisor Materials.

 

The Financial Advisors also held discussions with certain members of the management of ETRN regarding their assessment of the strategic and financial rationale for, and the potential benefits of, the Transactions and the past and current business operations, financial condition, and future prospects of ETRN, EQGP and EQM; reviewed the reported price and trading activity for ETRN Common Stock, EQGP Common Units and EQM Common Units; reviewed certain precedent simplification transactions; and performed such other studies and analyses, and considered such other factors, as the Financial Advisors deemed appropriate.

 

In preparing the Financial Advisor Materials and providing the analysis set forth in the Financial Advisor Materials, the Financial Advisors, with ETRN’s consent, relied upon and assumed, without assuming responsibility or liability for independent verification, the accuracy, completeness and reasonableness of all industry, financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information that was publicly available or obtained from data suppliers and other third parties or was furnished to or discussed with the Financial Advisors by ETRN or otherwise reviewed by or for the Financial Advisors. No representation or warranty, express or implied, was made by any Financial Advisor in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in the Financial Advisor Materials or their suitability for any particular purpose. The Financial Advisors (i) expressed no view, opinion, representation, guaranty or warranty (in each case, express or implied) regarding the reasonableness or achievability of any

 

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financial projections, other estimates and other forward-looking information or the assumptions upon which they are based and (ii) relied upon the assurances of the management of ETRN that they were unaware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information (including, without limitation, any financial projections, other estimates and other forward-looking information) incomplete, inaccurate or misleading.  The Financial Advisors did not conduct and were not provided with any independent valuation or appraisal of any assets or liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or other off-balance sheet assets and liabilities) of ETRN, EQGP, EQM or any other company or business, nor did the Financial Advisors evaluate the solvency of ETRN, EQGP, EQM or any other company or business under any state or federal laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters or the ability of ETRN, EQGP, or EQM to pay their respective obligations when they come due. With respect to (i) the Guidance and any estimates or other forward-looking information provided by or discussed with ETRN, (a) the Financial Advisors were advised by the management of ETRN, and the Financial Advisors assumed, that such Guidance, estimates and other forward-looking information utilized in their analyses had been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best then-currently available estimates and judgments of the management of ETRN as to the expected future performance of ETRN and (b) the Financial Advisors assumed that such Guidance, estimates and other forward-looking information had been reviewed by the ETRN Board with the understanding that such information would be used and relied upon by the Financial Advisors in connection with the preparation of the Financial Advisor Materials and the performance of the analyses set forth therein, and (ii) any financial projections, other estimates and/or other forward-looking information obtained by the Financial Advisors from public sources, data suppliers and other third parties, the Financial Advisors assumed that such information was reasonable and reliable. The Financial Advisors expressed no view as to any of the foregoing analyses, projections or forecasts or the assumptions on which they were based, and the management of ETRN confirmed that the Financial Advisors could rely upon such analyses, projections, assumptions and forecasts when preparing the Financial Advisor Materials and in rendering the analysis set forth therein. The Financial Advisors are not legal, regulatory, tax, consulting, accounting, appraisal or actuarial experts and the Financial Advisor Materials should not be construed as constituting advice with respect to such matters; accordingly, the Financial Advisors relied on the assessments made by the management of ETRN and advisors to ETRN with respect to such issues. The matters considered by the Financial Advisors in their financial analyses and reflected in the Financial Advisor Materials were necessarily based on various assumptions, including assumptions concerning general business, economic and capital markets conditions and industry-specific and company-specific factors as in effect on, and information made available to the Financial Advisors as of, the respective dates of such materials. Many such conditions are beyond the control of ETRN, EQGP, EQM and the Financial Advisors. Accordingly, the analyses included in the Financial Advisor Materials are inherently subject to uncertainty, and neither of the Financial Advisors nor any other person assumes responsibility if future results are different from those forecasted. Furthermore, it should be understood that subsequent developments may affect the views expressed in the Financial Advisor Materials and that the Financial Advisors do not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm their financial analyses or the Financial Advisor Materials based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after the date of the Financial Advisor Materials.  With respect to the financial analyses performed by the Financial Advisors in connection with the Financial Advisors Materials:  (a) such financial analyses, particularly those based on estimates and projections, are

 

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not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than suggested by these analyses; (b) none of the selected precedent transactions used in the premiums paid analysis and the comparable precedent transactions analysis described below, or the selected companies or partnerships involved in such transactions, is identical or directly comparable to the Transactions or to EQGP; however, such transactions were selected by the Financial Advisors, among other reasons, because they involved transactions, companies and partnerships which may be considered broadly similar, for purposes of the Financial Advisors’ financial analyses, to the Transactions, ETRN and EQGP based on the Financial Advisors’ familiarity with the midstream sector of the oil and gas industry in North America; (c) selected precedent premiums paid and comparable precedent transactions analyses are not mathematical, but rather, such analyses involve complex considerations and judgments concerning the differences in business, operating, financial and capital markets-related characteristics and other factors regarding the selected precedent transactions to which the Transactions was compared; and (d) such financial analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which shares or other securities or financial instruments of or relating to ETRN Common Stock, EQGP Common Units or EQM Common Units may trade or otherwise be transferable at any time.

 

The Financial Advisor Materials were not intended to provide the sole basis for ETRN’s evaluation of the Transactions, do not purport to contain all relevant information relating to EQGP, and do not constitute, and should not be viewed as, a recommendation with respect to any matter pertaining to the Transactions. The terms of the Transactions, including the Purchase Price and the terms of the Unit Purchases, were determined solely by the management of ETRN and the ETRN Board. The decision to delegate authority to the management of ETRN to commence the Unit Purchases and the Limited Call Right on behalf of ETRN was solely that of the ETRN Board and the decision of the management of ETRN to commence the Unit Purchases on behalf of ETRN was solely that of the management of ETRN. The Financial Advisor Materials, taken together, were only one of the many factors considered by the ETRN Board in its evaluation of the Transactions and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the ETRN Board or the management of ETRN with respect to the Transactions, the terms of the Unit Purchases or the Purchase Price. The Financial Advisor Materials did not address the relative merits of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated in connection with the Transactions compared to other business strategies or transactions that may have been considered by the ETRN Board.

 

The following is a summary of certain of the material financial analyses contained in the November 24th Materials, which is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the November 24th Materials. The following summary does not, however, purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses or data presented by the Financial Advisors, nor does the order of analyses described represent relative importance or weight given to those analyses by the Financial Advisors. The November 24th Materials were supplemented by the Financial Advisors’ oral discussion, the nature and substance of which is summarized herein. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables are not intended to stand alone, and in order to more fully understand the financial analyses used by the Financial Advisors, the tables must be read together with the full text of each summary. Considering the data set forth below without considering the full narrative description of the

 

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financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the Financial Advisors’ analyses.

 

Financial Advisors’ Analyses

 

The Financial Advisors performed the following financial analyses: (i) a premiums paid analysis  and (ii) a selected comparable precedent transactions analysis.

 

Premiums Paid Analysis

 

The Financial Advisors, using publicly available information, performed a premiums paid analysis of EQGP based on (i) the premium paid relative to the closing price on the day before announcement of the commencement of selected all-cash tender offer simplification transactions involving master limited partnerships (MLP) and (ii) the premium paid relative to the target’s closing price on the day before the announcement of the commencement of selected  all-cash minority squeeze-outs structured as tender offers for U.S. targets over the last ten years. The Financial Advisors then applied illustrative premiums to EQGP’s recent trading price to arrive at a range of implied illustrative reference purchase prices for EQGP Common Units and resulting IDR multiples.

 

The selected all-cash tender offer simplification transactions involving MLPs that the Financial Advisors deemed to have similar characteristics to those of the Transactions and EQGP for the purposes of their analysis were the following:

 

Announced
Date

 

Acquiror

 

Target

June 4, 2018

 

OCI N.V.

 

OCI Partners LP

June 2, 2017

 

World Point Terminals, Inc.

 

World Point Terminals, LP

May 18, 2017

 

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

 

PennTex Midstream Partners, LP

 

The Financial Advisors also reviewed a range of illustrative prices per EQGP Common Unit of $16.00 to $22.00, and the premium implied by such prices relative to the closing price of EQGP Common Units on November 23, 2018.  The following table presents the results of such analysis:

 

Illustrative EQGP Common Unit Price

 

$16.00

 

$18.00

 

$19.00

 

$20.00

 

$21.00

 

$22.00

 

Implied EQGP Premium

 

0.00%

 

12.5%

 

18.8%

 

25.0%

 

31.3%

 

37.5%

 

 

Selected Comparable Precedent Transactions Analysis

 

The Financial Advisors reviewed and compared implied data for the following selected transactions, which have occurred since July 2015, involving target assets, companies or

 

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partnerships that the Financial Advisors deemed to have similar characteristics to either EQGP’s assets, including the IDRs in EQM, or to EQGP:

 

Announced
Date

 

Acquiror

 

Target / Seller

October 9, 2018

 

Antero Midstream GP LP

 

Antero Midstream Partners LP

April 26, 2018

 

EQT GP Holdings LP

 

Rice Midstream Partners LP

February 8, 2018

 

NuStar Energy L.P.

 

NuStar GP Holdings, LLC

January 22, 2018

 

Spectra Energy Partners, LP

 

Enbridge Inc.

December 15, 2017

 

MPLX LP

 

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

October 19, 2017

 

Holly Energy Partners, LP

 

Holly Frontier Corporation

August 14, 2017

 

Andeavor Logistics LP

 

Andeavor

January 9, 2017

 

Williams Partners

 

Williams Companies

July 11, 2016

 

Plains All American Pipeline LP

 

Plains GP Holdings

July 15, 2015

 

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

 

Sunoco LP

 

None of the selected transactions or the selected companies or partnerships that were involved in the selected transactions was directly comparable to the Transactions or to EQGP. An analysis of the results, therefore, requires complex considerations and judgments regarding the financial and operating characteristics of EQGP and the assets, companies or partnerships involved in the selected comparable precedent transactions analysis, as well as other factors that could affect their transaction values.

 

Based on information in public filings relating to the applicable transaction, the Financial Advisors calculated and analyzed the ratios of the implied value of the general partner of the MLP (Implied GP Value) in the precedent transactions (calculated as transaction value less the market value of the limited partner units, subordinated units and other assets held by the entity being acquired) to estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in respect of the general partner of and the incentive distribution rights in the MLP (GP IDR EBITDA) for each of the first two fiscal years following announcement of the transaction. Multiples for the selected transactions were based on publicly available information.

 

The foregoing calculations produced the following mean and median Implied GP Value / GP IDR EBITDA results with respect to each of the first two fiscal years following announcement of the transaction:

 

 

 

First Fiscal Year
Following
Announcement

 

Second Fiscal Year
Following
Announcement

 

Mean

 

15.6x

 

12.5x

 

Median

 

15.7x

 

12.4x

 

 

The Financial Advisors then calculated  a range of Implied GP Value/GP IDR EBITDA for EQGP for each of the fiscal years 2019 and 2020 using a range of prices per EQGP Common

 

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Unit of $16.00 to $22.00.  The results of these calculations produced the following range of Implied GP Value/GP IDR EBITDA for EQGP:

 

 

 

2019

 

2020

 

Low

 

11.5x

 

10.1x

 

High

 

17.0x

 

15.0x

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

As described above, the Financial Advisors were not asked to, and did not, render any opinion relating to the fairness of the Transactions, the terms of the Unit Purchases, the Limited Call Right or the Purchase Price. The Financial Advisor Materials were one of many factors taken into consideration by the ETRN Board and the management of ETRN in deciding to commence the Transactions.

 

The Financial Advisors believe that the foregoing summary and its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of the foregoing summary and these analyses, without considering all of their analyses as a whole, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying the analyses. As a result, any potential indications of valuation resulting from any particular analysis or combination of analyses described above were merely utilized to create points of reference for analytical purposes and should not be taken to be the view of the Financial Advisors with respect to the actual value of EQGP Common Units or any other person or security. The order of analyses described does not represent the relative importance or weight given to those analyses by the Financial Advisors. In preparing the Financial Advisor Materials, the Financial Advisors did not attribute any particular weight to any analyses or factors considered and did not form an opinion as to whether any individual analysis or factor (positive or negative), considered in isolation, supported or failed to support the analysis set forth in the Financial Advisor Materials. Rather, the Financial Advisors considered the totality of the factors and analyses performed in preparing the Financial Advisor Materials.

 

Analyses based upon forecasts of future results are inherently uncertain, as they are subject to numerous factors or events beyond the control of the parties and their advisors. Accordingly, forecasts and analyses used or made by the Financial Advisors are not necessarily indicative of actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than suggested by those analyses. Moreover, the Financial Advisors’ analyses are not and do not purport to be appraisals or otherwise reflective of the prices at which businesses actually could be acquired or sold. None of the selected transactions reviewed as described in the above summary is identical to the Transactions and no company used in the above analyses as a comparison is directly comparable to ETRN, EQGP, or EQM.  However, the transactions were chosen because they involve transactions that, for purposes of the Financial Advisors’ analysis, may be considered similar to the Transactions. The analyses necessarily involve complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operational characteristics of the companies involved and other factors that could affect the companies compared to EQGP.

 

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The Financial Advisors did not recommend any specific Purchase Price to the ETRN Board or that any specific amount constituted the only appropriate Purchase Price for the Transactions.

 

Aside from its current engagement by ETRN, Guggenheim Securities has not been previously engaged during the two years preceding November 14, 2018, the date of the earliest Financial Advisor Materials, by ETRN or EQGP to provide financial advisory or investment banking services for which Guggenheim Securities received fees. Guggenheim Securities may seek to provide ETRN, EQGP, EQM and their respective affiliates with financial advisory and investment banking services unrelated to the Transactions in the future, for which services Guggenheim Securities would expect to receive compensation.

 

Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities engage in a wide range of financial services activities for its and their own accounts and the accounts of customers, including but not limited to: asset, investment and wealth management; insurance services; investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring; merchant banking; fixed income and equity sales, trading and research; and derivatives, foreign exchange and futures. In the ordinary course of these activities, Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities may (i) provide such financial services to ETRN, EQGP, EQM, other participants in the Transactions and their respective affiliates, for which services Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities may have received, and may in the future receive, compensation and (ii) directly and indirectly hold long and short positions, trade and otherwise conduct such activities in or with respect to loans, debt and equity securities and derivative products of or relating to ETRN, EQGP, EQM, other participants in the Transaction and their respective affiliates. Furthermore, Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities and its or their respective directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents may have investments in ETRN, EQGP, EQM, other participants in the Transactions and their respective affiliates.

 

Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory guidelines, Guggenheim Securities has adopted certain policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of its research departments and personnel. As a result, Guggenheim Securities’ research analysts may hold views, make statements or investment recommendations and publish research reports with respect to ETRN, EQGP, EQM, other participants in the Transactions and their respective affiliates and the Transactions and the Units Purchases that differ from the views of Guggenheim Securities’ investment banking personnel.

 

Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are engaged in advisory, underwriting and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, research, investment management and other financial and non-financial activities and services for various persons and entities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and employees, and funds or other entities they manage or in which they invest or have other economic interests, or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote long or short positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments of  ETRN, EQGP, EQM and any of their respective affiliates and third parties, including affiliates of the holders of EQGP Common Units or EQM Common Units and EQT, or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the Transactions for the accounts of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and employees and their customers. 

 

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Goldman Sachs has provided certain financial advisory and/or underwriting services to ETRN and its affiliates from time to time for which the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs has received, and may receive, compensation.  In addition, at ETRN’s request, (a) affiliates of Goldman Sachs have entered into financing commitments and agreements to provide ETRN and/or one or more of its subsidiaries with financing in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, subject to the terms of such commitments and agreements and pursuant to which one or more affiliates of Goldman Sachs expects to receive compensation and (b) an affiliate of Goldman Sachs may enter into foreign exchange swaps, which are contingent on the consummation of the Transactions, to provide ETRN with a hedge against certain foreign exchange risks in connection with financing arrangements for the Transactions subject to the terms of the confirmations for such swaps, and pursuant to which such affiliate of Goldman Sachs will act as counterparty as principal for its own account. Goldman Sachs has also provided certain financial advisory and/or underwriting services to EQT and its affiliates from time to time for which the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs has received, and may receive, compensation.  Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to ETRN in connection with the Transactions.  Goldman Sachs may also in the future provide financial advisor and/or underwriting services to ETRN, EQGP, EQM, or EQT and any of their respective affiliates and third parties, including affiliates of the holders of EQGP Common Units or EQM Common Units, for which the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs may receive compensation.

 

ETRN selected Guggenheim Securities as one of its financial advisors because of Guggenheim Securities’ familiarity with ETRN, EQGP and their respective businesses, and because of Guggenheim Securities’ reputation as an internationally recognized investment banking, financial advisory and securities firm whose senior professionals have substantial experience advising companies in, among other industries, the midstream sector of the oil and gas industry.  Guggenheim Securities, as part of its investment banking, financial advisory and capital markets businesses, is regularly engaged in the valuation and financial assessment of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, spin-offs/split-offs, restructurings, securities offerings in both the private and public capital markets and valuations for corporate and other purposes.

 

Pursuant to an engagement letter dated as of November 25, 2018 (the Guggenheim Securities Engagement Letter), Guggenheim Securities will receive a fee for financial advisory services rendered in connection with the Transactions and related simplification transactions, half of which shall be paid upon the consummation of the Transactions and the other half of which shall be paid upon the consummation of the IDR Exchange Merger. In the event the Transactions are not consummated, the full amount shall be paid upon the completion of a simplification transaction involving the ETRN corporate structure. In addition, pursuant to the Guggenheim Securities Engagement Letter, Guggenheim Securities receives an additional quarterly retainer fee for strategic advisory services provided to ETRN during the term of the Guggenheim Securities Engagement Letter.  In addition, ETRN has agreed to reimburse Guggenheim Securities for certain of its expenses incurred in connection with its services, including the fees and disbursements of counsel and will indemnify Guggenheim Securities against certain liabilities arising out of the engagement described herein. ETRN also has granted Guggenheim

 

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Securities the right to provide certain investment banking and other services to ETRN in the future, on customary terms and conditions.

 

The ETRN Board selected Goldman Sachs as one of its financial advisors because it is an internationally recognized investment banking firm that has substantial experience in transactions similar to the Transactions. Pursuant to a letter agreement, dated November 26, 2018, ETRN engaged Goldman Sachs to act as its financial advisor in connection with its consideration of simplification transaction alternatives available to ETRN. The engagement letter between ETRN and Goldman Sachs provides for a transaction fee, all of which will become payable at the consummation of the Transactions. In addition, ETRN has agreed to reimburse Goldman Sachs for certain of its expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, and to indemnify Goldman Sachs and related persons against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

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Summary of Presentation of Management of ETRN to the Board of Directors of ETRN

 

On November 24, 2018, management of ETRN made a presentation to the ETRN Board regarding the potential financial impacts of private purchases or a tender offer by ETRN to acquire all issued and outstanding EQGP Common Units not owned by ETRN and its affiliates, as compared to an alternative transaction by merger through which EQM could acquire EQGP.  In this presentation, management compared the two possible approaches and anticipated pro forma impacts of each transaction, including ETRN’s resulting ownership in EQM, impact on distributable cash flow per unit, cash distribution, coverage ratios of EQM under each scenario, and net consolidated leverage (including leverage associated with EQM’s proportionate ownership share of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP), which is constructing the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a 300-mile natural gas interstate pipeline spanning from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia). Management of ETRN and the ETRN Board discussed the possibility and potential benefits of pursuing private purchases of EQGP Common Units from certain Wall-Cross Holders prior to commencing a tender offer. Additionally, management of ETRN also discussed the contemplated key terms and anticipated timing of the Term Facility.

 

Financial Projections

 

The ETRN Board has not considered any non-public financial projections in evaluating the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right. As part of EQT’s ordinary course preparations for its quarterly earnings release for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, EQT’s management prepared and publicly announced certain financial results for such quarter on October 25, 2018, which included guidance for EQM for the full-year 2018 (the EQM 2018 Guidance) and growth projections for the years 2019 through 2021 (the Growth Projections, and together with the EQM 2018 Guidance, the Guidance). ETRN has included a summary of the Guidance in this Disclosure Statement because EQGP derives all of its income from cash distributions made by EQM.

 

The Guidance, which does not reflect the proposed transactions, does not purport to present the operations or financial condition in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and Ernst & Young LLP, EQGP’s and EQM’s independent auditors, have not examined, compiled nor performed any procedures with respect to the Guidance and, accordingly, Ernst & Young LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto nor assume any responsibility for them.

 

The Guidance contained the following EQM 2018 Guidance:

 

 

 

2018

Net Income ($MM)

 

$930—$950

Adjusted EBITDA ($MM)

 

$990—$1,010

Distributable Cash Flow ($MM)

 

$810—$830

 

The Guidance also contained the following Growth Projections:

 

 

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

EQM Net Income ($B)

 

$

1.0

 

$

1.1

 

$

1.2

 

EQM Adjusted EBITDA ($B)

 

$

1.3

 

$

1.7

 

$

1.8

 

Expansion Capex + MVP capital contributions ($B)

 

$

2.0

 

$

0.7

 

$

0.5

 

 

These projections and forecasts are forward-looking statements and were based on current expectations and assumptions about future events.  While ETRN considers these expectations and assumptions reasonable, they are

 

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inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond EQGP’s and EQM’s control. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing the Guidance will prove accurate or that the results contemplated will be realized.  It is to be expected that there will be differences between actual and projected results, and actual results may be materially greater or less than those contained in the Guidance described above.  The Guidance also involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from such expectations. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties that may be relevant, unitholders should refer to EQGP’s filings with the SEC, including EQGP’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018.  The inclusion herein of a summary of the Guidance should not be regarded as an indication that ETRN considers such data to be a reliable prediction of future events.  Neither ETRN nor any of its affiliates or representatives has made or makes any representation to any person regarding the ultimate performance of EQGP or ETRN compared to the information contained in the Guidance, and to ETRN’s knowledge, none of them intends to update or otherwise revise the Guidance to reflect circumstances existing after the date when made or to reflect the occurrence of future events, even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the Guidance are shown to be in error.

 

Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the EQGP Common Units

 

Except as described in this Disclosure Statement, including Schedule B to this Disclosure Statement, neither ETRN nor, to the best of its knowledge, any of the persons listed on Schedule A to this Disclosure Statement, nor any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of any of the foregoing, beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any EQGP Common Units, has engaged in any transactions in EQGP Common Units in the past 60 days or is a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any other person with respect to EQGP Common Units or any other securities of EQGP (including, without limitation, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer of the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loans or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations).

 

On February 21, 2018, EQT announced plans to separate (the Separation) its natural gas gathering, transmission and storage and water services (collectively, the Midstream Business) from its natural gas, oil and natural gas liquid development, production and sales and commercial operations (collectively, the Upstream Business). On November 12, 2018 (the Separation Effective Date), the Separation was effected through a series of transactions that culminated in the contribution of the Midstream Business to ETRN and the distribution of 80.1% of the shares in ETRN to existing EQT shareholders. Following the Distribution, EQT retained a 19.9% ownership interest in ETRN. In addition, as a result of the Distribution, ETRN holds investments in the entities conducting the Midstream Business, including (i) an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP, which holds (a) an approximate 17.9% limited partner interest in EQM, (b) an approximate 1.2% general partner interest in EQM, and (ii) all the IDRs in EQM, and (iii) an approximate 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM. As of the date of this Disclosure Statement, ETRN and its affiliates own 276,008,766 EQGP Common Units, representing an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest, and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP.

 

Conditions of the Limited Call Right

 

ETRN cannot cause the EQGP General Partner to exercise its Limited Call Right unless:

 

·                   no law, temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, judgement or ruling enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by any governmental authority will be in effect that enjoins, restrains, prevents or prohibits the exercise of the Limited Call Right or makes its exercise illegal; and

·                   sufficient Closings occur such that ETRN and its affiliates own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units.

 

Certain Effects of the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right

 

The purchase of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchases will reduce the number of EQGP Common Units that might otherwise trade publicly and may reduce the number of holders of EQGP Common Units, which could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining EQGP Common Units held by the public.

 

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If the Unit Purchases are completed and ETRN and its affiliates own more than 95% of the then outstanding EQGP Common Units, ETRN will, or will cause the EQGP General Partner or one of their affiliates to, exercise the Limited Call Right, resulting in ETRN purchasing all of the remaining EQGP Common Units. Assuming that ETRN and its affiliates own more than 95% of the then outstanding EQGP Common Units after the Unit Purchases are completed, ETRN is committing to exercise the Limited Call Right promptly, but in any event not more than 90 days, following the Closings. After the consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, EQGP will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETRN.

 

As a result of the Unit Purchases, ETRN’s interest in EQGP’s net book value attributable to common (limited partner) unitholders and net income or loss attributable to limited partners will increase to the extent of the number of EQGP Common Units that it acquires. For example, according to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by EQGP with the SEC for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018, EQGP’s net book value attributable to common unitholders as of September 30, 2018 was approximately $300.0 million, and for the nine months then ended it had net income attributable to limited partners of approximately $267.7 million. Assuming ETRN owned 91.3% of the EQGP Common Units throughout 2017, ETRN’s interest in EQGP’s net book value attributable to common unitholders and net income attributable to limited partners would have been approximately $273.9 million and $244.4 million, respectively. Following consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, ETRN’s interest in those items will increase to 100%, and ETRN will be entitled to all other benefits resulting from its 100% ownership of the limited partnership interests of EQGP, including all income generated by EQGP’s operations that is attributed to limited partners and any future increase in EQGP’s value attributed to common unitholders. Similarly, ETRN will bear all of the risk of losses generated by EQGP’s operations and any decrease in the value of EQGP after the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right. Upon consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, EQGP will become a privately-held limited partnership. Accordingly, former holders of EQGP Common Units will not have the opportunity to participate in the earnings and growth of EQGP after Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right. Similarly, former holders of EQGP Common Units will not face the risk of losses generated by EQGP’s operations or decline in the value of EQGP after the Unit Purchases and the consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right. If the Limited Call Right cannot be exercised after the Unit Purchases are completed, then the EQGP Common Units not purchased pursuant to the Unit Purchases will remain outstanding and the holders of these EQGP Common Units will continue to participate in the earnings and growth of EQGP and will be subject to potential losses generated by EQGP’s future operations or a decline in the trading price of the EQGP Common Units.

 

EQGP Common Units are currently registered under the Exchange Act and are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “EQGP.” Upon consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, EQGP will become a privately-held limited partnership, there will be no public market for EQGP Common Units, EQGP Common Units will cease to be listed on the NYSE and price quotations with respect to the EQGP Common Units will no longer be available. In addition, after the consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right or, depending on the consummation of the Unit Purchases, after the Unit Purchases, registration of EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act will be terminated, and EQGP will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC. The termination of registration of EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by EQGP to holders of EQGP Common Units and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act, such as the reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Exchange Act, the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the requirement to furnish a proxy statement in connection with unitholders’ meetings pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to “going-private” transactions, no longer applicable to EQGP. In addition, “affiliates” of EQGP and persons holding “restricted securities” of EQGP may be deprived of the ability to dispose of such securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right

 

In considering the fairness of the consideration to be received in the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, unitholders should be aware that ETRN and certain officers and directors of the EQGP General Partner have interests in the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right which may present them with certain actual or potential conflicts of interest.

 

Financial Interests. ETRN’s interests and the interests of ETRN’s corporate affiliates in respect of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right are different from yours because ETRN has an interest in

 

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acquiring the EQGP Common Units as inexpensively as possible and you have an interest in selling your EQGP Common Units for the highest possible price. The interests of ETRN’s directors and other affiliates in the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right may be the same as or different from your interests. For example, while in general the interests of ETRN’s and ETRN’s affiliates’ respective directors and officers in respect of the Unit Purchases will be aligned with ETRN’s interests, some of ETRN’s or ETRN’s affiliates’ directors and officers own EQGP Common Units, which will be acquired upon exercise of the Limited Call Right. Additionally, the EQGP General Partner has granted phantom unit awards (the EQGP Phantom Units) to certain non-employee directors of the EQGP General Partner. The EQGP Phantom Units vest upon grant, and the value of the EQGP Phantom Units are paid in EQGP Common Units upon the director’s termination of service on the EQGP Board. Assuming the completion of the Transactions, the service of the non-employee directors on the EQGP Board will terminate and the value of the EQGP Phantom Units will be paid. The table below reflects the current ownership of the EQGP Phantom Units by members of the EQGP Board:

 

EQGP Director

 

Number of EQGP Phantom Units Owned

Kenneth M. Burke

 

1,101

Mark S. Lewis

 

8,777

Kimberly T. Fleming

 

11,411

 

Interlocking Directors and Officers. The EQGP Board consists of seven directors, of whom, Thomas F. Karam, Kenneth M. Burke, David L. Porges, Diana M. Charletta and Kirk R. Oliver are also directors and Messrs. Karam and Oliver and Ms. Charletta are executive officers of ETRN. In addition, each of the executive officers of the EQGP General Partner serves as an executive officer at ETRN, as reflected in the table below:

 

Executive

 

EQGP General Partner Role

 

ETRN Role

Thomas F. Karam

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Diana M. Charletta

 

Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Kirk R. Oliver

 

Director, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Phillip D. Swisher

 

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

The positions reflected in the table above present individuals holding the positions with actual or potential conflicts of interest in determining the fairness of the Transactions to EQGP’s unitholders unaffiliated with ETRN.

 

IDR Exchange Merger. ETRN has made a proposal to the board of directors of the EQM General Partner, conditioned upon completion of the Unit Purchases and the consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, for the IDR Exchange Merger. ETRN holds (i) an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP, which holds (a) an approximate 17.9% limited partner interest in EQM, (b) an approximate 1.2% general partner interest in EQM, and (c) all the IDRs in EQM, and (ii) an approximate 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM. ETRN’s interests further differ from yours because public unitholders will be receiving cash for their EQGP Common Units (and for their indirect ownership stake in the IDRs) whereas ETRN is proposing to cancel the economic general partner interest and IDRs in EQM held by EQGP and convert ETRN’s economic interests in EQGP into a combination of EQM Common Units and EQM PIK Units in the IDR Exchange Merger.

 

Indemnification. The EQGP Partnership Agreement provides that (i) EQGP will indemnify each director and executive officer of the general partner of EQGP to the fullest extent permitted by law and (ii) EQGP will cover such individual under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that EQGP maintains.

 

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Certain Relationships Between ETRN and EQGP

 

To the extent the discussion below summarizes any agreement that has been filed by ETRN or EQGP with the SEC, each such summary is qualified entirely by reference to the complete text of the applicable agreement, which is incorporated into this Disclosure Statement by reference. We encourage you to read each such agreement carefully and in its entirely. You should also review Interests of Certain Persons in the Unit Purchases and the Exercise of the Limited Call Right beginning on page 23 for a description of arrangements between ETRN and EQGP and between EQGP and directors and executive officers of the EQGP General Partner.

 

On February 21, 2018, EQT announced plans to separate its Midstream Business from its Upstream Business. On November 12, 2018, the Separation was effected through a series of transactions that culminated in the contribution of the Midstream Business to ETRN and the distribution of 80.1% of the shares in ETRN to existing EQT shareholders. As a result of the Distribution, EQT retained a 19.9% ownership interest in ETRN and ETRN holds investments in the entities conducting the Midstream Business, including (i) an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP, which holds (a) an approximate 17.9% limited partner interest in EQM, (b) an approximate 1.2% general partner interest in EQM, and (ii) all the IDRs in EQM, and (iii) an approximate 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM. As of the date of this Disclosure Statement, ETRN and its affiliates own 276,008,766 EQGP Common Units, representing an approximate 91.3% limited partner interest, and the entire non-economic general partner interest in EQGP.

 

Furthermore, in connection with the Separation and Distribution, on November 13, 2018, ETRN, as lender, entered into a Working Capital Loan Agreement (the Working Capital Loan) with EQGP, as borrower, providing for loans of up to $20 million at any one time outstanding, maturing on the earlier of October 31, 2023 or at least 90 days after ETRN gives notice of termination, and bearing interest, at EQGP’s option, at either (a) the Fixed Period Eurodollar Rate (as defined in ETRN’s primary revolving credit facility) plus the margin then applicable to ETRN’s LIBOR-based borrowings under ETRN’s primary revolving credit facility, or (b) the Base Rate (as defined in ETRN’s primary revolving credit facility) plus the margin then applicable to ETRN’s alternate base rate-based borrowings under ETRN’s primary revolving credit facility. Following the consummation of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, the Working Capital Loan will be terminated.

 

On November 13, 2018, in connection with the Separation and Distribution, ETRN, EQGP, the EQGP General Partner and, for certain limited purposes, EQM, entered into an Omnibus Agreement (the EQGP Omnibus Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, EQM agreed to provide ETRN and EQGP with a license to use the name “Equitrans” and related marks in connection with EQGP’s business. The EQGP Omnibus Agreement also addresses the following matters: (i) EQGP’s obligation to reimburse ETRN and its affiliates for certain direct operating expenses and all insurance coverage expenses they incur or pay with respect to EQGP’s assets and (ii) EQGP’s obligation to reimburse ETRN and its affiliates for providing general and administrative services to EQGP, including EQGP’s public company expenses and general and administrative expenses. Following the consummation of the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right, the EQGP Omnibus Agreement will be terminated.

 

Also on November 13, 2018, in connection with the Separation and Distribution, ETRN, EQM and the EQM General Partner entered into an Omnibus Agreement (the EQM Omnibus Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, EQM agreed to provide ETRN with a license to use the name “Equitrans” and related marks in connection with ETRN’s business. The EQM Omnibus Agreement also addresses the following matters: (i) EQM’s obligation to reimburse ETRN and its affiliates for certain direct operating expenses and all insurance coverage expenses they incur or pay with respect to EQM’s assets and (ii) EQM’s obligation to reimburse ETRN and its affiliates for providing general and administrative services to EQM, including EQM’s public company expenses and general and administrative expenses. Concurrently with the execution of the EQM Omnibus Agreement, in connection with the Separation and Distribution, ETRN, EQM and the EQM General Partner also entered into a Secondment Agreement, pursuant to which EQM will utilize the secondment of available ETRN employees under the control of EQM to operate its assets and EQM will reimburse ETRN and its affiliates for the services provided by the seconded employees.

 

EQGP is exempt from the NYSE’s requirement to have, and does not have, a standing nominating committee. As a result of its ownership in the EQGP General Partner, ETRN is able to appoint the entire EQGP Board. References in this section to ETRN include its subsidiaries, other than EQGP and its subsidiaries, and references to EQGP include EQGP and its subsidiaries.

 

25


 

Effects on EQGP if the Transactions are Not Consummated

 

If the Transactions are not consummated for any reason, holders of EQGP Common Units will not receive any payment for their EQGP Common Units in connection with the Unit Purchases or the exercise of the Limited Call Right. Instead, EQGP will remain a public company and the EQGP Common Units will continue to be listed for trading on the NYSE. In addition, if the Transactions are not consummated for any reason, we expect that EQGP management will operate the EQGP business in a manner similar to that in which it is being operated today and that holders of EQGP Common Units will continue to be subject to the same risks and opportunities as they currently are, including, among other things, that EQGP’s operations (conducted through EQM and its operating subsidiaries) can be materially affected by competition in its target markets and by overall market conditions, among other factors. Accordingly, if the Transactions are not consummated, there can be no assurance as to the effect of these risks and opportunities on the future value of your EQGP Common Units. From time to time, the EQGP Board will evaluate and review, among other things, the business operations, properties, distribution policy and capitalization of EQGP and make such changes as are deemed appropriate and continue to seek to identify strategic alternatives to enhance stakeholder value. If the Transactions are not consummated for any reason, there can be no assurance that any other transaction acceptable to EQGP will be offered, or that the business, prospects or results of operations of EQGP will not be adversely impacted.

 

Possible Actions by ETRN with Regard to EQGP if the Transactions are Not Completed

 

If the Transactions are not completed, ETRN will re-evaluate its options with respect to the outstanding EQGP Common Units it does not own. In particular, ETRN has publicly announced that it intends to work quickly to evaluate the possible simplification of the Midstream Business structure and it may pursue such a simplification through a combination of EQM and EQGP, the modification or elimination of the IDRs of EQM or another transaction that results in the deregistration of EQGP or EQM, or any combination of the foregoing. In addition, ETRN may consider commencing a tender offer for the outstanding EQGP Common Units it does not already own, purchasing or selling additional EQGP Common Units in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, in another tender offer or exchange offer or otherwise, or taking no further action with respect to the EQGP Common Units. If the Transactions are not completed and EQGP Common Units remain outstanding, the public unitholders of EQGP would, absent a sale by them in the public markets, retain their EQGP Common Units and would realize the benefit of any improvement in EQGP’s business or profitability but would also bear the risk that the trading price per EQGP Common Unit could decline to a price that is less than the Purchase Price, the rate of distributions on the EQGP Common Units could fall or cease to be paid or EQGP Common Units become less readily marketable.

 

If ETRN were to pursue any of these alternatives, it might take considerably longer for the public holders of EQGP Common Units to receive any consideration for their EQGP Common Units (other than through sales in the open market) than if the Transactions were completed. Any such transaction may result in proceeds per EQGP Common Unit to the public unitholders of EQGP that are more or less than or the same as the Purchase Price.

 

THE TRANSACTIONS

 

The Unit Purchase Agreements

 

Selling Unitholders; EQGP Common Units; Purchase Price

 

On November 29, 2018, ETRN entered into a substantially identical Unit Purchase Agreement with each Selling Unitholder, as follows:

 

·                   funds managed by Neuberger Berman, pursuant to which ETRN will acquire 5,200,000 EQGP Common Units for the Purchase Price, representing an aggregate purchase price of $104,000,000;

·                   funds managed by GSAM, pursuant to which ETRN will acquire 1,865,000 EQGP Common Units for the Purchase Price, representing an aggregate purchase price of $37,300,400;

·                   funds managed by Cushing, pursuant to which ETRN will acquire 920,130 EQGP Common Units for the Purchase Price, representing an aggregate purchase price of $18,402,600;

·                   funds managed by Kayne Anderson, pursuant to which ETRN will acquire 1,363,974 EQGP Common Units for the Purchase Price, representing an aggregate purchase price of $27,279,480; and

 

26


 

·                   Zimmer, pursuant to which ETRN will acquire 3,414,168 EQGP Common Units for the Purchase Price, representing an aggregate purchase price of $68,283,360.

 

Closings

 

Pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreements, each Closing is expected to occur at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless ETRN delivers written notice to a Selling Unitholder no later than one calendar day prior to December 31, 2018 specifying a later date (which later date is no more than 30 days following December 31, 2018). The Closings will take place at the principal offices of ETRN. In addition, ETRN agreed to acquire any additional EQGP Common Units acquired by the Selling Unitholders after the date of the Unit Purchase Agreements, at the option of the Selling Unitholders, for the Purchase Price.

 

Conditions

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, unless waived by the applicable party:

 

·                   it is a condition to the performance of each party to the Unit Purchase Agreements that no governmental authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Unit Purchases; and

·                   it is a condition to ETRN’s performance that:

·                   there shall not be any suit, action or proceeding by or before any governmental authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Unit Purchases or seeking damages in connection with the Unit Purchases;

·                   all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all governmental authorities or third parties required in connection with the Unit Purchases shall have been received or waived by such governmental authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the parties, and all notices required to be delivered to such governmental authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods shall have expired or been waived;

·                   the representations and warranties of the Selling Unitholder contained in a Unit Purchase Agreement or other documents delivered pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing, or in the case of representations and warranties made as of a specified date, such representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date; and

·                   the Selling Unitholder shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied and all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by the Unit Purchase Agreement to be performed or complied with prior to the Closing; and

·                   it is a condition to each Selling Unitholder’s performance that:

·                   there shall not be any suit, action or proceeding by or before any governmental authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Unit Purchases or seeking damages in connection with the Unit Purchases, other than those brought by Selling Unitholders against their investment advisers;

·                   the representations and warranties of ETRN contained in a Unit Purchase Agreement or other documents delivered pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing, or in the case of representations and warranties made as of a specified date, such representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date; and

·                   ETRN shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by the Unit Purchase Agreement to be performed or complied with prior to the Closing.

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement is not conditioned on the Closing of the other Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the Selling Unitholder, including representations and warranties regarding organization, authority and approval, no conflicts, ownership of the EQGP Common Units, dispositive power, no consents, no litigation, and that the Selling Unitholder is an informed seller. In addition, each Unit Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of ETRN, including with respect to organization, authority and approval, no conflicts, no consents and no litigation.

 

Indemnification

 

ETRN and each Selling Unitholder will indemnify each other from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) incurred by the indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in the applicable Unit Purchase Agreement or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant in the applicable Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

27


 

Termination

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement may only be terminated by the mutual written consent of the parties.

 

Governing Law

 

Each Unit Purchase Agreement is governed by Delaware law.

 

Expenses

 

All expenses incurred in connection with the Unit Purchases, the Unit Purchase Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby will be borne by the party incurring such expenses.

 

The summaries of the Unit Purchase Agreements set forth above are qualified by reference to the full text of the Unit Purchase Agreements, which are filed as Exhibits (d)(8), (d)(9), (d)(10), (d)(11) and (d)(12) to the Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3.

 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the exercise of the Limited Call Right to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of EQGP Common Units. This discussion assumes that the Limited Call Right will be exercised, as described in this Disclosure Statement. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. This summary does not discuss all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to U.S. Holders in light of such holder’s particular circumstances. In addition, this summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the net investment income tax or the alternative minimum tax, nor does it address any tax consequences arising under the laws of any local, state or foreign jurisdiction and does not consider any aspects of United States federal tax law other than income taxation. Furthermore, this discussion focuses on U.S. Holders of EQGP Common Units that hold their EQGP Common Units as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) (generally property held for investment). This discussion does not address all United States federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular U.S. Holders, including, without limitation, corporations, partnerships (including entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes), estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other U.S. Holders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, tax-exempt institutions, non-United States persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities, United States persons whose “functional currency” is not the United States dollar, persons holding their EQGP Common Units as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction, persons that hold EQGP Common Units through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan, employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts, or mutual funds.

 

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds EQGP Common Units, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner, upon the activities of the partnership and upon certain determinations made at the partner level. A partner in a partnership (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes) holding EGQP Common Units should consult its own tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the exercise of the Limited Call Right.

 

This summary is based on the Code, the regulations promulgated under the Code, and rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this Disclosure Statement, and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations at any time, with possible retroactive effect. We have not sought, and do not intend to seek, any ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the views expressed herein, or that a court will not sustain any challenge by the IRS in the event of litigation.

 

We urge you to consult your own tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences to you in connection with the exercise of the Limited Call Right in light of your own particular circumstances, including federal estate, gift and other non-income tax consequences, and tax consequences under state, local or foreign tax laws.

 

28


 

Definition of a U.S. Holder

 

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of EQGP Common Units that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:

 

·                   an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

·                   a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

·                   an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

·                   a trust that (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (ii) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Payments with Respect to EQGP Common Units in the Exercise of the Limited Call Right

 

The sale of EQGP Common Units for cash pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, and a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss, if any, equal to the difference between (i) the sum of (a) the amount of cash received and (b) such U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s nonrecourse liabilities immediately prior to the time such U.S. Holder’s EQGP Common Units are purchased for cash and (ii) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the EQGP Common Units sold therefor (which includes such U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s nonrecourse liabilities immediately prior to the time such U.S. Holder’s EQGP Common Units are purchased).

 

A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in its EQGP Common Units would have been equal to the amount such U.S. Holder paid for the EQGP Common Units plus the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s nonrecourse liabilities. Over time that basis would have (i) increased by the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s income and by any increases in the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s nonrecourse liabilities and (ii) decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from EQGP, by the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s losses, by any decreases in the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s nonrecourse liabilities and by the U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized.

 

Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. However, a portion of this gain or loss, which portion will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” owned by EQGP and its subsidiaries. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a EQGP Common Unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of such U.S. Holder’s EQGP Common Units. Consequently, a U.S. Holder may recognize both ordinary income and capital loss upon the sale of EQGP Common Units.

 

Capital gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for its EQGP Common Units is more than twelve months as of the time such units are purchased. If the U.S. Holder is an individual, such long-term capital gain will generally be eligible for reduced rates of taxation. Capital losses recognized by a U.S. Holder may offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, no more than $3,000 of ordinary income. Capital losses recognized by U.S. Holders that are corporations may be used to offset only capital gains.

 

The amount of gain or loss recognized by each U.S. Holder will vary depending on each U.S. Holder’s particular situation, including the adjusted tax basis of the EQGP Common Units sold by each U.S. Holder and the amount of any suspended passive losses that may be available to a particular U.S. Holder to offset a portion of the gain recognized by each U.S. Holder. Passive losses that were not deductible by a U.S. Holder in prior taxable periods because they exceeded a U.S. Holder’s share of EQGP’s income may be deducted in full upon the U.S. Holder’s taxable disposition of its entire investment in EQGP. Each U.S. Holder is strongly urged to consult its own tax advisor with respect

 

29


 

to the specific tax consequences to them of the exercise of the Limited Call Right, taking into account its own particular circumstances.

 

EQGP Items of Income, Gain, Loss, and Deduction

 

U.S. Holders of EQGP Common Units will be allocated their share of EQGP’s items of income, gain, loss, and deduction for the taxable period of EQGP that includes the date the EQGP Common Units are sold pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right. These allocations will be made in accordance with the terms of the EQGP Partnership Agreement. A U.S. Holder will be subject to United States federal income taxes on any such allocated income and gain even if such U.S. Holder does not receive a cash distribution from EQGP attributable to such allocated income and gain. Any such income and gain allocated to a U.S. Holder will increase the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the EQGP Common Units held and, therefore, will reduce the gain, or increase the loss, recognized by such U.S. Holder resulting from the sale. Any losses or deductions allocated to a U.S. Holder will decrease the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the EQGP Common Units held and, therefore, will increase the gain, or reduce the loss, recognized by such U.S. Holder resulting from the sale.

 

Backup Withholding Tax

 

Proceeds from the sale of EQGP Common Units generally will be subject to backup withholding tax at the applicable rate unless the applicable U.S. Holder or other payee provides a valid taxpayer identification number and complies with certain certification procedures or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding tax. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against that U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Price Range of EQGP Common Units; Distributions on EQGP Common Units

 

EQGP Common Units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “EQGP,” and have been listed on the NYSE at all times since May 15, 2015.

 

The following table sets forth, for each of the periods indicated, the high and low intraday sales prices per unit of EQGP Common Units on the NYSE and quarterly cash distributions paid to EQGP’s common unitholders.

 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

Cash
Distribution per
Common Unit

 

Year Ended December 31, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

27.00

 

$

17.64

 

$

0.122

 

Second Quarter

 

27.74

 

21.95

 

0.134

 

Third Quarter

 

26.99

 

23.89

 

0.15

 

Fourth Quarter

 

26.39

 

21.45

 

0.165

 

Year Ended December 31, 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

28.53

 

$

24.91

 

$

0.177

 

Second Quarter

 

31.76

 

24.18

 

0.191

 

Third Quarter

 

30.64

 

25.03

 

0.21

 

Fourth Quarter

 

30.74

 

24.79

 

0.228

 

Year Ending December 31, 2018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

30.73

 

$

21.05

 

$

0.244

 

Second Quarter

 

27.48

 

21.82

 

0.258

 

Third Quarter

 

25.33

 

20.21

 

0.306

 

Fourth Quarter (as of November 29, 2018)

 

21.50

 

15.36

 

0.315

 

 

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On November 29, 2018, the last trading day prior to the public announcement of the Transactions, the last sale price of EQGP Common Units reported on the NYSE was $17.02 per unit.

 

Possible Effects of the Transactions on the Market for EQGP Common Units; Stock Exchange Listing(s); Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

 

Possible Effect of the Transactions on the Market for the EQGP Common Units

 

If the Limited Call Right is exercised, holders of EQGP Common Units not party to the Unit Purchase Agreements will receive cash in an amount equal to the greater of (i) the average of the daily closing price per EQGP Common Unit for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date three business days prior to the date that the notice of exercise of the Limited Call Right is delivered pursuant to the EQGP Partnership Agreement and (ii) the highest price paid by the EQGP General Partner or any of its affiliates for any such EQGP Common Unit purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that such notice is mailed. Therefore, if after the Unit Purchases are completed ETRN exercises or causes the EQGP General Partner to exercise the Limited Call Right, the only differences between sales of EQGP Common Units in the Unit Purchases and sales of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the exercise of the Limited Call Right is that sales in the Unit Purchases will be paid earlier and will have the potential to receive a lower price per EQGP Common Unit to the extent that the EQGP Common Units trade higher prior to the exercise of the Limited Call Right. If the Limited Call Right cannot be exercised after some, but not all, Unit Purchases are completed, holders of EQGP Common Units not acquired in the completed Unit Purchases will remain holders of such units and will be subject to changes in the future trading prices in the EQGP Common Units. See —Stock Exchange Listing below.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

The EQGP Common Units are listed for trading on the NYSE. After completion of the Unit Purchases and depending upon the aggregate market value and the per common unit price of any EQGP Common Units not purchased pursuant to the Unit Purchases, the EQGP Common Units may no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on the NYSE if, among other things, EQGP does not meet the requirements for the number of publicly held EQGP Common Units, the aggregate market value of the publicly held EQGP Common Units or the number of market makers for the EQGP Common Units. If, as a result of the purchase of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchases, the EQGP Common Units no longer meet the requirements of the NYSE for continued listing and the listing of the EQGP Common Units is discontinued, the market for EQGP Common Units could be adversely affected.

 

If the NYSE were to delist EQGP Common Units, it is possible that EQGP Common Units would continue to trade on other securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market and that price quotation would be reported by such exchanges or other. The extent of the public market for the EQGP Common Units and the availability of such quotations would depend, however, upon such factors as the number of holders of EQGP Common Units and/or the aggregate market value of the publicly traded EQGP Common Units remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in the EQGP Common Units on the part of securities firms, the possible termination of registration under the Exchange Act as described below, and other factors. ETRN cannot predict whether the reduction in the number of EQGP Common Units that might otherwise trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price for, or the marketability of, EQGP Common Units or whether it would cause future market prices to be greater or lesser than the Purchase Price being offered in the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right.

 

If the Unit Purchases are consummated and ETRN and its affiliates own more than 95% of the then outstanding EQGP Common Units, ETRN will cause the Limited Call Right to be exercised promptly, but in any event not more than 90 days following the Closings. After the consummation of the Limited Call Right, there will be no public market for EQGP Common Units and no holders of EQGP Common Units other than ETRN, and the EQGP Common Units will be delisted from the NYSE.

 

Registration Under the Exchange Act

 

The EQGP Common Units are currently registered under the Exchange Act. The purchase of the EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchases may result in the EQGP Common Units becoming eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act. Registration may be terminated upon application of EQGP to the SEC if the EQGP Common Units are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of

 

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the registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act, assuming there are no other securities of EQGP subject to registration, would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by EQGP to holders of EQGP Common Units and to the SEC and would make certain of the provisions of the Exchange Act, such as the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13, the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to “going-private” transactions, no longer applicable to EQGP. Furthermore, “affiliates” of EQGP and persons holding “restricted securities” of EQGP may be deprived of the ability to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act were terminated, the EQGP Common Units would no longer be “margin securities” or eligible for stock exchange listing. If the Unit Purchases are completed, we believe that the purchase of the EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchases may result in the EQGP Common Units becoming eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act, and, assuming that all of the Unit Purchases are completed, it would be our intention to cause EQGP to terminate registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act after the exercise of the Limited Call Right.

 

If registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act is not terminated prior to the exercise of the Limited Call Right, then the registration of the EQGP Common Units under the Exchange Act and the listing of the EQGP Common Units on the NYSE will be terminated following the completion of the exercise of the Limited Call Right.

 

Margin Regulations

 

The EQGP Common Units are currently “margin securities” under the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve Board), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of such EQGP Common Units. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding listing and market quotations, following the purchase of EQGP Common Units pursuant to the Unit Purchases, the EQGP Common Units might no longer constitute “main securities” for the purposes of the Federal Reserve Board’s margin regulations and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.

 

Appraisal Rights; “Going-Private” Rules

 

Appraisal Rights

 

Under Delaware law, limited partnerships may, but are not required to, provide for appraisal rights in their partnership agreements. The EQGP Partnership Agreement does not provide for any appraisal rights, and therefore holders of EQGP Common Units will not have any appraisal rights in connection with the exercise of the Limited Call Right.

 

Going-Private Rules

 

Because ETRN is an affiliate of EQGP, the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right constitute a “going private” transaction for purposes of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act. Rule 13e-3 requires, among other things, that certain financial information concerning EQGP and certain information relating to the fairness of the Transactions and the consideration offered to minority holders of EQGP Common Units be filed with the SEC and disclosed to minority holders of EQGP Common Units prior to the consummation of the exercise of the Limited Call Right. ETRN has provided such information in this Disclosure Statement.

 

Certain Information Concerning EQGP

 

EQGP is a Delaware limited partnership with its principal executive offices at 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. The telephone number of EQGP’s principal executive offices is (412) 395-2688.

 

EQGP describes itself as follows:

 

EQGP owns certain of ETRN’s partnership interests in EQM, a publicly-traded, growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership. Through EQGP’s ownership of the general partner of EQM (the EQM General Partner), EQGP has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact EQM’s economic performance. EQGP has no independent operations or material assets other than its partnership interests in EQM.

 

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EQGP is engaged, through the operating activities of EQM, in the provision of midstream services in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio through EQM’s three primary assets: the gathering system, which delivers natural gas from wells and other receipt points to transmission pipelines; the transmission and storage system, which delivers gas to local demand users and interstate pipelines for access to demand markets; and its water services assets, which consist of water pipelines, impoundment facilities, pumping stations, take point facilities and measurement facilities that support well completion activities and collect flowback and produced water for recycling or disposal.

 

Summary Consolidated Financial Information

 

The following tables set forth summary historical and pro forma consolidated financial data for EQGP as of and for the periods indicated. The summary historical consolidated financial data for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 and as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are extracted from, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in EQGP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, and 2017, including the notes thereto, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in EQGP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018, including the notes thereto. More comprehensive financial information is included in these reports (including management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation) and other documents filed by EQGP with the SEC, and the following summary is qualified in its entirely by reference to those reports and such other documents and all of the financial information and notes contained therein. The summary unaudited pro forma statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2017 was extracted from, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements by EQGP filed on Form 8-K/A on July 23, 2018. The financial statements included as Item 8 in EQGP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and as Item 1 in EQGP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 are incorporated by reference into this Disclosure Statement. Copies of those reports and other documents filed by EQGP may be examined at or obtained from the SEC in the manner set forth below under Available Information.

 

 

 

Pro Forma

 

Historical

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2017 (a)

 

2017 (b)

 

2016

 

2018(a)

 

2017(a)

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

Statement of operations data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

 

$

1,264,704

 

$

834,096

 

$

735,614

 

$

1,110,307

 

$

603,180

 

Operating income

 

$

803,854

 

$

577,693

 

$

523,984

 

$

739,427

 

$

429,954

 

Net income

 

$

651,339

 

$

568,920

 

$

534,994

 

$

701,795

 

$

422,949

 

Net income attributable to limited partners

 

$

277,718

 

$

261,993

 

$

212,318

 

$

267,665

 

$

191,650

 

Net income per limited partner unit— basic and diluted

 

$

0.92

 

$

0.98

 

$

0 .80

 

$

0.94

 

$

0.72

 

Balance sheet data (as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and September 30, 2018 and 2017)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

(c)

$

2,804,059

 

$

2,578,834

 

$

5,608,358

 

 

(d)

Total assets

 

 

(c)

$

3,549,625

 

$

3,076,449

 

$

9,268,140

 

 

(d)

Long-term debt, including credit facilities

 

 

(c)

$

1,167,352

 

$

985,732

 

$

3,477,296

 

 

(d)

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions declared per common unit

 

$

0.873

 

$

0.873

 

$

0.626

 

$

0.879

 

$

0.629

 

 


(a)          Unaudited

(b)          The historical financial information for the year ended December 31, 2017 has not been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of Rice Olympus Midstream LLC (ROM), Strike Force

 

33


 

Midstream Holdings LLC (Strike Force) and Rice West Virginia Midstream LLC (Rice WV), which were acquired by EQM effective on May 1, 2018 (the May 2018 Acquisition) and Rice Midstream Partners LP (RMP), which was acquired by EQM effective on July 23, 2018 (the RMP Merger).

(c)           Property, plant and equipment, net of $5,110.8 million, total assets of $7,999.6 million and long-term debt, including credit facilities, of $1,453.4 million as of December 31, 2017 were extracted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in EQGP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018, including the notes thereto, for which the unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 included therein has been recast to reflect the May 2018 Acquisition and RMP Merger.

(d)          Property, plant and equipment, net of $2,745.5 million, total assets of $3,349.9 million and long-term debt, including credit facilities, of $1,091.9 million as of September 30, 2017 were extracted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in the EQGP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017, including the notes thereto.

 

The book value per EQGP Common Unit as of September 30, 2018 is $0.99. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the information concerning EQGP contained in this Disclosure Statement has been taken from or based upon publicly available documents and records on file with the SEC and other public sources and is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto. ETRN has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in such documents and records and cannot verify any failure by EQGP to disclose events that may have occurred or may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information but which are unknown to ETRN.

 

Available Information

 

EQGP is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith is obligated to file reports and other information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Information, as of particular dates, concerning the directors and officers of the EQGP General Partner, their remuneration, the principal holders of EQGP’s securities, any material interests of such persons in transactions with EQGP and other matters is required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act distributed to EQGP’s unitholders and filed with the SEC. Such reports and other information should be available for inspection at the public reference room at the SEC’s offices at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, and can be obtained electronically on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Certain Information Concerning ETRN

 

ETRN is a Pennsylvania corporation. Its principal executive office is located at 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222, and its telephone number is (412) 395-2688. ETRN has no operations independent from its investments in EQGP and EQM. The EQGP General Partner is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ETRN and controls EQGP, which in turn controls EQM through EQGP’s ownership of the EQM General Partner. ETRN is engaged, through the operating activities of EQM, in the provision of midstream services in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio through EQM’s three primary assets: the gathering system, which delivers natural gas from wells and other receipt points to transmission pipelines; the transmission and storage system, which delivers gas to local demand users and interstate pipelines for access to demand markets; and its water services assets, which consist of water pipelines, impoundment facilities, pumping stations, take point facilities and measurement facilities that support well completion activities and collect flowback and produced water for recycling or disposal.

 

Certain information regarding the directors and officers of ETRN is set forth in Schedule A to this Disclosure Statement. None of ETRN or any of the other persons referred to in Schedule A has been convicted in a criminal proceeding during the past five years (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), nor have any of them been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past five years that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining them from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws. ETRN has not made any arrangements in connection with the Transactions to provide holders of EQGP Common Units access to its corporate files or to obtain counsel or appraisal services at its expense.

 

34


 

Source and Amount of Funds

 

ETRN estimates that the total amount of funds required to purchase all of the outstanding EQGP Common Units (other than those already owned by ETRN and its affiliates) pursuant to the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right and to pay related fees and expenses will be approximately $539.4 million. ETRN expects the funds required to purchase all outstanding EQGP Common Units (other than those already owned by ETRN and its affiliates) pursuant to the Unit Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right to come from the Term Facility (as defined below).

 

The Debt Commitment Letter

 

ETRN has entered into a commitment letter (the Debt Commitment Letter) with Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC (collectively, the Arrangers) and certain financing sources party thereto (Goldman Sachs Bank USA and such financing sources, the Commitment Parties) pursuant to which the Commitment Parties have committed to provide ETRN with a senior secured term loan B facility of up to an aggregate principal amount of $650 million (the Term Facility).  The Term Facility will be available to ETRN to finance, among other things, the Unit Purchases, the exercise of the Limited Call Right and the payment of associated fees and expenses, subject to customary conditions contained in the Debt Commitment Letter, including, without limitation, (i) the execution and delivery of definitive documentation, (ii) the substantially concurrent consummation of the Unit Purchases and (iii) since November 12, 2018, there not having occurred a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of ETRN and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

The Term Facility

 

The administrative agent under the Term Facility will be Goldman Sachs Bank USA (or one of its affiliates), the collateral agent under the Term Facility will be a financial institution reasonably acceptable to ETRN and the Arrangers, and the Arrangers will be the sole lead arrangers of the Term Facility, subject to ETRN’s ability to appoint up to three additional lead arrangers pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter. The Term Facility will be guaranteed by the wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of ETRN, other than (i) EQGP, unless it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETRN (but not of EQM) 90 days after the initial funding of the Term Facility, (ii) the EQGP General Partner, (iii) the EQM General Partner and (iv) EQM and its subsidiaries. The Term Facility will be secured by substantially all assets of ETRN and the guarantors, including a pledge of all EQGP equity interests and all EQM limited partner interests that are owned by ETRN or any guarantor, and will permit ETRN’s primary revolving credit facility to be secured by the same collateral on a pari passu basis.

 

The Term Facility will have a total commitment for term loans of up aggregate principal amount of $650 million and will mature on the date that is seven years from the initial funding of the Term Facility. Optional prepayments of borrowings under the Term Facility are permitted at any time, without premium or penalty, subject to (i) reimbursement of the lenders’ breakage and redeployment costs in the case of a prepayment of LIBOR borrowings and (ii) a 1.00% prepayment premium if, prior to the date that is six months after the initial funding of the Term Facility, (a) there is a modification of the definitive documentation for the Term Facility that reduces the yield to lenders then in effect for the borrowings under the Term Facility, (b) a refinancing of the Term Facility occurs with new indebtedness that has a yield lower than that then in effect for borrowings under the Term Facility or (c) a lender must assign its loans under the Term Facility as a result of its failure to consent to a modification of the Term Facility that would have the effect of reducing the yield to lenders then in effect for the borrowings under the Term Facility.

 

The Term Facility will amortize 1.00% per annum of the original principal amount in equal quarterly installments until the final maturity date. The Term Facility is also subject to mandatory prepayments of (i) the net cash proceeds resulting from ETRN’s or a guarantor’s non-ordinary course asset sales and other dispositions, (ii) the net cash proceeds from the issuances of certain debt obligations of ETRN or EQGP and (iii) on a quarterly basis, a percentage (based on the then current net leverage ratio of ETRN and its subsidiaries (other than EQM and its subsidiaries)) of excess cash flow of ETRN and its subsidiaries other than EQM and its subsidiaries). The mandatory prepayment referenced in the immediately foregoing clause (iii) will be suspended during the continuance of either: (a) ETRN obtaining and maintaining an investment grade rating from two agreed upon rating agencies or (b) the Term Facility obtaining and maintaining an investment grade rating from two agreed upon rating agencies. As of the date of this Disclosure statement, ETRN does not have any plans or arrangements to finance or repay the Term Facility, other than with its cash flows from distributions received from EQM.

 

35


 

The Term Facility will be subject to customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default, and will include, among other things, a covenant that the debt service coverage ratio (EBITDA to mandatory amortization plus interest expense) of ETRN as of the last day of any fiscal quarter shall not be lower than 1.10 to 1.00.  The debt service coverage ratio covenant will be suspended during the continuance of either: (i) ETRN obtaining and maintaining an investment grade rating from two agreed upon rating agencies or (ii) the Term Facility obtaining and maintaining an investment grade rating from two agreed upon rating agencies.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the credit agreement evidencing the Term Facility, which will be on terms substantially consistent with the term sheet attached to the Debt Commitment Letter as Exhibit B. The documentation governing the Term Facility has not been finalized and, accordingly, the actual terms of the Term Facility may differ from those described in this Disclosure Statement.

 

As of the date of this Disclosure Statement, no alternative financing arrangements have been made in the event the Term Facility is not available as anticipated.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

ETRN has retained American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC to serve as the Paying Agent for the Limited Call Right. The Paying Agent will receive reasonable and customary compensation for its services, will be reimbursed for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with its services, including certain liabilities and expenses under United States federal securities laws.

 

ETRN will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person to make solicitations or recommendations in connection with the Transactions.

 

The following table presents the estimated fees and expenses to be incurred by ETRN in connection with the Unit Purchases:

 

SEC Filing Fee

 

$

64,194

 

Printing and Mailing Expenses

 

90,000

 

Paying Agent for Limited Call Right

 

5,000

 

Legal and Accounting Fees and Expenses

 

2,000,000

 

Financial Advisors

 

8,000,000

 

Miscellaneous Expenses

 

806

 

Total

 

$

10,160,000

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation on behalf of ETRN that is not contained in this Disclosure Statement and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized.

 

ETRN has filed a Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 pursuant to Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, together with exhibits, furnishing certain additional information with respect to the Transactions and may file amendments to such document.

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

November 30, 2018

 

36


 

SCHEDULE A

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ETRN

 

The following table sets forth, to the best of our knowledge, for each executive officer and director of ETRN, his or her name, business or residence address, principal occupation or employment at the present time and during the last five years, and the name of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted or was conducted. Except as otherwise indicated, to the best of our knowledge, all of the persons listed below are citizens of the United States of America. During the past five years, to the best of our knowledge, none of the executive officers or directors of ETRN have been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which the person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation of these laws. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal business address of each director and executive officer is Equitrans Midstream Corporation, 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.

 

Name and Title

 

Present Occupation or Employment, Five-Year Employment History and Address

David L. Porges
Chairman of the Board

 

David L. Porges has served as chairman of the board of directors of ETRN since November 2018. Mr. Porges served as a director of EQT from May 2002 to the Separation Effective Date, where he also served as a member of the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee and the Executive Committee. Mr. Porges served as Chairman and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of EQT from March 2018 to the Separation Effective Date; Executive Chairman of EQT between March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EQT, between December 2015 through February 2017; and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, EQT, between May 2011 through November 2015. Mr. Porges also served as the Chairman of the EQGP General Partner, from January 2015 to October 2018, and the EQM General Partner, from January 2012 to October 2018. Mr. Porges served as Chairman of Rice Midstream Management, LLC from November 2017 to July 2018. Mr. Porges was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the EQGP General Partner and the EQM General Partner from each company’s inception through February 2017. Mr. Porges served in a number of senior management positions with EQT since joining EQT as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1998. He also served as a member of EQT’s board of directors from May 2002 to the Separation Effective Date. Prior to joining EQT, Mr. Porges held various senior positions within the investment banking industry and also held several managerial positions with Exxon Corporation (now Exxon Mobil Corporation, an international oil and gas company). Mr. Porges served on the board of directors of Westport Resources Corp. (an oil and natural gas production company) (now part of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation), from April 2000 through 2004.

 

 

 

Robert F. Vagt
Lead Independent Director

 

Robert F. Vagt has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018. Mr. Vagt served as a director of EQT from November 2017 to the Separation Effective Date, where he also served as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Vagt served as President of Davidson College (an independent liberal arts college) from July 1999 through August 2007. Mr. Vagt served as President, The Heinz Endowments (a private philanthropic foundation) from January 2008 through January 2014. Mr. Vagt was a director of Rice Energy Inc., serving as that board’s independent chair, chair of its Health, Safety and Environmental Committee, and a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees, from January 2014 through November 2017. Mr. Vagt served as a director of Rice Midstream Management, LLC from January 2014 to July 2018. Mr. Vagt has served as a director of Kinder Morgan, Inc. (a publicly-traded energy infrastructure company) since May 2012, where he serves as a member of the Audit Committee and chair of its Environmental, Health and Safety Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

Prior to his service to The Heinz Endowments and Davidson College, Mr. Vagt had significant executive and operational oil and gas industry experience, having served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Seagull Energy Corporation (an oil and gas exploration and production company) from 1996 to 1997, as President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Natural Resources (a producer of oil and natural gas) from 1992 to 1996 and as President and Chief Operating Officer of Adobe Resources

 

A- 1


 

Name and Title

 

Present Occupation or Employment, Five-Year Employment History and Address

 

 

Corporation (oil and natural gas production company) from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Vagt also served as a director of El Paso Corporation from May 2005 to 2012, where he was a member of the Compensation and Health, Safety and Environmental Committees.

 

 

 

Thomas F. Karam
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Thomas F. Karam has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018. Mr. Karam also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of ETRN and a member of ETRN’s Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Committee. Mr. Karam served as a director of EQT from November 2017 to the Separation Effective Date. Mr. Karam is Founder and served as Chairman of Karbon Partners, LLC (which invests in, owns, constructs, and operates midstream energy assets) from April 2017 to August 2018 and served as Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PennTex Midstream Partners, LLC (PennTex) (a publicly traded master limited partnership with operations in North Louisiana and the Permian basin in Texas) from 2014 until its sale to Energy Transfer Partners in November 2016. Prior to the Separation Effective Date, Mr. Karam served as Senior Vice President, EQT and President, Midstream of EQT. Mr. Karam was appointed as a director and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the EQM General Partner and the EQGP General Partner in August 2018. In October 2018 Mr. Karam was appointed as chairman of the board of directors of the EQGP General Partner and the EQM General Partner.

 

 

 

 

 

Prior to founding PennTex, Mr. Karam was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Laser Midstream Partners, LLC (Laser) (an independent natural gas gatherer in the northeast Marcellus Shale) from 2010 until February 2012 when it was acquired by Williams Partners LP (a publicly traded master limited partnership providing large-scale infrastructure). Prior to Laser, Mr. Karam was the President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Southern Union Company (Southern Union) leading its successful transformation from a large local distribution company to one of the largest pipeline companies in the United States at the time. Prior to Southern Union, Mr. Karam was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pennsylvania Enterprises, Inc. and PG Energy, a natural gas utility in central and northeastern Pennsylvania until its acquisition by Southern Union. Mr. Karam began his professional career in investment banking where he spent a number of years with Legg Mason Inc. and Thomson McKinnon.

 

 

 

Vicky A. Bailey
Director

 

Vicky A. Bailey has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018. Ms. Bailey served as a director of EQT from June 2004 to the Separation Effective Date, where she also served as Chair of the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committee and member of the Executive Committee. Ms. Bailey has served as President, Anderson Stratton International, LLC (a strategic consulting and government relations), since November 2005; and Vice President, BHMM Energy Services, LLC (a utility and facilities management services), since January 2006. Ms. Bailey is a director of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (an energy company primarily engaged in liquefied natural gas related businesses), since March 2006; and was a director of Cleco Corporation (an energy services company with regulated utility and wholesale energy businesses) from June 2013 through March 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Bailey has substantial regulatory and senior management experience in the energy industry, having previously served as a commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, President of PSI Energy, Inc. (a regulated utility) and commissioner of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

 

 

 

Kenneth M. Burke
Director

 

Kenneth M. Burke has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018. Mr. Burke also currently serves as a member of each of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees of the ETRN Board. Mr. Burke served as a director of EQT from January 2012 to the Separation Effective Date, where he also served as a member of the Audit and the Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility Committees. Since September 2018, Mr. Burke has also served as a director and member of the Audit Committee of each of the EQGP General Partner and the EQM General Partner. As of the Separation Effective Date, Mr. Burke was appointed as the Chair of the Audit Committee of the EQGP General Partner. Mr. Burke was a Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) (a Big Four accounting firm) between October 1982 through June 2004. Mr. Burke has served on the board of directors and the Audit Committee of Nexeo Solutions, Inc. (a publicly traded global chemical distributor) since November 2011.

 

A- 2


 

Name and Title

 

Present Occupation or Employment, Five-Year Employment History and Address

Margaret K. Dorman
Director

 

Margaret K. Dorman has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018 and serves as the Chair of ETRN’s Management Development and Compensation Committee and as a member of ETRN’s Audit Committee. Ms. Dorman served as a director of EQT from January 2012 to the Separation Effective Date, where she also served as a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Dorman served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Smith International, Inc. (a publicly-traded supplier of oil and gas products and services), between May 1999 through October 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Dorman brings to ETRN a wealth of financial expertise and experience in the natural gas industry, having served in numerous financial positions with Smith International, Inc. (now part of Schlumberger Limited), including as the chief financial officer for more than a decade, during a period of expansive growth. Prior to her time at Smith International, Inc., Ms. Dorman worked as an auditor, ultimately progressing to the role of senior audit manager. Ms. Dorman also has prior board and audit committee experience, having served as a director of Hanover Compressor Company (a full service natural gas compression business) (now part of Exterran Holdings, Inc.), from 2004 to 2007, including as a member (and ultimately Chair) of its Audit Committee.

 

 

 

Norman J. Sydlowski
Director

 

Norman J. Sydlowski has served as a director of ETRN since November 2018 and serves as the Chair of ETRN’s Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Committee and as a member of ETRN’s Management Development and Compensation Committee. Mr. Szydlowski served as a director of EQT from November 2017 to the Separation Effective Date. Mr. Szydlowski served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SemGroup Corporation (SemGroup) (publicly-traded midstream company that specializes in moving energy) from November 2009 through June 2014, and director of SemGroup from November 2009 through April 2014. Mr. Szydlowski served as a director of the general partner of 8point3 Energy Partners, LP (a publicly traded joint venture to own and operate solar generation assets) from June 2015 until its acquisition by Capital Dynamics, Inc. in June 2018. He also has served as a director of the general partner of JP Energy Partners LP (a publicly-traded oil and natural gas company) from July 2014 through March 2017, and a director of Transocean Partners, LLC (a publicly-traded offshore drilling contractor) from November 2014 to December 2016.

 

 

 

Diana M. Charletta
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Diana M. Charletta serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETRN. Ms. Charletta has also served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of each of the EQM General Partner and the EQGP General Partner since October 2018. Previously, Ms. Charletta served as Senior Vice President, EQT Gathering, LLC, from December 2013 to November 2018. Ms. Charletta served as Vice President, EQT Gathering, LLC, from February 2010 to December 2013. Ms. Charletta served in various operational and engineering roles in EQT’s midstream business since joining EQT in 2002.

 

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Kirk R. Oliver serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ETRN. Mr. Oliver has also served as Chief Financial Officer and a director of each of the EQM General Partner and the EQGP General Partner since October 2018. Mr. Oliver served as Chief Financial Officer of UGI Corporation, which operates natural gas and electric utilities in Pennsylvania, distributes propane, manages midstream energy and electric generation assets in Pennsylvania, and engages in energy marketing in the Mid-Atlantic region, from October 2012 to May 2018. Prior to joining UGI Corporation, Mr. Oliver served as Senior Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of InfraREIT Capital Partners, LLC, a partnership that invests in infrastructure assets, primarily electric transmission and gas pipeline assets, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Allegheny Energy, Inc., an electric utility company, Senior Executive at Hunt Power, LLC, a company that develops and invests in electric and gas utility projects, and in various positions at TXU Corp. (now Energy Future Holdings Corp.), an electricity distribution, generation and transmission company in Texas.

 

 

 

Charlene Petrelli
Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Charlene Petrelli serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of ETRN. Previously, Ms. Petrelli served as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of EQT from February 2007 to November 2018, where she oversaw the human

 

A- 3


 

Name and Title

 

Present Occupation or Employment, Five-Year Employment History and Address

 

 

resources and corporate security functions of EQT and its subsidiaries, and the EQT Foundation.

 

 

 

Robert C. Williams
Vice President and General Counsel

 

Robert C. Williams serves as Vice President and General Counsel of ETRN. Previously, Mr. Williams served as Deputy General Counsel, Business Operations of EQT, from April 2008 to November 2018, where he oversaw the production and midstream business unit legal matters, litigation and insurance for EQT and its subsidiaries. Mr. Williams has represented midstream companies for more than 30 years, both in-house and while a former partner with Bracewell, LLP, a Houston-based law firm.

 

 

 

Phillip D. Swisher
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

Phillip D. Swisher serves as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of ETRN. Mr. Swisher has also served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of each of the EQM General Partner and the EQGP General Partner since October 2018. Previously, Mr. Swisher served as Controller, Shared Services of EQT and Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of each of the EQGP General Partner and EQM General Partner. During his service as Controller, Shared Services of EQT, Mr. Swisher oversaw the shared services accounting function for EQT and its subsidiaries.

 

A- 4


 

SCHEDULE B

 

OWNERSHIP OF EQGP COMMON UNITS BY ETRN AND CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS

 

The following table sets forth the ownership of EQGP Common Units as of November 29, 2018, by ETRN and, to the knowledge of ETRN, certain related persons, including the executive officers and directors of ETRN, and the securities transactions by those persons in EQGP Common Units during the 60 days prior to November 29, 2018:

 

Person

 

Number

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Units

 

Securities
Transactions in Past
60 Days

 

Equitrans Midstream Holdings, LLC(1)

 

36,293,766

 

12

%

 

Equitrans Gathering Holdings, LLC(2)

 

239,715,000

 

79.3

%

 

David L. Porges

 

56,263

 

*

 

 

Vicky A. Bailey

 

3,241

 

*

 

 

Kenneth M. Burke

 

5,000

 

*

 

 

Diana M. Charletta

 

2,000

(3)

*

 

 

Margaret K. Dorman

 

19,841

 

*

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

*

 

 

Charlene Petrelli

 

25,085

 

*

 

 

Phillip D. Swisher

 

4,769

 

*

 

 

Norman J. Szydlowski

 

 

*

 

 

Robert F. Vagt

 

 

*

 

 

Robert C. Williams

 

 

*

 

 

Thomas F. Karam

 

 

*

 

 

ETRN and listed individuals as a group

 

276,124,965

 

91.3

%

 

 


*      Less than 1%.

 

(1)          ETRN is the sole member of Equitrans Midstream Holdings, LLC, whose principal business address is 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.

 

(2)          ETRN is the sole member of Equitrans Gathering Holdings, LLC, whose principal business address is 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.

 

(3)          Includes 1,000 Common Units beneficially held by spouse.

 

B- 1


Exhibit (a)(5)

 

 

Equitrans Midstream to Acquire 100% Ownership of EQGP

through Negotiated Purchases and Limited Call Right

 

Commencement of Structure Simplification Plans, Including Elimination of IDRs

 

PITTSBURGH, PA (November 30, 2018) — Equitrans Midstream Corporation (NYSE: ETRN) today announced that it has entered into definitive purchase agreements with certain unitholders of EQGP Holdings, LP (NYSE: EQGP) to acquire limited partner interests in EQGP (EQGP Common Units) for $20.00 per unit in cash (Private Purchases), which is a 17.5% premium to the EQGP closing market price as of November 29, 2018. The Private Purchases are expected to close on or about December 31, 2018, after which ETRN and its affiliates will own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units.

 

Upon closing of the Private Purchases, ETRN intends to exercise the Limited Call Right under EQGP’s partnership agreement to acquire all remaining EQGP Common Units not then owned by ETRN and its affiliates. If the Limited Call Right is exercised, the remaining holders of EQGP Common Units will receive at least the same cash price per unit that will be paid in the Private Purchases. The Limited Call Right is expected to close in January 2019 and will be a taxable transaction for EQGP unitholders.

 

ETRN intends to use the cash proceeds from a newly issued Term Loan B to finance the Private Purchases and the purchases pursuant to the Limited Call Right. ETRN has secured committed financing in support of these purchases.

 

ETRN also announced that it has made a proposal to EQM Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: EQM) for the exchange of its incentive distribution rights (IDR) and the economic general partner interest in EQM for 95 million units in EQM and a non-economic general partner interest in EQM, subject to the closing of the Private Purchases and completion of the Limited Call Right (Proposed IDR Transaction). ETRN expects that a portion of the units received will be in the form of Payment-In-Kind Units (PIK Units). The PIK Units would receive distributions in the form of additional PIK Units and would convert on a one-to-one basis into common units representing limited partner interests in EQM at a date to be determined. Final terms of the Proposed IDR Transaction are subject to negotiation with the board of directors of EQM’s general partner or its conflicts committee (EQM Conflicts Committee), and assuming an agreement is reached, ETRN expects that the Proposed IDR Transaction would close in the first quarter of 2019.

 

Upon completion of the Private Purchases, the Limited Call Right, and the Proposed IDR Transaction, ETRN will have accomplished a full simplification of EQGP and EQM, resulting in a projected 61% ownership of EQM. Additionally, EQM will be the only publicly traded partnership under ETRN and is expected to benefit from the elimination of the IDR burden, as well as stronger coverage and balance sheet metrics.

 


 

“Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to addressing the IDR overhang in a timely manner and executing transactions that provide significant benefits for all stakeholders,” said Thomas F. Karam, chief executive officer of ETRN, EQGP, and EQM. “Executing on these transactions clears the way for a stable EQM, with 6% to 8% annual distribution growth; and is a strong, strategic starting point for ETRN to grow the annual dividend over the long-term by 8% to 10%.”

 

EQM Highlights

 

·                   The proposed transactions would not result in a distribution cut for EQM unitholders

·                   Targeting 6% — 8% annual distribution growth beginning in 2019

·                   2019 distribution coverage in excess of 1.0x

·                   Long-term distribution coverage target in excess of 1.2x beginning in 2020

·                   Long-term debt to EBITDA target of 3.5x — 4.0x beginning in 2020

·                   PIK Units will provide balance sheet and coverage support

·                   Improves cost of capital

·                   No equity issuance is required to fund capital projects for the next several years

·                   Reduces corporate overhead associated with the elimination of a publicly traded entity

 

Approvals

 

ETRN expects that the EQM Conflicts Committee will review the Proposed IDR Transaction. Unitholder voting is not required in connection with the Private Purchases, the exercise of the Limited Call Right, or the Proposed IDR Transaction.

 

Advisors

 

Guggenheim Securities, LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as financial advisors to ETRN. Both advisors also provided committed financing in support of the Private Purchases and the exercise of the Limited Call Right. Baker Botts L.L.P. acted as legal counsel to ETRN.

 

About Equitrans Midstream Corporation

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation (ETRN) has a premier asset footprint in the Appalachian Basin and is one of the largest natural gas gatherers in the United States. With a rich 135-year history in the energy industry, ETRN was launched as a standalone company in 2018 and, through its subsidiaries, has an operational focus on gas gathering systems, transmission and storage systems, and water services assets that support natural gas producers across the Basin. ETRN is helping to meet America’s growing need for clean-burning energy and strives to provide a rewarding workplace and enrich the communities where its employees live and work. ETRN owns the general partner interest and a 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP Holdings, LP (NYSE: EQGP) and a 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: EQM). EQGP owns the general partner interest, all of the incentive distribution rights, and a 17.9% limited partner interest in EQM.

 

For more information on Equitrans Midstream Corporation, visit www.equitransmidstream.com

 

About EQM Midstream Partners

 

EQM Midstream Partners, LP (EQM) is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed to own, operate, acquire, and develop midstream assets in the Appalachian Basin. As the third largest gatherer of natural gas in the United States, EQM provides midstream services to producers, utilities, and other customers through its strategically located natural gas transmission, storage, and gathering systems, and water services to support energy development and production in the Marcellus and Utica regions. EQM owns approximately 950 miles of FERC-regulated interstate pipelines and approximately 2,130 miles of high- and low-pressure gathering lines.

 

For more information on EQM Midstream Partners, LP, visit www.eqm-midstreampartners.com

 

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About EQGP Holdings

 

EQGP Holdings, LP (EQGP) is a limited partnership that owns the general partner interest, all of the incentive distribution rights, and a portion of the limited partner interests in EQM Midstream Partners, LP. Equitrans Midstream Corporation owns the general partner interest and a 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP.

 

For more information on EQGP Holdings, LP, visit www.eqm-midstreampartners.com

 

Cautionary Statements

 

Disclosures in this news release contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this news release specifically include the expected exercise of the Limited Call Right and closing of the Private Purchases, the Limited Call Right, and the Proposed IDR Transaction; the expectations regarding the review by the EQM conflicts committee of the Proposed IDR Transaction; whether the transactions will provide stability and enhanced long-term growth for ETRN and EQM equity holders; the benefits of PIK Units; the expected growth rates for ETRN dividends and EQM distributions; liquidity and financing requirements, including funding sources and availability; projected coverage ratio and leverage; and the expected terms of the Proposed IDR Transaction and ultimate EQM ownership by ETRN. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. ETRN has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While ETRN considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond ETRN’s control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of ETRN’s business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks discussed in ETRN’s Registration Statement on Form 10 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and ETRN does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Information in this news release regarding EQGP and its subsidiaries, including EQM, is derived from publicly available information published by the partnerships.

 

Analyst/Investor inquiries:

 

Nate Tetlow

Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

412-553-5834

ntetlow@equitransmidstream.com

 

Media inquiries:

 

Natalie A. Cox

Director, Corporate Communications

412-395-3941

ncox@equitransmidstream.com

 

NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES

 

As used in this news release, EBITDA means net income attributable to EQM plus net interest expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, payments on EQM’s preferred interest in EQT Energy Supply, LLC (Preferred Interest), non-cash long-term compensation expense and transaction costs less equity income, AFUDC - equity and adjusted EBITDA of assets prior to acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP supplemental financial measure that management and external users of ETRN’s consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, use to assess:

 

·                   EQM’s operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy industry without regard to historical cost basis or financing methods;

 

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·                   the ability of EQM’s assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to EQM unitholders, including EQGP and ETRN;

·                   EQM’s ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and

·                   the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.

 

ETRN believes that EQM adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors in assessing ETRN’s results of operations and financial condition. EQM adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to EQM net income, operating income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. EQM adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool because it excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income. Additionally, because EQM adjusted EBITDA may be defined differently by other companies in its industry, ETRN’s definition of EQM adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing the utility of the measures.

 

Source: Equitrans Midstream Corporation

 

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Exhibit (b)

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK
USA
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282-2198

GUGGENHEIM
SECURITIES, LLC
330 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017

 

 

Highly Confidential

 

November 28, 2018

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

Attention: Kirk Oliver, Chief Financial Officer

 

Project Grand Central

Commitment Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Holdco Borrower ” or “ you ”), has advised Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“ Goldman Sachs ”), Guggenheim Securities, LLC (acting through itself or such of its affiliates as it deems appropriate, “ Guggenheim Securities ”), and each of the financing sources identified on Schedule I (each a “ Financing Source ” and collectively, the “ Financing Sources ”, and together with Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities, and any Additional Agent (as defined below), the “ Commitment Parties ”, “ we ” or “ us ”) that the Holdco Borrower intends to enter into the transactions described in Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “ Transactions ”).  This Commitment Letter and Exhibits A , B and C hereto, are collectively referred to as the “ Commitment Letter ”. Capitalized terms used in this Commitment Letter but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the exhibits attached hereto.

 

In connection with the Transactions, (y) Goldman Sachs severally (and not jointly) commits to provide 75% of the amount of the Holdco Term B Facility, and (z) each Financing Source severally (and not jointly) commits to provide the percentage of the principal amount of the Holdco Term B Facility set forth opposite its name on Schedule I (in such capacity, Goldman Sachs and the Financing Sources, collectively, the “ Initial Lenders ”).

 

It is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders, the Arrangers (as defined below), Holdco Agent (as defined below) and you that (a) Guggenheim Securities shall have no obligation or commitment to provide any of the Holdco Term B Facility, (b) the commitments set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph and each other obligation herein in respect of the commitment of an Initial Lender to provide any amount of the Holdco Term B Facility are solely the obligation of the Initial Lenders, and (c) nothing in this Commitment Letter or in the Fee Letters (as defined below) shall create any obligation or implied commitment on the part of Guggenheim Securities to provide any financing or to provide any amount of the Holdco Term B Facility or provide or purchase loans in connection with the Holdco Term B Facility.

 


 

1.                                       Conditions Precedent

 

The several (and not joint) commitments of the Initial Lenders hereunder and their and the other Commitment Parties and Arrangers’ agreements to perform the services described herein are subject solely to the conditions expressly set forth in the “Summary of Conditions Precedent” in Exhibit B (the “ Specified Conditions ”).

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Commitment Letter (including each of the Exhibits A , B and C attached hereto), the Fee Letters, the definitive documentation governing the Holdco Term B Facility (collectively, the “ Holdco Operative Documents ”) or any other letter agreement or other undertaking concerning the financing of the Transactions to the contrary, (i) the only representations and warranties the accuracy of which shall be a condition to availability of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date, shall be the Specified Representations (as defined below) and (ii) the Holdco Operative Documents shall not contain any conditions precedent to the availability of the Holdco Term B Facility other than the Specified Conditions, and the terms of the Holdco Operative Documents shall be in a form such that they do not impair availability of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date if the Specified Conditions are satisfied (it being understood that to the extent any lien search or Collateral (including the creation, perfection or priority of any security interest) is not or cannot be provided on the Closing Date (other than (1) Uniform Commercial Code searches, (2) the pledge and perfection of a security interest in domestic assets with respect to which a lien may be perfected by the filing of financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code or (3) to the extent applicable, the delivery of equity certificates of EQGP owned by Holdco Borrower or any Guarantor immediately prior to the Closing Date and related stock powers) after Holdco Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then the provision of any such lien search and/or Collateral (including the perfection or priority of any security interest) shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date, but shall instead be required within 90 days, plus any extensions granted by the Holdco Agent, in its reasonable discretion) pursuant to arrangements to be mutually agreed.  The only conditions to funding of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date are the Specified Conditions, and upon satisfaction (or waiver by the Commitment Parties) of such conditions, the initial funding of the Holdco Term B Facility shall occur.  For purposes hereof, “ Specified Representations ” means the representations and warranties of the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors, as applicable, set forth in the Holdco Operative Documents relating to incorporation or formation; organizational status and existence; organizational power and authority (as to execution, delivery and performance of the Holdco Operative Documents); due authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the applicable Holdco Operative Documents as to the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors; solvency (to be defined in a manner consistent with Exhibit C-1 ) as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Initial Acquisition); the incurrence of the loans to be made under the Holdco Term B Facility and the guarantees thereof by the Guarantors on the Closing Date do not conflict with constitutional documents of the Holdco Borrower or any Guarantor; not violating Federal Reserve margin regulations; the Investment Company Act; not violating the Patriot Act, use of proceeds not violating OFAC, or the FCPA; and the creation and perfection of security interests in the Collateral (subject to permitted liens to be agreed and the foregoing provisions of this paragraph relating to Collateral (including the creation, perfection or priority of any security interest)). This paragraph, and the provisions herein, shall be referred to as the “ Certain Funds Provision ”.

 

2.                                       Commitment Termination

 

The Initial Lenders’ commitments set forth in this Commitment Letter will terminate on the earliest of (i) the consummation of the Transactions with or without the funding of the Holdco Term B Facility, (ii) the termination of the Initial Acquisition without the funding of the Holdco Term B Facility and (iii) January 27, 2019.

 

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3.                                       Syndication

 

The Arrangers (as defined below) reserve the right, before or after the execution of the Holdco Operative Documents, to syndicate all or a portion of the commitments to one or more other financial institutions or other lenders acceptable to you (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and that will become parties to the Holdco Operative Documents pursuant to syndications to be managed by the Arrangers in consultation with you (the financial institutions or other lenders becoming parties to the Holdco Operative Documents with respect to the Holdco Term B Facility being collectively referred to herein as the “ Holdco Lenders ”); provided , that, notwithstanding the Arrangers’ right to syndicate the Holdco Term B Facility and receive commitments with respect thereto, no Initial Lender may assign all or any portion of its commitments hereunder until after the Closing Date and, unless you agree in writing, each Initial Lender shall retain exclusive control over all rights and obligations with respect to its commitments, including all rights with respect to consents, modifications, waivers and amendments, until the Closing Date has occurred.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Arrangers will not syndicate to (i) any competitor of the Holdco Borrower or any of its subsidiaries identified to the Arrangers from time to time, (ii) those banks, financial institutions, institutional lenders or other entities separately identified in writing by you to us prior to the date hereof or (iii) any affiliate that is clearly identifiable on the basis of such affiliate’s name (other than bona fide debt funds (other than a person who is separately identified by you to us on or prior to the date hereof) that are affiliates of competitors of the Holdco Borrower or any of its subsidiaries that are engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and for which no personnel involved with the relevant competitor (A) make investment decisions or (B) have access to non-public information relating to Holdco Borrower or any person that forms part of the Holdco Borrower’s business (including its subsidiaries)) (collectively “ Disqualified Lenders ”), which designation shall not have retroactive effect on any prior assignment or participation to any Lender permitted hereunder or under the Holdco Operative Documentation at the time of such assignment or participation (it being understood that none of the Commitment Parties or any of their  respective affiliates shall be designated Disqualified Lenders).  You understand that the Arrangers intend to commence such syndication efforts promptly and the Arrangers may elect to appoint, with your consent, one or more agents to assist in such syndication efforts.  It is agreed that Goldman Sachs or another affiliate entity appointed by Goldman Sachs shall have “left side” designation and “left” placement on all marketing materials in connection with the Holdco Term B Facility and will hold the leading roles and responsibilities conventionally understood to be associated with such placement. It is also agreed that Guggenheim Securities will be listed to the “right” of Goldman Sachs or another affiliate entity appointed by Goldman Sachs and all other Arrangers (other than Goldman Sachs) will be listed in alphabetical order in any marketing and other materials in connection with the marketing of the Holdco Term B Facility and will have the rights and responsibilities customarily associated with such name placement.

 

Goldman Sachs or another affiliate entity appointed by Goldman Sachs will act as the administrative agent for the Holdco Term B Facility (in such capacity, the “ Holdco Agent ”), and Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim Securities will act as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners with respect to the Holdco Term B Facility (in such capacities, together with any applicable Additional Agent, the “ Arrangers ”) and, subject to the preceding paragraph and the Designation Right (as defined below), will manage all aspects of the syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility in consultation with you, including the timing of all offers to potential Holdco Lenders, the determination of all amounts offered to potential Holdco Lenders, the selection of Holdco Lenders (subject to your consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)), the allocation of commitments among the Holdco Lenders (subject to your consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) and the assignment of any titles and the compensation to be provided to the Holdco Lenders.  The Arrangers, in such capacities, will perform the duties and exercise the authority customarily performed and exercised by them in such roles.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will have the right (the “ Designation Right ”) to appoint additional arrangers, bookrunners, co-agents or co-managers in respect of the Holdco Term B Facility (each such arranger, bookrunner, co-agent or co-manager, an “ Additional Agent ”) from the date hereof until the business day prior to launching of the syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility with a the bank meeting, so long as such bank meeting occurs on or before December 5,

 

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2018, in a manner and with economics determined by you in consultation with the applicable Additional Agent and with the Arrangers; provided that (i) you may appoint up to three additional joint lead arrangers after which any Additional Agents must be co-managers, (ii) you may not allocate a greater percentage of the total economics in respect of the Holdco Term B Facility to any such Additional Agent than the percentage of total economics allocated to Goldman Sachs in respect of the Holdco Term B Facility and the aggregate percentage of economics so allocated shall not exceed one-third of the total economics hereunder (and the aggregate economics allocated to Goldman Sachs shall not be less than 50% of the total economics hereunder and the aggregate economics allocated to the Financing Sources shall not be less than one-sixth of the total economics hereunder, in each case after giving effect to such Designation Right) and (ii) the aggregate commitment amounts of the Initial Lenders with respect to the Holdco Term B Facility will be reduced proportionally by the amount of the economics allocated to, and the commitment amount of, each such Additional Agent.  Upon your exercise of the Designation Right and the execution and delivery by the Additional Agent(s) of customary joinder documentation, which shall not add any conditions to the availability of the Holdco Term B Facility or change the terms of the Holdco Term B Facility or increase compensation payable by you in connection therewith, each such Additional Agent shall, to the extent provided in such joinder, constitute an “Arranger” and a “Commitment Party” for all purposes under this Commitment Letter and the applicable Fee Letters.

 

You shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions that the Arrangers may reasonably request to assist them in forming a syndicate consistent with the terms hereof and reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers and you for the Holdco Term B Facility until the date that is the earlier of (a) a Successful Syndication (as defined in the Fee Letters referred to below) and (b) 45 days after the Closing Date.  Your assistance in forming such syndicate shall be limited to: (i) making appropriate senior management and applicable representatives and advisors of the Holdco Borrower available to participate in informational meetings, conference calls and other direct contact with senior management and applicable representatives and advisors of potential Holdco Lenders at such times during normal business hours as the Arrangers may reasonably request with sufficient reasonable advance notice and at places to be mutually agreed between the Arrangers and you; (ii) using commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the syndication efforts benefit from your existing lending relationships; (iii) assisting in the preparation of a confidential information memorandum for the Holdco Term B Facility and other reasonably necessary and customary marketing materials to be used in connection with the syndication; (iv); the provision to the Arrangers of copies of any due diligence reports or memoranda prepared and delivered at your direction or at the direction of any of your affiliates by legal, accounting, tax or other third party advisors in connection with the Transactions, subject to the delivery by the Arrangers to you of customary non-disclosure and non-reliance agreements as shall be reasonably requested; (v) using your commercially reasonable efforts to procure a public corporate credit rating (but not a specific rating) and a public corporate family rating (but not a specific rating) in respect of the Holdco Borrower from each of (a) S&P Global Ratings (“ S&P ”), (b) Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) and (c) Fitch Ratings Inc. (“ Fitch ” and together with S&P and Moody’s, each a “ Ratings Agency ” and together, the “ Ratings Agencies ”), respectively, and public ratings (but not a specific rating) for the Holdco Term B Facility from each of the Ratings Agencies, in each case, prior to the launch of general syndication; (vi) the hosting, with the Arrangers, of no more than one meeting of prospective Holdco Lenders at a reasonable time and location to be mutually agreed upon and (vii) using commercially reasonable efforts to timely prepare and provide to the Arrangers customary financial information and projections (such projections, including financial estimates, budgets, forecasts and other forward-looking information, the “ Projections ”), as any Arranger may reasonably request in connection with the structuring, arrangement and syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility, but which shall in no event include pro forma financial statements after giving effect to any portion of the Transactions.

 

You agree that until the earlier of (a) the date that is 45 days after the Closing Date and (b) a Successful Syndication, there shall be no competing issues of debt securities or commercial bank or other credit

 

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facilities of you or any of your subsidiaries (other than (i) as described in the definition of “Transactions” set forth in the Term Sheet attached hereto as Exhibit B and (ii) with respect to EQM and any of its subsidiaries) being offered, placed, announced or arranged without the consent of the Arrangers that would reasonably be expected to materially impair the primary syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility.

 

You hereby acknowledge that (a) the Arrangers will make available information and Projections requested by the Arrangers or the Initial Lenders provided by you or on your behalf (at your direction) (“ Borrower Materials ”) to the proposed syndicate of Holdco Lenders and (b) certain of the Holdco Lenders may be “public side” Holdco Lenders (i.e., Holdco Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information (“ MNPI ”) with respect to the Holdco Borrower, EQGP, EQM and their respective subsidiaries, parents and affiliates) (each, a “ Public Lender ”).  If reasonably requested, you will assist us in preparing an additional version of the confidential information memorandum, lender presentation or other marketing materials to be used by Public Lenders that does not contain MNPI.  It is understood that in connection with your assistance described above, customary authorization letters from the Holdco Borrower (the form of which will be approved by the Holdco Borrower) will be included in any confidential information memorandum, lender presentation or other marketing materials that authorize distribution of the confidential information memorandum, lender presentation or other marketing materials to prospective Holdco Lenders and represent that the public-side version does not include material non-public information about the Holdco Borrower, EQGP, EQM or any of their subsidiaries, parents and affiliates or their respective securities).  The confidential information memorandum, lender presentation or other marketing materials shall exculpate you, us and your, their and our respective subsidiaries and affiliates with respect to any liability related to the use of the confidential information memorandum, lender presentation or any related marketing material by the recipients thereof. You acknowledge and agree that the following documents may be distributed to Public Lenders: (a) drafts and final versions of the Holdco Operative Documents; (b) administrative materials for prospective Holdco Lenders such as lender meeting invitations, allocations and funding and closing memoranda; and (c) term sheets and notification of changes in the terms and conditions of the Holdco Term B Facility.  In addition, at our request, you shall identify that portion of any Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (x) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof, and (y) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC” and the Holdco Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Arrangers to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Holdco Borrower, EQGP, EQM or any of their respective subsidiaries, parents and affiliates or their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws.  The Arrangers agree to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for distribution to those proposed Holdco Lenders that are not Public Lenders unless otherwise agreed by the Holdco Borrower in writing.  You acknowledge that information and documents relating to the Holdco Term B Facility (including Borrower Materials) may be transmitted through Intralinks, the internet or similar electronic transmission systems, and you acknowledge that neither the Commitment Parties nor any of their respective affiliates will be responsible or liable to you or any other person for damages arising out of or resulting from use of information or other materials obtained through Intralinks, the internet or similar electronic transmission systems, except to the extent caused by such Commitment Party’s gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or a material breach of this Commitment Letter or any Holdco Operative Document, in each case, to the extent determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

You agree that no additional agents, co-agents or lead arrangers will be appointed, or other titles conferred, without the consent of the Arrangers, subject to the Designation Right.  You agree that no Holdco Lender will receive any compensation of any kind for its commitment in the Holdco Term B Facility, except as expressly provided in this Commitment Letter (including, without limitation, the Designation Right) or the Fee Letters.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (but without limiting your obligations with respect to assistance with syndication as set forth herein or the Specified Conditions), neither the commencement nor the completion of such syndication is a condition to the commitments hereunder or the funding of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date.

 

4.                                       Fees

 

In addition to the fees described in this Commitment Letter, you will pay (or cause to be paid) the fees set forth in the letter agreement dated the date hereof (the “ Fee Letter ”) between you and the Commitment Parties and the letter agreement dated the date hereof between you and Goldman Sachs in its capacity as Administrative Agent (the “ Agent Fee Letter ”, and together with the Fee Letter, the “ Fee Letters ”) and such fees shall be nonrefundable when paid as otherwise subject to the terms thereof. This section is not a limitation on the provisions of Section 5 and 6 of this Commitment Letter.

 

5.                                       Indemnification

 

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders, the Arrangers, the Holdco Agent and each of their respective affiliates, successors and assigns and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, representatives, controlling persons and successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (limited, in the case of legal fees, to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of a single counsel to the Indemnified Persons taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnified Persons taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Indemnified Persons similarly situated taken as a whole) and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending an investigation, litigation or proceeding for which you have agreed to indemnify the Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Section 5), joint or several, that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Person, regardless of whether brought by you or any of your affiliates or any other person or against any person and regardless of whether any such Indemnified Person is a party thereto or whether an investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by a third party or by you or any of your affiliates (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or the preparation of any defense in connection therewith) in each case arising out of, resulting from, or in connection with or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters or the Holdco Operative Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds of the Holdco Term B Facility, except (i) to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense resulted, as determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, primarily from such Indemnified Person’s (or such Indemnified Person’s affiliates, successors and assigns and such Indemnified Person’s officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, representatives, controlling persons’, or any successor or permitted assign of the foregoing) gross negligence, bad faith, material breach of this Commitment Letter or any Fee Letter or willful misconduct and (ii) proceedings between or among solely Indemnified Parties (that do not arise due to the actions of you and your affiliates or in the case of the Arrangers or the Holdco Agent, arise in the conduct of its duties hereunder).

 

You shall not, without the prior written consent of any Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (it being understood that the withholding of consent due to non-satisfaction of any conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence shall be deemed reasonable), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceedings in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such proceedings and (ii) does not include

 

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any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability, wrong doing or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5, you shall not be responsible or liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without your written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless you were offered the ability to assume the defense of the action that was the subject matter of such settlement and elected not to so assume.

 

No Indemnified Person shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to you or any of your securityholders or creditors for or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent such liability resulted from such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence, bad faith or material breach of this Commitment Letter, any Fee Letter or any Holdco Operative Document, or willful misconduct, in each case, to the extent determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

 

In no event, however, shall you or any Indemnified Person be liable for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including, without limitation, any trading loss or any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) in connection with your or its activities related to the Holdco Term B Facility or this Commitment Letter; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall limit your indemnification obligations hereunder to the extent such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are incurred by an Indemnified Person in any third party claim in connection with which such Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

6.                                       Costs and Expenses

 

You shall, whether or not the Acquisition is consummated and borrowings are made under the Holdco Term B Facility, pay or reimburse the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders, the Arrangers and the Holdco Agent on demand for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of each party’s due diligence investigation, consultants’ fees (to the extent any such consultant has been retained with your prior consent), syndication expenses, meeting expenses and travel expenses) incurred by the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders, the Arrangers and the Holdco Agent (whether incurred before or after the date hereof) in connection with the Holdco Term B Facility and the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and enforcement of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters, the Holdco Operative Documents and any security arrangements in connection therewith, which, in the case of legal expenses and disbursements, shall be limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of one counsel (and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction) for the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders, the Arrangers and the Holdco Agent, taken as a whole, provided, that if the Acquisition is not consummated and borrowings are not made under the Holdco Term B Facility, the fees, expenses and disbursements for outside counsel in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters, the Holdco Operative Documents and any security arrangements in connection therewith that you are obligated to reimburse pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed $400,000 (and, if such reimbursement obligation for fees, expenses and disbursements for outside counsel exceeds $200,000, all amounts above $200,000 shall be subject to a 30% courtesy discount).

 

You acknowledge that we may receive a future benefit on matters unrelated to this matter, including, without limitation, discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with us, including without limitation fees paid pursuant hereto.

 

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7.                                       Confidentiality

 

By accepting delivery of the Fee Letters and this Commitment Letter, you agree that each of the Fee Letters, and prior to your acceptance hereof, this Commitment Letter are for your confidential use only and that neither its existence nor its terms will be disclosed by you, directly or indirectly, to any person other than your respective subsidiaries and affiliates, and your and their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and other advisors, and then only on a confidential basis in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) you may disclose this Commitment Letter (and, to the extent redacted in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers, the Fee Letters) to any seller in connection with the Initial Acquisition or the Acquisition and its officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and other advisors on a confidential and “need to know” basis in connection with the Initial Acquisition or the Acquisition, (ii) you may file a copy of this Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letters) or disclose any of the terms and conditions thereof in any public record in which it is required by law to be filed, (iii) you may disclose this Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letter) and its contents in any  offer to purchase or other public filing relating to the Initial Acquisition or the Acquisition, (iv) you may make public disclosures of the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter to the extent such terms and conditions have become publicly available as a result of disclosures thereof by persons other than you, (v) you may make such other public disclosures of the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter  and any Fee Letter as you are required by law or regulation or requested by any governmental agency or other regulatory authority to make (in which case, you agree, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform us promptly thereof), (vi) you may disclose Exhibits A , B and C to ratings agencies in connection with obtaining ratings for the Holdco Borrower and the Holdco Term B Facility, (vii) you may disclose the aggregate fees payable in connection with the Transactions as part of Projections, pro forma information or a generic disclosure of aggregate sources and uses related to fee amounts related to the Transactions to the extent customary or required in offering and marketing materials and in information provided to ratings agencies for the Holdco Term B Facility or, to the extent you or your affiliates are directly involved in the Transactions, in any public or regulatory filing requirement relating to the Transactions and (viii) you may disclose the Commitment Letter or any Fee Letter and the contents hereof or thereof to the extent necessary to enforce your rights and remedies hereunder or thereunder.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of this paragraph will expire and be of no further force and effect on the earlier of (x) the 18 month anniversary of the date hereof and (y) the Closing Date.

 

Each Commitment Party shall use all confidential information provided to it by or on behalf of you or any of your subsidiaries or affiliates solely for the purpose of providing the services which are the subject of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters and otherwise in connection with the Transactions and shall treat confidentially all such information and shall not disclose or divulge such information; provided , however , that nothing herein shall prevent any Commitment Party from disclosing any such information (i) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law, rule or regulation or compulsory legal process (in which case such Commitment Party agrees (except with respect to any routine or ordinary course audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental, bank regulatory or self-regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform you promptly thereof prior to such disclosure to the extent permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation), (ii) upon the request or demand of any governmental or regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory organization) having jurisdiction over such Commitment Party or any of its affiliates (in which case such Commitment Party agrees to inform you promptly thereof prior to such disclosure to the extent practicable and not prohibited by law, rule or regulation, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental, bank regulatory or self-regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority and unless such Commitment Party is prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation from, or is requested by such regulatory authority to refrain from, so informing you or except in connection with any request as part of a regulatory examination), (iii) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of

 

8


 

improper disclosure by the Commitment Parties or any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and other advisors, (iv) to the Commitment Parties’ officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and other advisors (collectively “ Representatives ”) (with the applicable Commitment Party being responsible for the compliance of this paragraph by such officer, director, employee, accountant, attorney or other advisor) who need to know such information in connection with the Transactions and then only on a confidential and “need to know” basis in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (v)  to any affiliates of the Commitment Parties and their respective Representatives (with the applicable Commitment Party being responsible for the compliance with this paragraph by such affiliate or Representative) who need to know such information in connection with the Transactions and then only on a confidential and “need to know” basis in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (vi) to potential or prospective Holdco Lenders or participants and their Representatives (in each case other than Disqualified Lenders), in each case who are advised of the confidential nature of such information and agree to be bound by the terms of this paragraph (including by means of a click-through or otherwise), (vii) to the extent that such information is received by such Commitment Party from a third party that is not to such Commitment Party’s knowledge subject to confidentiality obligations to you or your subsidiaries or affiliates, (viii) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Commitment Party or its affiliates, in each case, so long as not based on information obtained in a manner that would otherwise violate this provision, (ix) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (x) to any of your direct or indirect contractual counterparties to any credit default swap or similar derivative product (to the extent related to the Transactions) and their Representatives, (xi) to enforce its rights hereunder and under the Fee Letters, (xii) to the extent such information was already in the possession of such Commitment Party prior to any duty or other undertaking of confidentiality from a source that was not known by such Commitment Party, after due inquiry, to be bound by an obligation of confidentiality to you with respect to such information and (xiii) in consultation with you, to rating agencies in connection with obtaining ratings for the Holdco Borrower and the Holdco Term B Facility to the extent such ratings agencies agree to be bound by the terms of this paragraph (or language substantially similar to this paragraph). In the event that the Holdco B Term Facility is funded, each Commitment Party’s and its respective affiliates’, if any, obligations under this paragraph, shall terminate automatically and be superseded by the confidentiality provisions in the Holdco Operative Documents upon the initial funding thereunder to the extent that such provisions are binding on such Commitment Party.  Otherwise, the confidentiality provisions set forth in this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Commitment Letter and expire and shall be of no further effect after the 18-month anniversary of the date hereof.

 

Each Commitment Party reserves the right to employ the services of its affiliates in providing services contemplated by this Commitment Letter and to allocate, in whole or in part, to such affiliates certain fees payable to such Commitment Party in such manner as such Commitment Party and its affiliates may agree in their sole discretion (it being understood that each such affiliate shall keep any information given to it in connection with any services it may provide pursuant to this sentence confidential).  You acknowledge that the Commitment Parties may share with any of their respective affiliates, and such affiliates may share with the respective Commitment Party, any information related to the Transactions, you, any of your subsidiaries or any of the matters contemplated hereby solely in connection with the Transactions (it being understood that each such affiliate shall keep such information given to it pursuant to this sentence confidential in accordance with the immediately foregoing paragraph).

 

Each of the Commitment Parties may, subject to your written prior consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), use information related to the syndication and arrangement of the Holdco Term B Facility in connection with marketing, press releases or other transactional announcements or updates provided to investor or trade publications.  You agree that you will permit each Commitment Party to review and approve any reference to it or any of its affiliates in connection with the Holdco Term B Facility or the Transactions contained in any press release or similar public disclosure prior to public release.

 

9


 

Each Initial Lender may, at its expense, publicly announce as it may choose the capacities in which it or its affiliates have acted hereunder.

 

8.                                       Representations and Warranties

 

You represent and warrant that (to the best of your knowledge, in the case of information regarding EQGP, EQM or any of their subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Transactions), (i) all written information (other than Projections and information of a general economic or industry nature), taken as a whole, that has been or will hereafter be made available to the Commitment Parties by or on behalf of you or any of your representatives (at your direction) in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is and will be, when furnished and taken as a whole, complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will not, when furnished and taken as a whole, contain any material untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were or are made and (ii) all written Projections that have been or will be prepared by or on behalf of you or any of your representatives (at your direction) and made available to the Commitment Parties have been or will be prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are reasonable at the time made available to the Commitment Parties (it being understood that the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of you, EQGP and EQM, and that no assurances can be given that such Projections will be realized).  If, at any time from the date hereof until the execution and delivery of the Holdco Operative Documents and, if reasonably requested by the Commitment Parties, for a reasonable period thereafter (not to exceed the earlier of (a) 45 days and (b) a Successful Syndication) necessary to complete a Successful Syndication, any of the representations and warranties in the preceding sentence would be incorrect in any material respect if the information or Projections were being furnished, and such representations and warranties were being made, at such time, then you will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly supplement the information and the financial projections so that such representations and warranties will be correct in all material respects under those circumstances.

 

In issuing this Commitment Letter and in arranging the Holdco Term B Facility including the syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility, the Commitment Parties will be entitled to use, and to rely on the accuracy of, the information (including the Projections) furnished to them by or on behalf of you or any of you representatives (at your direction) without responsibility for independent verification thereof.

 

9.                                       No Third Party Reliance; Sharing Information

 

The agreements of the Commitment Parties hereunder and of any Holdco Lender that issues a commitment to provide financing under the Holdco Term B Facility are made solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon or enforced by any other person.  This Commitment Letter is not intended to create a fiduciary relationship among the parties hereto.

 

You hereby acknowledge and agree that in connection with all aspects of the Transactions, you and the Commitment Parties and any of their respective affiliates through which the Commitment Parties may be acting in any capacity with respect to the Holdco Term B Facility (each an “ Commitment Party Transaction Affiliate ”) have an arm’s length business relationship that creates no fiduciary duty on the part of any Commitment Party or any Commitment Party Transaction Affiliate and each expressly disclaims any fiduciary relationship.

 

In addition, you acknowledge that any Commitment Party or any affiliate or related entity thereof may currently be a lender to (or otherwise hold indebtedness owing by) the Holdco Borrower (in such capacity,

 

10


 

each, an “ Existing Lender ”) or may at any time, on and after the date hereof, become a lender or investor in another debt instrument of the Holdco Borrower (a “ Future Lender ”).  Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees for itself that any Existing Lender or Future Lender (a) will be acting for its own account as principal in connection with such indebtedness, (b) will be under no obligation or duty as a result of such Commitment Party’s role in connection with the Transactions or otherwise to take any action or refrain from taking any action (including with respect to voting for or against any requested amendments), or exercising any rights or remedies that the Existing Lender or Future Lender may be entitled to take or exercise in respect of such indebtedness and (c) may manage its exposure to such indebtedness without regard to such Commitment Party’s role hereunder.  Each party hereto further agrees not to assert any claim against such Commitment Party’s or any of its affiliates or related entities that such person might allege based on any actual or potential conflicts of interest that might be asserted to arise or result from, on the one hand, the engagement of such Commitment Party to arrange or commit to provide any portion of the Facilities hereunder and, on the other hand, such Commitment Party’s or its respective affiliates’ or related entities’ relationships with EQM (or their respective subsidiaries) as an Existing Lender or Future Lender.

 

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters, you acknowledge and agree, and acknowledge your affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services described herein regarding the Holdco Term B Facility are arm’s-length commercial transactions between you and your affiliates, on the one hand, and the Commitment Parties, on the other hand, (ii) the Commitment Parties have not provided any legal, accounting, financial advisory, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters and you have consulted your own legal, accounting, financial advisory, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent you have deemed it appropriate to do so, and (iii) you are capable of evaluating, and understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) (i) each Commitment Party has been, is, and will be acting solely as a principal and, except as otherwise 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 you, any of your affiliates or any other person or entity and (ii) the Commitment Parties have no obligation to you or your affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the Holdco Operative Documents.

 

As you know, certain of the Commitment Parties and their respective affiliates are full service securities firms engaged, either directly or through their respective affiliates, in various activities, including securities trading, commodities trading, investment management, financing and brokerage activities and financial planning and benefits counseling for both companies and individuals.  In the ordinary course of these activities, the Commitment Parties and their respective affiliates may actively engage in commodities trading or trade the debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of you, EQGP, EQM, any of your or their respective subsidiaries, parents and affiliates and other companies which may be the subject of the arrangements contemplated by this letter for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities.  The Commitment Parties and their respective affiliates may also co-invest with, make direct investments in, and invest or co-invest client monies in or with funds or other investment vehicles managed by other parties, and such funds or other investment vehicles may trade or make investments in securities of you, EQGP, EQM, any of your or their respective subsidiaries, parents and affiliates or other companies which may be the subject of the arrangements contemplated by this Commitment Letter or engage in commodities trading with any thereof.

 

You acknowledge that the Commitment Parties and their respective affiliates may provide debt financing, equity capital or other services (including, without limitation, financial advisory services, investment banking, securities trading, hedging, financing and brokerage activities and financial planning and benefits counseling) to parties whose interests regarding the transactions described herein or otherwise may conflict

 

11


 

with your interests.  Consistent with each Commitment Party’s policy to hold in confidence the affairs of its clients, no Commitment Party will furnish confidential information obtained from you or your affiliates to any of its other clients.  Furthermore, the Commitment Parties will not use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or furnish to you, confidential information obtained by the Commitment Parties or their respective affiliates from any other person.

 

Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory guidelines, each Commitment Party may have adopted policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of its research departments and personnel.  As a result, such Commitment Party’s research analysts may hold views, make statement or investment recommendations and/or public research reports with respect to the Holdco Borrower and/or the Transactions that differ from the views of such Commitment Party’s investment banking personnel.

 

10.                                Assignments

 

Subject to the Designation Right, you may not assign this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters or the Initial Lenders’ commitments hereunder without the Commitment Parties’ prior written consent, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void.  The Commitment Parties’ rights under this Commitment Letter in respect of the arrangement and syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility may not be assigned except as set forth in Section 3 above, and any attempted assignment not in accordance with such provision shall be void; provided that , Goldman Sachs may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC or another of its affiliates.

 

THE COMMITMENT LETTER AND EXHIBITS A , B AND C HERETO TOGETHER WITH THE FEE LETTERS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN 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 BETWEEN THE PARTIES.   This Commitment Letter is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person other than the parties hereto and the Indemnified Persons, except that the Commitment Parties may perform the duties and activities described hereunder through any of their respective affiliates (including by any assignment permitted by the first paragraph of this Section 10) and the provisions of Section 5 shall apply with equal force and effect to any of such affiliates so performing any such duties or activities.

 

11.                                Amendments

 

This Commitment Letter may not be amended or any provision hereof waived or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each party hereto.

 

12.                                Governing Law, Etc.

 

This Commitment Letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

This Commitment Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Commitment Letter.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Commitment Letter by telecopier or other electronic communications shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Commitment Letter.  Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 (with respect to the second to last sentence thereof), 7, 8, 9, 10 (with respect to the last sentence thereof), 12 and 13 (with respect to waiver of jury trial) shall survive the termination or expiration of the Initial Lenders’ several commitments hereunder, except that Section 3 shall only survive if the Closing Date occurs.

 

12


 

Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding shall be brought, heard and determined only in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court, (ii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby in any New York State court or in any such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court and (iv) 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.  Each party hereto agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail addressed to such party shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court.

 

We hereby notify you that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law on October 26, 2001) (the “ Patriot Act ”) and the requirements of 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230 (the “ Beneficial Ownership Regulation ”), we are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies you and each Guarantor, which information includes names and addresses and other information that will allow us to identify you, and each Guarantor in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the PATRIOT ACT and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and is effective as to us and each Holdco Lender.  You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Commitment Parties shall be permitted to share any or all of such information with the Holdco Lenders.

 

13.                                Waiver of Jury Trial

 

EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) BROUGHT BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS COMMITMENT LETTER, THE FEE LETTERS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

 

Each of the parties hereto agrees that this Commitment Letter is a binding and enforceable agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, including an agreement to negotiate in good faith (prior to the anticipated Closing Date) the Holdco Operative Documents by the parties hereto in a manner consistent with this Commitment Letter, it being acknowledged and agreed that the commitments provided hereby by the Initial Lenders are only subject to the Specified Conditions.

 

Please indicate your acceptance of the provisions hereof by signing the enclosed copy of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters and returning them to the Commitment Parties or their counsel (on behalf of the Commitment Parties) on or before 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on November 28, 2018, at which time, if not so returned, the commitments of the Initial Lenders set forth above will terminate.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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Very truly yours,

 

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Ehudin

 

 

Name: Robert Ehudin

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE —  COMMITMENT LETTER]

 


 

 

GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John Pantalena

 

 

Name: John Pantalena

 

 

Title: Senior Managing Director

 

 

 

CHAIN BRIDGE OPPORTUNISSTIC FUNDING, LLC , a Security Benefit company

 

 

 

By: CBAM Partners, LLC, its investment manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don Young

 

 

Name: Don Young

 

 

Title: Partner

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE —  COMMITMENT LETTER]

 


 

Accepted and agreed to as of
the date first written above:

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION ,
as HOLDCO BORROWER

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Name: Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE —  COMMITMENT LETTER]

 


 

Schedule I

to Commitment Letter

 

Financing Source Commitments

 

Financing Source

 

Holdco Term B Facility

 

Chain Bridge Opportunistic Funding, LLC

 

25

%

 


 

EXHIBIT A

to Commitment Letter

 

Transaction Description

 

The following transactions, including the Acquisition (as defined below), are referred to herein as the “ Transactions ”:

 

1.               On November 26, 2018, the Holdco Borrower indirectly approached certain holders of common units representing limited partner interests in EQGP (the “ EQGP Common Units ”) regarding a potential repurchase of such holders’ EQGP Common Units.  In connection with such discussions, either (i) the Holdco Borrower (or one of its subsidiaries) intends to enter into one or more Common Unit Purchase Agreements (collectively, in form and substance as set forth in the draft Unit Purchase Agreement provided to the Commitment Parties on the date hereof and at a unit price as separately disclosed to the Commitment Parties as of the date hereof, the “ Common Unit Purchase Agreements ”) with such holders of EQGP Common Units, pursuant to which the Holdco Borrower (or such subsidiary) will agree to acquire from such holders, and such holders will agree to sell to the Holdco Borrower (or such subsidiary), such number of EQGP Common Units, after which the Holdco Borrower, together with its subsidiaries, will own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units but less than all of the outstanding EQGP Common Units (such transactions, the “ Unit Repurchases ”) or (ii) the Holdco Borrower intends to enter into a Tender and Support Agreement (in form and substance as set forth in the draft Tender and Support Agreement provided to the Commitment Parties on the date hereof and at a unit price in accordance with the Tender Offer (as defined below) intended to be an amount substantially similar to the unit price separately disclosed to the Commitment Parties in connection with the Common Unit Purchase Agreement as of the date hereof, the “ Tender and Support Agreement ”) with such holders of EQGP Common Units, pursuant to which such holders will agree to, among other things, tender their EQGP Common Units in the Tender Offer.  If the Holdco Borrower enters into the Tender and Support Agreement, the Holdco Borrower intends to promptly commence a tender offer (the “ Tender Offer ”, either the Unit Repurchases or the Tender Offer, whichever option is exercised, being the “ Initial Acquisition ”) for any and all outstanding EQGP Common Units not already held by the Holdco Borrower or its subsidiaries, subject to the condition that the Holdco Borrower and its affiliates own more than 95% of the outstanding EQGP Common Units after the Tender Offer.  Following the consummation of either the Unit Repurchases or the Tender Offer, if the Holdco Borrower and its affiliates own, directly or indirectly, more than 95% but less than all of the outstanding EQGP Common Units, the Holdco Borrower will exercise (or cause to be exercised) the limited call right set forth in Section 15.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of EQGP, dated as of October 12, 2018. Upon consummation of the foregoing transactions (such transactions, as applicable, the “ Acquisition ”), the Holdco Borrower will own (x) all of the EQGP Common Units representing 100% of the equity interests of EQGP, which in turn owns, directly or indirectly, 21,811,643 common units representing limited partner interests in EQM (the “ EQM Common Units ”) and 1,443,015 general partner units representing general partner interests in EQM, which collectively represent approximately 19.1% of the outstanding equity interests in EQM, and 100% of incentive distribution rights of EQM and (y) an additional 15,433,812 EQM Common Units, other than through its ownership of EQGP.

 

2.               Prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the Acquisition, the Holdco Borrower will either (x) seek to effect an amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2018 (the “ Existing Revolving Credit Agreement ”), among Holdco Borrower, each lender and L/C issuer from time to time party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swing line lender and an L/C issuer, in order to implement the necessary amendments to permit the transactions hereunder (all such amendments, the “ Required Amendments ”) or (y) to the extent the Required Amendments are not effective on or prior to the closing date, repay all loans and terminate all commitments and security interests relating to the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

3.               The Holdco Borrower will obtain the Holdco Term B Facility on the terms set forth in the Term Sheet.

 


 

EXHIBIT B

to Commitment Letter

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

Senior Secured Holdco Term B Facility
Summary of Principal Terms and Conditions

 

Set forth below is a summary of the principal terms and conditions for the Holdco Term B Facility (as defined below).  This Summary of Principal Terms and Conditions (this “ Term Sheet ”) is for indicative purposes only and does not purport to summarize all terms of the definitive loan documents for the Holdco Term B Facility.  All capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Transaction Description set forth on Annex I hereto relating to this Term Sheet.

 

Holdco Borrower:

 

Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the “ Holdco Borrower ”). Unless otherwise specified herein, references to “the Holdco Borrower” are only to the Holdco Borrower and do not include the subsidiaries of the Holdco Borrower.

 

 

 

Administrative Agent:

 

Goldman Sachs (or another affiliate of Goldman Sachs) (in its capacity as administrative agent, the “ Holdco Agent ”).

 

 

 

Collateral Agent:

 

A financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers (in its capacity as collateral agent, the “ Holdco Collateral Agent ”).

 

 

 

Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners:

 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Guggenheim Securities, LLC (together, the “ Arrangers ”).

 

 

 

Syndication Agent:

 

A financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers.

 

 

 

Documentation Agent:

 

A financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers.

 

 

 

Holdco Lenders:

 

A syndicate of financial institutions arranged by the Arrangers and reasonably acceptable to the Holdco Borrower (the “ Holdco Lenders ”), but in no event to include Disqualified Institutions (as defined in the Commitment Letter).

 

 

 

Holdco Term B Facility:

 

A senior secured term loan B facility in an aggregate principal amount of $650 million (the “ Holdco Term B Facility ”; the loans thereunder, the “ Holdco Term B Loans ”).

 

 

 

Uncommitted Increase in the Holdco Term B Facility:

 

The loan documentation with respect to the Holdco Term B Facility (the “ Holdco Operative Documents ”) will permit the Holdco Borrower to increase the amount of or add one or more incremental term loan facilities to the Holdco Term B Facility (each, whether or not a separate tranche, an “ Incremental Holdco Term Facility ”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200 million minus the aggregate commitments under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement (and any other permitted pari passu revolving credit agreement) then in effect, plus the amount of any voluntary prepayment in respect of the Holdco Term B

 


 

 

 

Loans or any loans in respect of an Incremental Holdco Term Facility that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Holdco Term B Loans; provided that (i) no Holdco Lender will be required to participate in any such Incremental Holdco Term Facility, (ii)(a) no default or event of default exists or would exist after giving effect thereto (except limited to no payment or bankruptcy event of default in the case of an Incremental Facility incurred to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition (to be defined in the definitive documentation evidencing the Holdco Term B Facility)) or investment and (b) to the extent any representations and warranties are required to be satisfied as a condition to funding of an Incremental Facility to be incurred to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition or investment, such representations and warranties shall be limited only to customary “specified representations” and “acquisition agreement representations” such that the Limited Condition Acquisition or investment may be consummated on a “certain funds” basis, (iii) the maturity date of any such Incremental Holdco Term Facility, if a separate tranche of loans, shall be no earlier than the latest maturity date of the Holdco Term B Facility, and such Incremental Holdco Term Facility shall have a weighted average life to maturity that is no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the Holdco Term B Facility, (iv) any Incremental Holdco Term Facility that is an increase in loans to an existing tranche of term loans shall be on the same terms (including maturity date and interest rates but (unless any such difference in original issue discount or upfront fees would cause such new loans not to be fungible with such existing tranche of loans) excluding original issue discount or upfront fees) and pursuant to the same documentation (other than the amendment evidencing such Incremental Holdco Term Facility) applicable to such term loan tranche, (v) the interest rates applicable to any Incremental Holdco Term Facility shall be determined by the Holdco Borrower and the lenders thereunder, (vi) subject to clause (iii) above, the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Holdco Term Facility shall be determined by the Holdco Borrower and the lenders thereunder, and (vii) except to the extent permitted by clause (iii) or (v) above or the proviso below, any Incremental Holdco Term Facility shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation applicable to and consistent with the Holdco Term B Facility; provided further that (x) to the extent such terms and documentation are not consistent with the Holdco Term B Facility (except to the extent permitted by clause (iii) or (v) above or the proviso below), they shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holdco Agent unless such terms are (1) added for the benefit of all Lenders pursuant to an amendment to the Holdco Term B Facility (which amendment shall not require the consent of any Lenders) or (2) only applicable to periods after the Maturity Date and (y) in the event that the effective interest rate (including any floors, any original issue discount and any upfront fees, but excluding any arrangement, structuring or other

 


 

 

 

similar fees not paid to lenders generally) (“ Yield ”) for any Incremental Holdco Term Facility incurred prior to the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date (as defined below) is more than 0.50% per annum greater than the Yield under the Holdco Term B Facility, the applicable Yield under the Holdco Term B Facility shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the applicable Yield under the Holdco Term B Facility is equal to the Yield for such Incremental Holdco Term Facility minus 0.50% per annum; provided that original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity (e.g. 100 basis points of original issue discount equals 25 basis points of interest rate margin for a four year average life to maturity). Mandatory prepayments shall not be permitted to be applied to any Incremental Holdco Term Facility on a greater than pro rata basis relative to the Holdco Term B Facility. No optional prepayments for any Incremental Holdco Term Facility shall be made prior to the maturity of the Holdco Term B Loans unless the Holdco Term B Loans are prepaid on at least a pro rata basis with such Incremental Holdco Term Facility.

 

 

 

 

 

Any Incremental Holdco Term Facility will (i) rank pari passu with or junior to the Holdco Term B Loans in right of payment, (ii) be unsecured or secured on a pari passu or junior basis with the Holdco Term B Loans (and to the extent subordinated in right of payment or security, subject to intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Holdco Agent and the Holdco Borrower) and (iii) not be incurred (or guaranteed) by a direct or indirect parent or subsidiary of the Holdco Borrower that is not a credit party to the Holdco Term B Facility or secured by assets that are not Collateral (as defined below).

 

 

 

 

 

The Holdco Operative Documents shall be amended to give effect to any Incremental Holdco Term Facility by documentation executed by the Holdco Lender or Holdco Lenders making the commitments thereunder, the Holdco Agent and the Holdco Borrower, and without the consent of any other Holdco Lender.

 

 

 

Purpose and Availability:

 

The full amount of the Holdco Term B Facility must be drawn in a single drawing on the date on which the conditions precedent in the definitive documentation evidencing the Holdco Term B Facility are satisfied or waived in accordance with such documentation (such date, the “ Closing Date ”) and applied to consummate the Transactions (including the Acquisition and, if the Required Amendment has not become effective, the repayment and termination in full of the loans and commitments under Existing Revolving Credit Agreement), to pay transaction costs and expenses in connection therewith and for other general corporate purposes (other than restricted payments). Amounts borrowed under the Holdco Term B Facility that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 


 

Final Maturity and Amortization:

 

The Holdco Term B Facility will mature on the date that is seven years after the Closing Date. The Holdco Term B Facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Holdco Term B Facility with the balance payable on the maturity date of the Holdco Term B Facility.

 

 

 

Interest Rates and Fees:

 

As set forth on Annex I hereto.

 

 

 

Guarantors:

 

Equitrans Gathering Holdings, LLC, Equitrans Midstream Holdings, LLC, EQM GP Corporation and any other wholly-owned domestic Restricted Subsidiary (as defined below) of Holdco Borrower, other than any wholly-owned domestic subsidiary that exists primarily to serve as the general partner of EQGP Holdings, LP (“ EQGP ”) and/or EQM Midstream Partners, LP (“ EQM ”).

 

 

 

Collateral:

 

The Holdco Term B Facility and the obligations of the Holdco Borrower under each interest rate protection agreement and cash management agreement entered into with the Holdco Agent, the Holdco Collateral Agent, the Arrangers or an entity that is a Holdco Lender at the time of such transaction, or any affiliate of any of the foregoing will be secured on a first priority basis (subject to permitted liens to be agreed) by (a) a perfected lien on, and pledge of, all of the limited partnership interests in EQGP (but only prior to the date of the Specified Consolidation (to be defined in a manner to be agreed) or any other transaction that results in EQGP being a subsidiary of EQM) and EQM, in each case owned by the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors, but, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event to include a pledge of any general partnership interest of EQGP (to the extent such pledge is not permitted) (but only prior to the date of the Specified Consolidation (to be defined in a manner to be agreed) or any other transaction that results in EQGP being a subsidiary of EQM) or EQM, and (b) substantially all of the Holdco Borrower’s and the Guarantors’ present and future property and assets, including without limitation, a perfected (subject to certain exceptions as to collateral and as to perfection to be agreed upon) lien on, and security interest in, substantially all of the other tangible and intangible assets of the Holdco Borrower (collectively, the “ Collateral ”), except any other assets as to which the Holdco Agent shall determine in its reasonable discretion that the costs of obtaining such security interest are excessive in relation to the value of the security to be afforded thereby.

 

 

 

 

 

The Holdco Collateral Agent will have a perfected, first priority (subject to permitted liens to be agreed) security interest

 


 

 

 

(perfected pursuant to a deposit account control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holdco Collateral Agent) in all amounts (including investments and the proceeds thereof) from time to time on deposit in all material deposit and securities accounts of the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

 

 

 

 

All such security interests shall (a) be created on terms, and pursuant to documentation, substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Holdco Agent and (b) rank pari passu with all such security interests under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement or a replacement/future pari passu revolving credit facility (subject to intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Holdco Agent), and none of the Collateral shall be subject to any other pledges, security interests or mortgages (except permitted liens to be mutually agreed between the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers), and subject to exceptions substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles and as otherwise agreed upon.

 

 

 

 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect any security interests in such assets, including any intellectual property registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

 

 

 

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this term sheet to the contrary, no lien on the Collateral shall be required to be perfected on the Closing Date if it would impair the availability of the Holdco Term B Facility on the Closing Date, other than to the extent a lien on such Collateral may be perfected by (i) the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code, and (ii) the delivery of stock certificates of subsidiaries of the Holdco Borrower together with undated stock powers executed in blank, and the perfection of such Collateral will not be a condition to closing of the Holdco Term B Facility, but the Holdco Borrower will be required to have perfected such liens within 90 days after the Closing Date (subject to extensions agreed to in writing by the Holdco Agent).

 

 

 

Cash Flow Available for Restricted Payments

 

For each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2019), the sum of (a) the product of (i) Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal quarter multiplied by (ii) 100 minus the Excess Cash Flow Prepayment (as defined below) percentage for such fiscal quarter (expressed as a percentage), (b) the Declined Proceeds (as defined below) and (c) amounts in

 


 

 

 

the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) that were undistributed in prior fiscal quarters, shall be available for Restricted Payments ( Cash Flow Available for Restricted Payments ”).

 

 

 

Documentation:

 

The Holdco Operative Documents shall contain (i) the terms and conditions set forth herein, (ii) materiality qualifications, “baskets”, grace periods, cure rights and other exceptions that give effect to and/or permit the structure and intended use of the Holdco Term B Facility, including, without limitation, exceptions necessary to consummate the Transactions and the Specified Consolidation, (iii) additional terms to be reasonably agreed among the Holdco Borrower and the Lenders to reflect the reasonable operational requirements of the Holdco Agent and the Holdco Borrower and (iv) such other terms as the Holdco Borrower and the Lenders shall reasonably agree. The Holdco Operative Documents will be negotiated in good faith within a reasonable time period to be determined based on the expected Closing Date and taking into account the timing of the syndication of the Holdco Term B Facility (the foregoing being referred to herein as the “ Documentation Principles ”).

 

 

 

Optional Prepayments and Reductions in Commitments:

 

Optional prepayments of borrowings under the Holdco Term B Facility will be permitted at any time, in minimum principal amounts to be agreed, without premium or penalty (except as set forth below), subject to reimbursement of the Holdco Lenders’ breakage and redeployment costs in the case of a prepayment of LIBOR borrowings other than on the last day of the relevant interest period; provided that if, prior to the date that is six months after the Closing Date (x) there shall occur any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of the definitive documentation for the Holdco Term B Facility that has the effect of reducing the Yield then in effect for the loans thereunder, (y) all or any portion of the Holdco Term B Facility is voluntarily prepaid or mandatorily prepaid with the net cash proceeds of issuances, offerings or placement of debt obligations, or refinanced substantially concurrently with the incurrence of, or conversion of the loans thereunder into, new indebtedness that has a Yield lower than the Yield in effect for the loans so prepaid or (z) a Holdco Lender must assign its loans under the Holdco Term B Facility as a result of its failure to consent to an amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of the Holdco Term B Facility that would have the effect of reducing the Yield then in effect for the loans under the Holdco Term B Facility (any of clause (x), (y) or (z), a “ Repricing Transaction ”), then in each case the aggregate principal amount so subject to such Repricing Transaction (other than any Repricing Transaction made in connection with a change of control) will be subject to a 1.00% prepayment premium. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in no event will any prepayment premium be payable pursuant to this paragraph in connection with the occurrence of a “change of control” or a Transformative Acquisition (as defined below).

 


 

 

 

The term “Transformative Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition by Holdco Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not permitted by the terms of the Holdco Operative Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition.

 

 

 

Mandatory Prepayments:

 

Holdco Term B Loans under the Holdco Term B Facility shall be prepaid with

 

 

 

 

 

(a) on a quarterly basis, the Excess Cash Flow Prepayment Percentage (as defined below) of Excess Cash Flow (to be defined as the excess of (x) Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable period over (y) debt service, fixed charges and other amounts paid or payable for such period) (i) for the period beginning January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019 and (ii) for each fiscal quarter of the Holdco Borrower thereafter; provided that, any voluntary prepayments made prior to the quarterly payment due date for this mandatory prepayment of any loans, other than prepayments funded with the proceeds of incurrences of long-term indebtedness, shall be credited against Excess Cash Flow prepayment obligations on a dollar-for-dollar basis (such prepayment being an “ Excess Cash Flow Prepayment ”); provided that, the requirement to make a mandatory prepayment under this section (a) shall be suspended during the continuance of either of the following: (i) the Holdco Borrower obtaining and maintaining an Investment Grade Rating from two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, in each case with a stable or better outlook or (ii) the Holdco Term B Facility receiving and maintaining an Investment Grade Rating from two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, in each case with a stable or better outlook (the “ Excess Cash Flow Sweep Investment Grade Suspension ”); and

 

 

 

 

 

(b) 100% of the net cash proceeds above an amount to be agreed upon of all non-ordinary-course asset sales or other dispositions of property by the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors (including casualty insurance and condemnation proceeds in excess of an agreed amount); and

 

 

 

 

 

(c) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of debt obligations of the Holdco Borrower and/or EQGP with certain exceptions to be agreed upon (including any debt permitted to be incurred under the definitive loan documentation, other than debt the proceeds of which are required to be used to repay loans under the Holdco Term B Facility).

 

 

 

 

 

Excess Cash Flow Prepayment Percentage ” shall mean, (X) 0% at all times while the Holdco Leverage Ratio is less than 1.75:1.00, (Y) 25% at all times while the Holdco Leverage Ratio

 


 

 

 

is equal to or greater than 1.75:1.00 and less than 3.00:1.00 and (Z) 50% at all times while the Holdco Leverage Ratio is more than or equal to 3.00:1.00.

 

 

 

 

 

Holdco Leverage Ratio ” means the ratio of (a) Total Net Debt (to be defined in a manner substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles (as defined below), but in any case to net all unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (which shall include all cash and cash equivalents in an account subject to a control agreement in favor of the Holdco Collateral Agent) of the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors up to an amount of $50 million) for any period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA (defined below) for the same period.

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA ” shall be defined in a manner usual and customary for transactions of this type and reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers and the Holdco Borrower. Payments made in connection with or pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement dated November 12, 2018, by and among the Holdco Borrower, EQT Corporation and EQT Production Company (such payments, the “ Separation Payments ”) shall not be included in or deducted from Consolidated EBITDA.

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means (a) a BBB- rating or higher from S&P, (b) a Baa3 rating or higher from Moody’s or (c) a BBB- rating or higher from Fitch.

 

 

 

Application of Prepayments:

 

All optional prepayments shall be applied as directed by the Holdco Borrower and all mandatory prepayments shall be applied to the remaining amortization payments under the Holdco Term B Facility in direct order of maturity (and in each case shall be applied to the loans of each Holdco Lender on a pro rata basis).

 

 

 

 

 

At the option of the Holdco Borrower, each Holdco Lender under the Holdco Term B Facility shall have the right to decline any mandatory prepayment of its Holdco Term B Loans under the Holdco Term B Facility in which case the amount of such prepayment shall be retained by the Holdco Borrower (such retained proceeds, “ Declined Proceeds ”).

 

 

 

Unrestricted Subsidiaries:

 

The Borrower will be able to designate subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” subject to customary terms, limitations and conditions to be agreed. Any reference contained herein to subsidiaries of the Holdco Borrower shall be deemed to refer to Restricted Subsidiaries of the Holdco Borrower, unless otherwise specified. On the Closing Date, EQM and its present and future subsidiaries will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries and all other subsidiaries of the Holdco Borrower including EQGP (unless and until EQGP becomes a subsidiary of EQM in

 


 

 

 

connection with the Specified Consolidation) will be “Restricted Subsidiaries”; provided that prior to the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date, EQGP shall not be required to be a Guarantor or provide security interests in support of the Holdco Term B Facility.

 

 

 

Representations and Warranties:

 

Limited to the following representations and warranties (to be applicable to the Holdco Borrower and its subsidiaries), substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles (including as to materiality thresholds):

 

 

 

 

 

1.               Organizational existence, power and authority, good standing and due authorization.

 

 

 

 

 

2.               Execution, delivery, and performance of the loan documents do not violate law, organizational documents or other material agreements.

 

 

 

 

 

3.               Possession of all necessary material consents, approvals, licenses and permits.

 

 

 

 

 

4.               Absence of material litigation.

 

 

 

 

 

5.               No material adverse change after the Closing Date since December 31, 2017 (or such other date reasonably acceptable to the Holdco Agent).

 

 

 

 

 

6.               Accuracy of financial statements and other information and disclosure.

 

 

 

 

 

7.               Material compliance with laws and regulations, including, environmental laws, federal margin regulations, PATRIOT ACT, OFAC, laws applicable to sanctioned persons, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism laws and other matters consistent with the Documentation Principles.

 

 

 

 

 

8.               Due execution and delivery, legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the loan documents.

 

 

 

 

 

9.               Inapplicability of the Investment Company Act.

 

 

 

 

 

10.        Title or other rights to property including intellectual property) and ownership of equity interests.

 

 

 

 

 

11.        Solvency on the Closing Date.

 

 

 

 

 

12.        Payment of taxes.

 


 

 

 

13.        Creation, validity, priority and perfection of security interests in the Collateral.

 

 

 

 

 

14.        ERISA.

 

 

 

 

 

15.        Labor matters.

 

 

 

 

 

16.        Insurance matters.

 

 

 

 

 

17.        Federal Reserve Regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

18.        Use of proceeds.

 

 

 

 

 

19.        Status as senior debt.

 

 

 

 

 

20.        Accuracy in all material respects of information included in any certificate of beneficial ownership.

 

 

 

Conditions Precedent to Borrowing:

 

Customary conditions precedent for facilities and transactions of this type, subject to customary certain funds provisions (including as described under “Collateral”).

 

 

 

Affirmative Covenants:

 

Limited to the following affirmative covenants (to be applicable to the Holdco Borrower and its subsidiaries), substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles (including as to materiality thresholds):

 

 

 

 

 

1.               Preservation of organizational existence.

 

 

 

 

 

2.               Material compliance with laws and regulations (including ERISA).

 

 

 

 

 

3.               Payment of taxes.

 

 

 

 

 

4.               Delivery of financial information of the Holdco Borrower, including audited annual consolidated financial statements and unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Holdco Borrower, and with annual financial statements accompanied by an opinion of an independent accounting firm (which opinion shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (other than resulting from (x) the impending maturity of any indebtedness and/or (y) any prospective breach of any financial covenant)); provided that (i) the delivery of audited annual financial statements will be due 90 days after the end of the relevant fiscal year, (ii) the delivery of unaudited quarterly financial statements will be due 45 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter, (iii) the first required delivery of financial statements of the Holdco Borrower will be with respect to the period ended December 31, 2018 and

 


 

 

 

(iv) the first required delivery of a compliance certificate will be with respect to the first full fiscal quarter following the Closing Date.

 

 

 

 

 

5.               (a) Other customary reporting requirements (including information reasonably requested by the Holdco Lenders through the Holdco Agent), and (b) notices of default, material adverse change, ERISA and litigation.

 

 

 

 

 

6.               Visitation and inspection rights.

 

 

 

 

 

7.               Maintenance of books and records.

 

 

 

 

 

8.               Maintenance of properties.

 

 

 

 

 

9.               Maintenance of insurance.

 

 

 

 

 

10.        Use of proceeds.

 

 

 

 

 

11.        Further assurances.

 

 

 

 

 

12.        Changes in fiscal year.

 

 

 

 

 

13.        Compliance with environmental laws.

 

 

 

 

 

14.        Credit ratings (but no specific rating).

 

 

 

Negative Covenants:

 

Limited to the following negative covenants (to be applicable to the Holdco Borrower and its subsidiaries), substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles (including as to materiality thresholds, exceptions, qualifications and, as appropriate, “baskets” (including, in each case, “grower” baskets based off a corresponding percentage of Consolidated EBITDA)):

 

 

 

 

 

1.               Limitations on liens.

 

 

 

 

 

2.               Limitations on debt (including, without limitation, a prohibition on intermediate holdco debt).

 

 

 

 

 

3.               Limitations on dividends and distributions, redemptions and repurchases with respect to capital stock and other restricted payments (collectively, “ Restricted Payments ”), other than Restricted Payments with (x) the proceeds of equity issuances (other than “Disqualified Stock” (to be defined in a manner to be agreed)) and (y) Cash Flow Available for Restricted Payments, in each case so long as (i) no default or event of default (including, without limitation, any failure to comply with the Financial Covenant) exists immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such Restricted

 


 

 

 

Payment and (ii) all required Excess Cash Flow prepayments have been made.

 

 

 

 

 

4.               Limitations on loans, guarantees, acquisitions and investments.

 

 

 

 

 

5.               Limitations on mergers (including, without limitation, divisive mergers), consolidations, asset dispositions and sale/leaseback transactions; provided, however that the Specified Consolidation shall be permitted on conditions to be mutually agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

6.               Limitations on transactions with affiliates; provided that (i) the Specified Consolidation shall be permitted and (ii) any transaction that has been approved by the conflicts committee of either the general partner of EQM or the general partner of EQGP shall be permitted.

 

 

 

 

 

7.               Limitations on changes in business.

 

 

 

 

 

8.               Limitations on restrictions on liens and on distributions from subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

9.               Prohibition on speculative hedging.

 

 

 

 

 

10.        Limitations on modifying constituent documents of the Holdco Borrower or EQGP (if it is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Holdco Borrower) in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Holdco Lenders.

 

 

 

 

 

11.        Limitation on repayment of certain subordinated indebtedness.

 

 

 

 

 

12.        Negative pledge on the equity interests of EQM or EQGP (including general partnerships) owned (directly or indirectly) by the Holdco Borrower and EQGP (unless it is a subsidiary of EQM).

 

 

 

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holdco Term B Facility shall not restrict any Separation Payment.

 

 

 

Financial Covenant

 

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (the ratio of (x) Consolidated EBITDA to (y) mandatory amortization plus interest expense) shall not be lower than 1.10:1.00.

The financial covenant will be tested quarterly for the four most recently completed fiscal quarters with respect to the Holdco Borrower.

 


 

 

 

The financial covenant will be applicable beginning with the first full quarterly fiscal period after the Closing Date.

The requirement to comply with the financial covenant shall be suspended during the continuance of either of the following: (i) the Holdco Borrower obtaining and maintaining an Investment Grade Rating from two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, in each case with a stable or better outlook or (ii) the Holdco Term B Facility receiving and maintaining an Investment Grade Rating from two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, in each case with a stable or better outlook (the “ Financial Covenant Investment Grade Suspension ”, and together with the Excess Cash Flow Sweep Investment Grade Suspension, the “ Investment Grade Suspension ”).

 

 

 

Events of Default:

 

Limited to the following events of default (to be applicable to Holdco Borrower and its subsidiaries), substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles (including with respect to materiality thresholds and grace periods):

 

 

 

 

 

1.               Failure to pay principal, interest, fees or any other amount when due.

 

 

 

 

 

2.               Representations or warranties materially incorrect when given; provided that (except in the case of any representation or warranty made with respect to any financial statement of the Holdco Borrower) if such lack of correctness is capable of being remedied or cured within a 30-day period, the Holdco Borrower or the applicable Guarantor shall have a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) written notice thereof has been given to the Holdco Borrower by the Holdco Agent or (ii) a responsible officer of the Holdco Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof, within which to remedy or cure such lack of correctness.

 

 

 

 

 

3.               Failure to comply with covenants (with notice and cure periods as applicable).

 

 

 

 

 

4.               Cross-default and cross-acceleration to material debt of the Holdco Borrower, EQGP (unless it is a subsidiary of EQM), EQM and any material subsidiary thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

5.               Unsatisfied and uninsured judgment or order in excess of an amount to be agreed individually or in the aggregate.

 

 

 

 

 

6.               Bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Holdco Borrower, EQGP (unless it is a subsidiary of EQM) or EQM or any material subsidiary thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

7.               ERISA events.

 


 

 

 

8.               Any of the following shall occur (each a “ Change of Control ”): (i) the failure of EQM to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the equity interests in Equitrans, L.P., (ii) except in connection with the Specified Consolidation, the failure of the Holdco Borrower to control EQGP, EQM or, upon consummation of a merger of EQGP or EQM, the surviving person of such merger, (iii) any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the voting power of the equity interests in the Holdco Borrower or (iv) there shall have occurred under any other material debt of Holdco Borrower or any subsidiary thereof any “change in control” or similar provision (as set forth in the indenture, agreement or other instrument evidencing such material debt) obligating the Holdco Borrower or such subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or repay all or any part of the debt provided for therein..

 

 

 

 

 

9.               Actual or asserted (in writing) invalidity of any Holdco Operative Document or failure of the Holdco Collateral Agent to have a perfected first priority lien and security interest (subject to permitted liens) in a material portion of the Collateral.

 

 

 

Voting:

 

Amendments and waivers of the Holdco Operative Documents will require the approval of Holdco Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the loans and commitments under the Holdco Term B Facility (other than Defaulting Lenders (to be defined in a customary manner consistent with the Documentation Principles) the “ Required Lenders ”), except that the consent of each adversely affected Holdco Lender shall be required with respect to (i) increases in commitments, (ii) reductions of principal, interest or fees, (iii) extensions of scheduled amortization, final maturity or payment dates, and non-pro rata payments, (iv) releases of all or substantially all of the Collateral and (v) changes to the Required Lender definition and the amendment provisions of the Holdco Operative Documents.

The Holdco Operative Documents shall include customary “yank-a-bank” provisions relating to non-consenting Holdco Lenders consistent with the Documentation Principles.

 


 

 

 

The Holdco Operative Documents will permit amendments thereof without the approval or consent of the Holdco Lenders to effect a permitted “repricing transaction” (i.e., a transaction in which any tranche of Holdco Term B Loans is refinanced with a replacement tranche of term loans, or is modified with the effect of, bearing a lower rate of interest) other than any Holdco Lender holding Holdco Term B Loans subject to such “repricing transaction” that will continue as a Holdco Lender in respect of the repriced tranche of Holdco Term B Loans or modified Holdco Term B Loans.

 

 

 

Assignments and Participations:

 

Customary for facilities of this type, but shall include restrictions on assignments and participations for Disqualified Institutions.

 

 

 

Yield Protection, Taxes and Other Deductions, Etc.:

 

The Holdco Operative Documents will contain yield protection provisions substantially consistent with the Documentation Principles, protecting the Holdco Lenders in the event of unavailability of funding, funding losses, reserve and capital adequacy requirements (including with respect to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and Consumer Protection Act and the Basel III Accord, but only to the extent that the applicable Holdco Lender(s) imposes the same charges on other similarly situated borrowers under comparable credit facilities). The Holdco Operative Documents will also contain customary provisions regarding the Patriot Act and beneficial ownership regulations consistent with the Documentation Principles.

 

 

 

 

 

All payments to be free and clear of any present or future taxes, withholdings or other deductions whatsoever (subject to customary exceptions, including FATCA).

 

 

 

EU Bail-In:

 

The Holdco Operative Documents will contain customary provisions relating to contractual recognition of EU bail-in regulations.

 

 

 

Expenses and indemnification:

 

Customary provisions regarding expense reimbursement and indemnification consistent with the Documentation Principles.

 

 

 

Governing Law and Forum:

 

New York.

 

 

 

Counsel to Arrangers:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP.

 


 

Annex I

 

Senior Secured Holdco Term B Facility
Interest Rates and Fees

 

Interest Rates:

 

The Holdco Borrower will be entitled to make borrowings based on ABR plus the Applicable Margin or LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin.  The “ Applicable Margin ” shall be for (x) LIBOR Loans, a margin to be agreed between the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers per annum and (y) ABR Loans, a margin to be agreed between the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers per annum .

 

LIBOR shall not be less than 0.00%.

 

 

 

 

 

The Holdco Borrower may elect interest periods of 1, 2, 3 or 6 months (or if available to all Holdco Lenders, 12 months) for LIBOR borrowings.

 

 

 

 

 

Calculation of interest shall be on the basis of actual days elapsed in a year of 360 days (or 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, in the case of ABR loans based on the prime rate).

 

 

 

 

 

Interest will be payable in arrears (i) for loans accruing interest at a rate based on LIBOR, at the end of each interest period (or every 90 days in arrears for interest periods greater than 90 days) and on the applicable maturity date and (ii) for loans accruing interest based on the ABR, quarterly in arrears and on the applicable maturity date.

 

 

 

 

 

ABR ” means the highest of (i)  the prime commercial lending rate as published by the Wall Street Journal from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (iii) LIBOR for a one-month interest period plus 1.00%.

 

 

 

 

 

LIBOR will at all times include statutory reserves.

 

The definitive documentation evidencing the Holdco Term B Facility will include customary LIBOR replacement provisions, which shall provide that any such replacement rate shall be agreed by the Holdco Agent and the Holdco Borrower.

 

 

 

Default Rate:

 

The applicable interest rate plus 2% per annum on amounts overdue, payable upon demand, which shall (i) automatically accrue for any payment or bankruptcy event of default and (ii) otherwise only accrue upon the written request of the Required Lenders.

 


 

EXHIBIT C

to Commitment Letter

 

Summary of Conditions Precedent

 

All capitalized terms herein but not defined herein shall have the meaning provided in the Commitment Letter.

 

The borrowings under the Holdco Term B Facility shall be subject to the following conditions precedent, which shall be subject to the Certain Funds Provision in all respects:

 

1.               Consummation of the Initial Acquisition.   The Initial Acquisition shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the advances under the Holdco Term B Facility in accordance with either the Common Unit Purchase Agreements entered into in connection with the Unit Repurchases or the offer to purchase for cash made in connection with the Tender Offer and following entry into of the Tender Support Agreement made in connection with the Tender Offer, without amendment, modification or waiver thereof or consent thereunder that is materially adverse to the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders or the Arrangers without the consent of the Commitment Parties, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (it being understood and agreed that any reduction in the purchase price shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the Commitment Parties, the Initial Lenders and the Arrangers).

 

2.               Material Adverse Effect.   Since November 12, 2018, there has been no Material Adverse Effect that is continuing to occur.  “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Holdco Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

3.               Pro Forma Financial Statements.  The Arrangers shall have received a customary pro forma consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Holdco Borrower as of the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal-quarter period ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date, or if the most recently completed fiscal period is the end of a fiscal year, ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date, in form reasonably acceptable to the Arrangers and prepared after giving effect to the Transactions and such other adjustments as shall be agreed between the Holdco Borrower and the Arrangers as if such transactions or adjustments had occurred as of such date.

 

4.               Representations and Warranties and Certain Funds .  Subject to the Certain Funds Provision, the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date (unless such representations relate to an earlier date, in which case, such representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided that , any such Specified Representations which are qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects.

 

5.               Collateral .  To the extent required by the Holdco Operative Documents and subject to the Certain Funds Provision, all documents and instruments required to create and perfect the Holdco Agent’s security interests in the Collateral shall have been executed and delivered and, if applicable, be in proper form for filing, and none of the Collateral shall be subject to any other pledges, security interest or mortgages, except for the liens permitted under the Holdco Operative Documents.

 


 

6.               Operative Documents.   The execution and delivery of the Holdco Operative Documents which shall, in each case, be substantially consistent with Exhibit B and subject to the Certain Funds Provision.

 

7.               KYC, etc.   The Holdco Agent shall have received at least three business days prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as the Holdco Agent reasonably agrees), to the extent reasonably requested by any Commitment Party in writing (including via email) to the Holdco Borrower or its counsel at least 10 days in advance of the Closing Date, (i) all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities with respect to the Holdco Borrower and EQGP under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act and (ii) if the Holdco Borrower or any Guarantor qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations, a certificate of beneficial ownership (a “ Beneficial Ownership Certificate ”) with respect to the Holdco Borrower and each applicable Guarantor for each Holdco Lender that so requests at least 10 days in advance of the Closing Date.

 

8.               Miscellaneous Closing Conditions.  The Holdco Agent shall have received, with respect to the Holdco Borrower and any Guarantor: (a) customary legal opinions, (b) customary evidence of authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Holdco Operative Documents, (c) customary officer’s certificates (including incumbency certificates of officers and attaching certified copies of organizational documents), (d) a customary borrowing notice, (e) a customary signed form FR U-1 or equivalent executed by the Holdco Borrower and (f) good standing certificates and lien searches (to the extent applicable and subject to the Certain Funds Provision) in the jurisdiction of organization of the Holdco Borrower and each Guarantor, in each case consistent with your Precedent.  The Holdco Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a financial officer of the Holdco Borrower, in customary form consistent with your Precedent, confirming the solvency of the Holdco Borrower and the Guarantors, taken as a whole, after giving effect to the Initial Acquisition.

 

9.               Fees and Expenses.  The Holdco Agent shall have received all fees and invoiced expenses (to the extent invoiced at least three business days prior to the Closing Date) required to be paid on the Closing Date (which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the Holdco Term B Facility).

 


 

EXHIBIT C-1

to Commitment Letter

 

FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

 

Pursuant to the [Credit Agreement](1), the undersigned hereby certifies, solely in such undersigned’s capacity as [officer] of Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “ Borrower ”), and not individually, and without any personal liability, as follows:

 

As of the date hereof, after giving effect to the consummation of the Initial Acquisition and the making of the [Loans] under the Credit Agreement on the date hereof, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, he is of the opinion that:

 

a.                                       The fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its [Restricted Subsidiaries], on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise;

 

b.                                       The present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its [Restricted Subsidiaries], on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured;

 

c.                                        The Borrower and its [Restricted Subsidiaries], on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured; and

 

d.                                       The Borrower and its [Restricted Subsidiaries], on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital.

 

For purposes of this Certificate, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

The undersigned is familiar with the business and financial position of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. In reaching the conclusions set forth in this Certificate, the undersigned has made such other investigations and inquiries as the undersigned has deemed appropriate, having taken into account the nature of the particular business anticipated to be conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries after consummation of the transactions contemplated by the [Commitment Letter].

 


(1) Credit Agreement to be defined.

 


Exhibit (c)(1)

Guggenheim Securities Project Grand Central: Potential Simplification Transaction Alternatives November 17, 2018 Confidential Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Executive Summary The analysis herein presents the key relative benefits and considerations of a tender offer vs. a merger Overview  The public equity markets are currently penalizing structural complexity and IDR burden  Investors are expecting ETRN to promptly evaluate simplification transactions  While most simplifications have traditionally relied on the merger path, the tender offer (“TO”) route can be attractive in the case of EQGP given its unique characteristics of i) relatively small size of the public float and ii) shallow underlying trading liquidity  A properly structured TO can afford significant process time savings, thereby addressing more promptly the currently apparent equity overhang Strategic Rationale  The relatively small size of the EQGP public float creates an opportunity to execute a cash tender offer as an initial step in the simplification  Current unit price requires ~$500mm of cash  Debt capital markets are attractive for strong midstream credits  Incremental leverage at ETRN can be managed over the next three years with projected strong cash flow growth from EQM  Leverage at EQM remains the same  The tender offer process provides significant advantages for ETRN vs. a traditional merger process  Satisfies investor demand for a quick and efficient resolution of the IDR issue in a way that “does no harm” to EQM  “Launch-to-close” timeline of 8-10 weeks vs. 3-4 months in a merger accelerates simplification and structural transparency  Allows for ETRN to begin to address its strategic objectives more quickly 1 Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Alternative Paths: Preliminary Overview Step 1  Either EQM (Path B1) or EQGP (Path B2) acquires all public units of the other partnership in a 100% unit deal  All EQGP units not owned by ETRN are acquired in 100% cash deal at an illustrative premium of 20% to current market value  Status quo distribution per unit of the acquiror retained in the pro forma - Transaction effectuated via a cash tender offer and subsequent exercise of the call option (>95% ownership) - Represents an ~10% distribution per unit cut to EQM unitholders in Path B2  Acquisition of 8.7% outstanding interest in EQGP financed 100% with newly issued debt at ETRN Step 2 (Concurrent launch)  EQM buys out its IDRs from ETRN in a 100% unit deal  Quickest path towards simplification and structural transparency  Merger process is the traditional path towards simplification  Transaction does not require EQT approval under the Tax Matters Agreement  Potential back door distribution cut to EQM under Path B2  Nontaxable transaction to public unitholders  Conflicts Committee required at EQGP for tender offer and at EQM for IDR exchange  Transaction does not require EQT approval under the Tax Matters Agreement  Least burdensome route (no S-4 SEC process or unitholder vote), provided that Conflicts Committee processes are efficient  Conflicts Committee required at both partnerships  Requires S-4 SEC process and unitholder vote  Step 1 is a fully taxable transaction to EQGP’s public unitholders  Longer process may delay executing on growth plan  Step 1 constitutes a 13E-3 going private transaction  Not a 13E-3 transaction  Requires S-4 process and EQM unitholder vote 2 Key Considerations Key Assumptions Path B1 & B2 – Merger Path A – Tender Offer Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Alternative Paths: Illustrative Timeline Considerations 1 100% GP / IDR or _ Source: Based on company projections. 3 Path B1 & B2 Path A 54% LP Interest Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 58% LP Interest 00% Interest EQM GP 31% LP Interest Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Select Preliminary Structuring Alternatives: Key Pro Forma Impact EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (With PIK) Key Assumptions: Key Assumptions:  All EQGP units not owned by ETRN are acquired in 100% cash deal at an illustrative premium of 20% to current market value Acquisition of 8.7% outstanding interest in EQGP financed 100% with newly issued debt at ETRN EQM buys in IDRs  All EQGP units not owned by ETRN are acquired in 100% cash deal at an illustrative premium of 20% to current market value Acquisition of 8.7% outstanding interest in EQGP financed 100% with newly issued debt at ETRN EQM buys in IDRs -Common units received as consideration Public Public   P 42% LP Interest 42% LP Interest (initial) / 41% LP Interest (post PIK conversion)   - Common units and PIK units received as consideration PIK units set to convert to common in 2021 PIK units intended to build coverage - QM QM - EQGP Acquires EQM - Merger Key Assumptions: Key Assumptions:  All EQGP units are acquired in 100% unit deal  EQM pro forma distribution per unit equal to status quo Public Public  All EQM units are acquired in a 100% unit deal EQGP pro forma distribution per unit equal to status quo  46% LP Interest 46% LP Interest QM 4 E 54% LP Interest EQ 54% LP Interest GP B2 B1 EQM Acquires EQGP - Merger t / P t IK ion) E 58% L Interes (initial) 59% L Interes (post P convers E 58% LP Interest A2 A1 EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (Without PIK) Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Preliminary Structuring ETRN Perspective Alternatives: Key Pro Forma Impact 12.0% 59% 10.4% 10.1% 58% 58% 58% 8.7% (4.3%) Case A1 Case A2 Case B1 Case B2 Case A1 Case A2 Case B1 Case B2 2019E 2021E 2019E 2021E 1.14x 1.13x 1.12x 1.12x 5.3x 5.3x 4.8x 4.8x Case A1 Case A2 Case B1 Case B2 Case A1 Case A2 Case B1 Case B2 2019E 2021E 2019E 2021E _ Source: Based on company projections. 5 4.1x 4.1x 3.8x 3.6x 1.03x 1.01x 1.02x 0.97x Net Consolidated Leverage (Including MVP) ETRN Coverage 54% 54% 54% 54% 1.4% (1.3%) (1.7%) ETRN DCF / Share Accretion ETRN Ownership in Underlying MLP Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Preliminary Structuring Alternatives: Key Pro Forma Impact ETRN Perspective (Cont.) EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (With PIK) EQGP Acquires EQM - Merger _ Source: Based on company projections. 6 ETRNNe t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF /Le ve rage Le ve rageETRN Share(Incl.(Excl.ETRNEQGPETRNDivide nd Accre tionM VP)M VP)Cove rage Cove rage Divide ndGrow th 2019E 2020E 2021E (1.7%)4.8x4.0x1.01x1.11x (3.8%)3.9x3.5x1.00x1.31x (4.3%)3.6x3.2x0.97x1.40x $1.77n/a $1.918.0% $2.068.0% ETRNNe t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF /Le ve rage Le ve rageETRN Share(Incl.(Excl.ETRNEQMETRNDivide nd Accre tionM VP)M VP)Cove rage Cove rage Divide ndGrow th 2019E 2020E 2021E 10.1%4.8x4.0x1.13x0.99x 7.6%4.0x3.5x1.12x1.16x 1.4%3.8x3.3x1.03x1.25x $1.77n/a $1.918.0% $2.068.0% ETRN ETRN B2 B1 EQM Acquires EQGP - Merger ETRNNe t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF /Le ve rage Le ve rageETRN Share(Incl.(Excl.ETRNEQMETRNDivide nd Accre tionM VP)M VP)Cove rage Cove rage Divide ndGrow th 2019E 2020E 2021E (1.3%)5.3x4.5x1.02x1.05x (2.5%)4.3x3.9x1.01x1.23x 12.0%4.1x3.6x1.14x1.24x $1.77n/a $1.918.0% $2.068.0% ETRNNe t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF /Le ve rage Le ve rageETRN Share(Incl.(Excl.ETRNEQMETRNDivide nd Accre tionM VP)M VP)Cove rage Cove rage Divide ndGrow th 2019E 2020E 2021E 8.7%5.3x4.5x1.12x1.00x 7.7%4.3x3.9x1.12x1.17x 10.4%4.1x3.6x1.12x1.25x $1.77n/a $1.918.0% $2.068.0% ETRN Ste ps 1 - 3 (Buyout & IDR Acquis ition) ETRN Ste ps 1 - 3 (Buyout & IDR Acquis ition) A2 A1 EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (Without PIK) Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Preliminary Structuring Alternatives: Key Pro Forma Impact EQM / EQGP Perspective EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (With PIK) EQGP Acquires EQM - Merger 11.1% 4.8x 4.0x 1.11x _ Source: Based on company projections. 7 Ne t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF / Unit Le ve rage Le ve rage Cove rage EQM Dis tribution Accre tion (Incl. M VP) (Excl. M VP) Ratio Dis tribution Grow th 2019E 2020E 2021E (4.4%) 4.8x 4.0x 0.99x (0.4%) 4.0x 3.6x 1.16x 1.8% 3.8x 3.3x 1.25x $4.76 n/a $5.14 8.0% $5.56 8.0% Ne t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF / Unit Le ve rage Le ve rage Cove rage EQGP Dis tribution Accre tion (Incl. M VP) (Excl. M VP) Ratio Dis tribution Grow th 2019E 2020E 2021E $1.42 n/a 25.5% 3.9x 3.5x 1.31x 29.9% 3.6x 3.2x 1.40x $1.54 8.0% $1.66 8.0% Represents an ~10% distribution per unit cut to EQM unitholders EQM EQGP B2 B1 EQM Acquires EQGP - Merger Ne t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF / Unit Le ve rage Le ve rage Cove rage EQM Dis tribution Accre tion (Incl. M VP) (Excl. M VP) Ratio Dis tribution Grow th 2019E 2020E 2021E (4.3%) 4.8x 4.0x 1.00x (0.3%) 4.0x 3.6x 1.17x 1.9% 3.8x 3.3x 1.25x $4.76 n/a $5.14 8.0% $5.56 8.0% Ne t Cons . Ne t Cons . DCF / Unit Le ve rage Le ve rage Cove rage EQM Dis tribution Accre tion (Incl. M VP) (Excl. M VP) Ratio Dis tribution Grow th 2019E 2020E 2021E 0.7% 4.8x 4.0x 1.05x 4.9% 4.0x 3.5x 1.23x 1.0% 3.8x 3.3x 1.24x $4.76 n/a $5.14 8.0% $5.56 8.0% EQM EQM A2 A1 EQGP Buyout and IDR Acquisition (Without PIK) Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Addressing Select Key Considerations of Path A Committee Process During the Tender Offer  Having a public general partner is no longer advantageous to Equitrans given the progression in midstream growth - The maturation of EQGP’s growth profile (from ~40% at IPO to 13% projected for 2019-2021) and adaptation of a self-sustaining funding model reduces the need for a public GP structure  EQGP was created, in part, to capture the value illumination of the IDRs - Premium valuation for IDRs has declined in recent years  The focus point of public EQGP investors will be the premium offered and the liquidity provided - A deceleration in growth expectations and change in market sentiment towards IDRs makes a cashout at a premium attractive to investors Furthermore, the tender delivers an attractive liquidity event compared to the relatively illiquid trading of EQGP - _ (1) Assumes unit sales equal to 20% of average daily traded volume (90 days). Average daily traded volume as of 11/16/2018. 8 Outstanding Position Institutions (%) (000) 1. Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC 2. Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP 3. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC 2.57% 7,777 1.15% 3,469 1.07% 3,234 4. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP 0.94% 2,835 5. Cushing Asset Management LP 0.47% 1,409 6. Zimmer Partners LP 0.34% 1,026 7. Neuberger Berman BD LLC 0.30% 900 8. UBS Securities LLC 0.23% 699 9. Advisory Research, Inc. 0.22% 654 10. Tortoise Capital Advisors LLC 0.18% 555 11. Barclays Bank Plc (Private Banking) 0.18% 540 12. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. 0.14% 428 13. Fidelity Management & Research Co. 0.12% 361 14. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Broker) 0.10% 301 15. ING Bank NV (Investment Management) 0.10% 298 Total 8.11% 24,486 1. ETRN 91.25% 276,009 2. Morgan Stanley (Strategic Investments) 0.06% 192 3. Randall L Crawford 0.03% 100 4. David L Porges 0.02% 56 5. Stephen A Thorington 0.01% 43 Total 91.37% 276,400 It would take the three largest investors ~300 trading days to divest their positions in the open market (1) OutstandingPosition Insiders / Stakeholders (%) (000) Top Institutional / Insider Holders Commentary Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Summary of Debt Financing Company discussing financing commitment with Goldman Sachs Permanent financing expected to be financed with a Term Loan B at current market rates Company in contact with rating agencies to determine pro forma rating of EQM and ETRN 9 Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Leverage Profile of ETRN and EQM Path A2 5.3x 4.8x 3.9x 3.7x 2019E 2020E 2021E Status Quo Pro Forma 4.8x 4.8x 2019E 2020E 2021E Status QuoPro Forma _ Source: Based on company projections. 10 4.0x4.0x3.8x3.8x EQM: Net Leverage (Including MVP) 4.3x4.1x ETRN: Net Consolidated Leverage (Including MVP) Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Appendix

 

Status Quo Trading Statistics Share / Unit Price SOTP Implied Share Price Implied SOTP Discount 52-week High / Low $20.88 $20.47 2.0% na / na $16.17 n/a n/a $30.73 / $15.36 $48.45 n/a n/a $77.97 / $42.87 Shares / Units Outstanding 254.6 302.5 120.5 Equity Value (+) Corp. Adj. $5,316 - $4,891 (1) $5,836 3,515 (+) Implied Market Value of IDR - - 3,833 Enterprise Value $5,316 $4,889 $13,184 2019E 2020E 11.5x 10.3x 11.3x 10.1x 10.3x 8.0x 2019E 2020E 11.5x 10.5x 11.3x 10.1x 9.8x 8.1x 2019E 2020E 8.5% 9.2% 8.8% 9.9% 9.8% 10.6% Debt / 2019E EBITDA NM NM 2.8x _ Source: Factset (11/16/18), company projections, and company filings. 11 Dividend Yield / Distribution Yield P / DCF EV / EBITDA ($mm, except per share or per unit) Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Illustrative Purchase Price Analysis Case A2 11/16/18 10-day VWAP 30-day VWAP NA (2.0%) (7.2%) 5.0% 2.9% (2.6%) 10.0% 7.8% 2.0% 15.0% 12.7% 6.7% 20.0% 17.6% 11.3% Aggregate Purchase Price ($mm) $428 $449 $470 $492 $513 _ Source: Factset (11/16/18). 12 Value Summary: Data: $16.17 16.50 17.43 Implied Premium to: Illustrative EQGP Premium0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0% Implied EQGP Unit Price$16.17$16.98$17.79$18.60$19.40 Draft; Subject to Material Change

 

Important Information about this Presentation and Guggenheim Securities This confidential presentation, any supplemental information and documents provided in connection herewith and any attendant oral commentary (collectively, this “Presentation”) have been prepared by investment banking and capital markets personnel of Guggenheim Securities, LLC (“Guggenheim Securities” ) and are intended solely for use by the Guggenheim Securities investment banking client to whom it is addressed and delivered (including such client’s subsidiaries, the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s preliminary consideration of the potential transaction or transactions described herein. This Presentation should not be use d or relied upon for any other purpose or in connection with any other matter. This Presentation is for discussion purposes only and is incomplete without reference to, and should b e viewed solely in conjunction with, the attendant oral commentary provided by Guggenheim Securities. This Presentation does not constitute (i) an offer or solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any security or other financial instrument and is not intended to provide a basis for any business or investment decision; (ii) a commitment to enter into an y transaction or contractual relationship or to provide any broker-dealer, financial advisory or investment banking services, or an agreement to provide such a commitment; or (iii) a r ecommendation with respect to any proposed transaction. Without limitation of the foregoing, this Presentation does not address the relative merits of any proposed tra nsaction compared to any alternative business or financial strategies that might exist for the Company or the effects of any other transaction in which the Company might enga ge. Sources for the information contained herein are believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated herein, this Presentation has been prepared and submitted as of th e date on the cover of this Presentation, reflects Information made available to Guggenheim Securities as of or prior to such date and is based on economic, capital markets and other conditions as of such date. Guggenheim Securities assumes no obligation or liability (express or implied) for updating or otherwise revising this Presentation. This Presentation is confidential and proprietary and, without the prior written consent of Guggenheim Securities, may not be reproduced, disseminated, quoted from or referred to, in whole or in part, at any time, in any manner or for any purpose. 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The Company should consult with and rely solely on its own legal and regulatory counsel, tax advisors, accountants, investment advisors, actuaries and similar expert advisors with respect to all such matters and make a n independent analysis and decision regarding any proposed transaction. Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities engage in a wide range of financial services activities for the ir own accounts and the accounts of their customers, including asset and investment management, insurance services, investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisition s, restructuring, merchant banking, fixed income and equity sales, trading and research, derivatives, foreign exchange and futures. 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Guggenheim Securities may, in the course of other client relationships, have or in the future acquire or come into possession of information material to the Company’s interests in the context of a potential trans action or otherwise which, by virtue of such other client relationships, Guggenheim Securities is not or will not be at liberty to disclose. Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory guidelines, Guggenheim Securities has adopted certain policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of its research department and personnel. As a result, Guggenheim Securities’ research analysts may hold views, make statements or investment recommendations and publish research reports with respect to the Company, other participants in any transaction and any transaction that differ from the views of Guggenheim Securities’ investment banking and capital markets personnel. Among other things, Guggenheim Securities’ policies prohibit Guggenheim Securities’ employees from offering research coverage, a favorable research rating or a specific price target or offering to change a research rating or price target as consideration for or an inducement to obtain investment banking business or other compensation. Copyright © 2018 by Guggenheim Securities, LLC.

 

Exhibit (c)(2)

Guggenheim Securities and Goldman Sachs Project Grand Central: Potential Simplification Transaction Alternatives November 24, 2018 Confidential

 

Important Information about this Presentation and Guggenheim Securities This confidential presentation, any supplemental information and documents provided in connection herewith and any attendant oral commentary (collectively, this “Presentation”) have been prepared by investment banking and capital markets personnel of Guggenheim Securities, LLC (“Guggenheim Securities” ) and are intended solely for use by the Guggenheim Securities investment banking client to whom it is addressed and delivered (including such client’s subsidiaries, the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s preliminary consideration of the potential transaction or transactions described herein. This Presentation should not be use d or relied upon for any other purpose or in connection with any other matter. This Presentation is for discussion purposes only and is incomplete without reference to, and should b e viewed solely in conjunction with, the attendant oral commentary provided by Guggenheim Securities. This Presentation does not constitute (i) an offer or solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any security or other financial instrument and is not intended to provide a basis for any business or investment decision; (ii) a commitment to enter into an y transaction or contractual relationship or to provide any broker-dealer, financial advisory or investment banking services, or an agreement to provide such a commitment; or (iii) a r ecommendation with respect to any proposed transaction. Without limitation of the foregoing, this Presentation does not address the relative merits of any proposed tra nsaction compared to any alternative business or financial strategies that might exist for the Company or the effects of any other transaction in which the Company might enga ge. Sources for the information contained herein are believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated herein, this Presentation has been prepared and submitted as of th e date on the cover of this Presentation, reflects Information made available to Guggenheim Securities as of or prior to such date and is based on economic, capital markets and other conditions as of such date. Guggenheim Securities assumes no obligation or liability (express or implied) for updating or otherwise revising this Presentation. This Presentation is confidential and proprietary and, without the prior written consent of Guggenheim Securities, may not be reproduced, disseminated, quoted from or referred to, in whole or in part, at any time, in any manner or for any purpose. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Com pany and each of its employees, representatives or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal and state income tax treat ment and the U.S. federal and state income tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are pro vided to the Company by Guggenheim Securities relating to such tax treatment and tax structure insofar as such treatment and/or structure relates to a U.S. federal or stat e income tax strategy. Guggenheim Securities does not provide legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, investment, actuarial or other such advice. The Company should consult with and rely solely on its own legal and regulatory counsel, tax advisors, accountants, investment advisors, actuaries and similar expert advisors with respect to all such matters and make a n independent analysis and decision regarding any proposed transaction. Guggenheim Securities and its affiliates and related entities engage in a wide range of financial services activities for the ir own accounts and the accounts of their customers, including asset and investment management, insurance services, investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisition s, restructuring, merchant banking, fixed income and equity sales, trading and research, derivatives, foreign exchange and futures. In the ordinary course of these activitie s, Guggenheim Securities, its affiliates and related entities and their respective directors, officers, employees and other representatives may, directly or indirectly, hold long or short positions, trade or otherwise conduct such activities in or with respect to debt or equity securities, bank debt and derivative products of or relating to the Company, its competitors and potential counterparties and other participants in any proposed transaction. At any given time, Guggenheim Securities may be engaged by one or more entities th at may be competitors with, or otherwise adverse to, the Company. As a result, Guggenheim Securities may from time to time be involved in one or more capacities that, direct ly or indirectly, may be or be perceived as being adverse to the Company’s interests in the context of a potential transaction or otherwise. Guggenheim Securities may, in the course of other client relationships, have or in the future acquire or come into possession of information material to the Company’s interests in the context of a potential trans action or otherwise which, by virtue of such other client relationships, Guggenheim Securities is not or will not be at liberty to disclose. Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory guidelines, Guggenheim Securities has adopted certain policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of its research department and personnel. As a result, Guggenheim Securities’ research analysts may hold views, make statements or investment recommendations and publish research reports with respect to the Company, other participants in any transaction and any transaction that differ from the views of Guggenheim Securities’ investment banking and capital markets personnel. Among other things, Guggenheim Securities’ policies prohibit Guggenheim Securities’ employees from offering research coverage, a favorable research rating or a specific price target or offering to change a research rating or price target as consideration for or an inducement to obtain investment banking business or other compensation. Copyright © 2018 by Guggenheim Securities, LLC.

 

Important Information about this Presentation and Goldman Sachs These materials have been prepared and are provided by Goldman Sachs on a confidential basis solely for the information and a ssistance of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and senior management of Equitrans Midstream Corporation (the "Company") in connection with its consideration of the matters referred to herein. These materials and Goldman Sachs’ presentation relating to these materials (the “Confidential Information”) may not be disclosed to any third party or c irculated or referred to publicly or used for or relied upon for any other purpose without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs. The Confidential Information was not prepared with a view to public disclosure or to conform to any disclosure standards under any state, federal or international securities laws or other laws, rules or regulations, and Goldm an Sachs does not take any responsibility for the use of the Confidential Information by persons other than those set forth above. Notwithstanding anything in this Confidential Infor mation to the contrary, the Company may disclose to any person the US federal income and state income tax treatment and tax structure of any transaction described herein and all mat erials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure, without Goldman Sachs imposing a ny limitation of any kind. The Confidential Information has been prepared by the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs and is not a product of its research department. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are engaged in advisory, underwriting and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, researc h, investment management and other financial and non-financial activities and services for various persons and entities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and employees, and funds or other entities they manage or in which they invest or have other economic interests or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote long or short positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments of the Company, any other party to any t ransaction and any of their respective affiliates or any currency or commodity that may be involved in any transaction. Goldman Sachs’ investment banking division maintains regular, ordinary course client service dialogues with clients and potential clients to review events, opportunities, and conditions in particular sectors and industries and, in that connection, Goldman Sachs may make reference to the Company, but Goldman Sachs will not disclose any confidential information received from the Company. The Confidential Information has been prepared based on historical financial information, forecasts and other information obtaine d by Goldman Sachs from publicly available sources, the management of the Company or other sources (approved for our use by the Company in the case of information from management and non-public information). In preparing the Confidential Information, Goldman Sachs has relied upon and assumed, without assuming any responsibility for in dependent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by us, and Goldman Sachs does not assume any liability for any such information. Goldman Sachs does not provide accounting, tax, legal or regulatory advice. Goldman Sachs has not made an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or other off-balance sheet assets and liabilities) of the Company or any other party to any transaction or any of their respective affiliates and has no obligation to evaluate the solvency of the Company or any other party to any transaction under any state or federal laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. The analyses contai ned in the Confidential Information do not purport to be appraisals nor do they necessarily reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold or purchased. Go ldman Sachs’ role in any due diligence review is limited solely to performing such a review as it shall deem necessary to support its own advice and analysis and shall not be on beha lf of the Company. Analyses based upon forecasts of future results are not necessarily indicative of actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable tha n suggested by these analyses, and Goldman Sachs does not assume responsibility if future results are materially different from those forecast. The Confidential Information does not address the underlying business decision of the Company to engage in any transaction, or th e relative merits of any transaction or strategic alternative referred to herein as compared to any other transaction or alternative that may be available to the Company. The Confidential Information is necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Goldman Sachs as of, t he date of such Confidential Information and Goldman Sachs assumes no responsibility for updating or revising the Confidential Information based on circumstances, develop ments or events occurring after such date. The Confidential Information does not constitute any opinion, nor does the Confidential Information constitute a recommendation t o the Board, to any security holder of the Company or any other person as to how to vote or act with respect to any transaction or any other matter. The Confidential Information, including this disclaimer, is subject to, and governed by, any written agreement between the Company and/or any committee thereof, on the one hand, and Goldman Sachs, on the other hand .

 

Executive Summary  Today, we will review the following simplification alternatives:  A) EQGP Minority Buyout via wallcrossing of Investors followed by tender offer and/or limited call right  EQM IDR Buy-in for EQM units as second step  Wallcrossing de-risks tender offer execution and may achieve >95% ownership needed to invoke the limited call right   Most time-efficient alternative ~6 weeks Allows for use of leverage to achieve greater ETRN ownership of the MLP and provides greater visibility in the negotiation of IDR value  However, it introduces leverage at ETRN and is subject to a 13e-3 process  If wallcrossing does not provide enough comfort, pivot to merger  B1) Merger with EQM as the acquiror  3-6 months  Allows for greater ETRN ownership of the MLP than B2 below  Requires unitholder vote, but 91% ownership of EQGP by ETRN assures approval  B2) Merger with EQGP as acquiror   3-6 months Requires unitholder vote, with only 31% owned by ETRN (1)  We concur with Management’s recommendation to proceed with path A, and be ready to pivot to the B1 merger path if response to wallcrossing is not sufficient to take EQGP private _ (1) Reflects ETRN plus EQGP ownership in EQM. 1

 

Agenda 1 Market Context and Relative Trading 2 Comparison of Transaction Alternatives 3 Pricing Considerations 4 Post-Transaction Simplification Considerations 5 Tactical Considerations 2

 

EQGP / EQM Exchange Ratio Over Time 1 0.475 x 60 % 0.450 x 55 % 0.425 x 0.400 x 50 % 0.375 x 0.350 x 45 % 0.330 x 0.325 x 0.300 x 40 % 39 % 0.275 x 0.250 x 35 % May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17 Nov-17 May-18 Nov-18 _ Source: Factset (11/23/18). (1) GP / IDRs value calculated as the market capitalization of EQGP less the value of EQM LP units owned by EQGP. Total Midstream Value calculated as the sum of EQM’s market cap. and the value of the GP / IDRs. 3 More Favorable for EQM More Favorable for EQGP EQGP / EQM Exchange Ratio Implied GP / IDRs % of Total Midstream Value (1) EQGP / EQM Exchange RatioGP / IDRs % of Total Midstream Value(1)

 

Key Considerations of the Transaction Alternatives 2 Wallcrossing Plus Tender Offer and/or Limited Call Right EQM Acquires EQGP EQGP Acquires EQM   (may not be required at EQGP) _ Source: Based on projections for ETRN, EQGP provided by ETRN management (“ETRN Management Projections”) (1) Based on ETRN, EQM, and EQGP market prices as of 11/23/18. Assumes status quo EQM unit count of ~120.5mm and status quo EQGP unit count ~302.5mm. EQGP minority buyout scenario assume 20% illustrative premium for EQGP units held by the public and IDR buy-in at values equivalent to 0%-20% illustrative premia for EQGP. Merger alternatives assume Illustrative 0%-20% premia paid to target unitholders. Based on ETRN Management Projections. LQA defined as last quarter annualized. Includes IDR buy-in by EQM as second step. (2) (3) 4 Financial parity among all scenarios assuming equivalent leverage and no premium in merger (1) (2) Execution Risk ModerateModerateModerate Conflicts Committees at both EQGP & EQM  Conflicts Committee Process Complexity LowModerateModerate Pro Forma EQM Ownership by ETRN at Illustrative 0%-20% premia (1) 58-61%54-57%54-50% HoldCo Leverage at ETRN (2) <1.5x LQA EBITDA----Timing (if successful) ~6 weeks (3)~3-6 Months~3-6 Months Timing (if wallcross or tender offer unsuccessful) ~3-6 Months----13E-3 Transaction ----Merger EQGP Minority Buyout

 

Precedent Minority Buyouts 3 1 100.8% 40.6% 29.1% 20.1% 20.1% World Point Terminal LP OCI Partners LP PennTex Midstream Partners Initial Premium Final Premium Low Median High Initial Premium Final Premium _ Source: Thomson Reuters Note: Initial premium calculated using initial offer price vs. target stock price one day prior to announcement. Final premium calculated using final offer price vs. target stock price one day prior to announcement. World Point, OCI and PennTex tender offers announced June 2, 2017, June 4, 2018 and May 18, 2017 respectively. (1) Includes all-cash minority squeezeouts structured as tender offers for U.S. targets over the last 10 years. 5 15.0% 10.0% 6.3% 3.3% 21.8% (0.1%) (0.1%) Median # of Bumps All Cash Tenders for U.S. Partnerships All Cash U.S. Tenders(1)

 

Illustrative EQGP Purchase Price Analysis 3 ($mm, except per unit amounts) 11/23/18 10-day VWAP 30-day VWAP NA (2.6%) (5.0%) 12.5% 9.6% 6.8% 18.8% 15.7% 12.8% 25.0% 21.7% 18.7% 31.3% 27.8% 24.6% 37.5% 33.9% 30.6% Aggregate Purchase Price of EQGP Units ($mm) $423 $476 $503 $529 $555 $582 Implied IDR Value ($mm)(1) $3,779 $4,384 $4,687 $4,989 $5,292 $5,594 Implied 2019E IDR Multiple 11.5x 13.3x 14.2x 15.2x 16.1x 17.0x _ Source: ETRN Management Projections, Factset (11/23/18). (1) Assumes EQM units held by EQGP at current market value as of 11/23/18. (2) Reflects millions of EQM units. 6 Illustrative Consideration Received in IDR Buy-in(2) 77.9 90.3 96.6 102.8 109.0 115.3 Implied ETRN Ownership of EQM 58.0% 60.5% 61.7% 62.7% 63.7% 64.7% Illustrative Value Summary: Data: $16.00 16.43 16.85 Implied Premium to: Illustrative EQGP Unit Price $16.00 $18.00 $19.00 $20.00 $21.00 $22.00 Implied EQGP Premium 0.0% 12.5% 18.8% 25.0% 31.3% 37.5%

 

Preliminary Since 2015 Selected Affiliate IDR Transactions 4 Underlying MLP Metrics Implied GP (1) Value / GP/IDR EBITDA FY - FY2 LP Dist / Unit CAGR FY - FY2 IDR CAGR Transaction Value Split Level FY1 Coverage Date Acquiror Target / Seller FY1 FY2 10/9/18 Antero Midstream GP LP AMGP Series B (Interest in IDRs) $297 24.8x 15.8x 50% 1.3x 28.1% 56.5% 4/26/18 EQT GP Holdings LP Rice Midstream Partners (IDRs) 937 18.4x 12.5x 50% 1.5x 16.6% 66.0% (2) 2/8/18 NuStar Energy L.P. NuStar GP Holdings, LLC 781 7.7x 7.2x 25% 0.9x 0.0% 9.8% 1/22/18 Spectra Energy Partners, LP Enbridge Inc. 7,347 14.0x 12.2x 50% 1.3x 6.8% 16.9% 12/15/17 MPLX LP Marathon Petroleum Corp. 10,434 18.2x 15.9x 50% 1.3x 8.5% 21.6% 10/19/17 Holly Energy Partners, LP HollyFrontier Corporation 1,250 14.9x 14.1x 50% 1.1x 3.8% 8.1% 8/14/17 Andeavor Logistics LP Andeavor 3,768 16.4x 11.8x 50% 1.1x 7.7% 34.7% 1/9/17 Williams Partners Williams Companies 11,358 10.8x 10.7x 50% 1.0x 0.0% 4.4% 7/11/16 Plains All American Pipeline LP Plains GP Holdings 7,300 11.7x 11.4x 50% 0.9x 0.0% 1.6% (3) 7/15/15 Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. Sunoco LP 1,021 20.8x 12.5x 50% 1.4x 8.0% 132.3% _ Source: Company filings, Factset, IHS, and Wall Street research. Note: EQGP FY equal to 2018. (1) (2) (3) Implied GP value calculated as transaction value less market value of LP units, subordinated units and other assets held by the entity being acquired. Using research estimates post distribution cut ($0.65 / unit per quarter) gives a FY1 multiple of 63.2x. IDR subsidy discounted to present at an illustrative 10% discount rate. 7 EQGP (at Market) $3,779 11.5x 10.1x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% EQGP (at $18.00) 4,384 13.3x 11.7x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% EQGP (at $19.00) 4,687 14.2x 12.6x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% EQGP (at $20.00) 4,989 15.2x 13.4x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% EQGP (at $21.00) 5,292 16.1x 14.2x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% EQGP (at $22.00) 5,594 17.0x 15.0x 50% 1.0x 8.0% 13.2% Mean $4,521 15.6x 12.5x N/A 1.2x 8.9% 27.3% Median 2,509 15.7x 12.4x N/A 1.2x 7.2% 19.2% A B C D E F G H I J

 

Illustrative Timeline for Wall Crossing 5 1 8 15 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24 November 24th  Board meeting 4 11 18 25 5 12 6 13 7 14 November 26th (am)  Reach out to investors’ gatekeepers November 26th (pm) / 27th 1 8 15 22 29  Hear back from gatekeepers; if yes, deliver scripted message and share information 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28  Substantive discussions with investors start - Initial conversations around IDR buy-in November 28th 1 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26  If discussions are successful: 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 - - - - Enter into unit purchase agreements or support agreements with investors Launch (i) Limited Call Right process (if >95%) or (ii) Tender Offer with support agreements File Schedule 13D/A promptly (no later than market open on December 3) File Schedule 13E-3 upon (i) launch of Tender Offer or (ii) execution of definitive agreements leading to a take-private transaction (e.g., unit purchase agreements or support agreements with investors or merger agreement with MLP) Week of December 3rd U.S. bank holiday Gatekeeper discussions Substantive discussions start Negotiations with investors  If discussions are not successful: - Start merger discussions with the MLP’s Conflicts Committees  Cleansing event for investors 8 January 2019 SMTWTFS 25 December 2018 SMTWTFS 192021 22 2627 28 2930 November 2018 SMTWTFS Wall Cross

 

Unitholder Overview and Comparison (EQM and EQGP) 5 4. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. 4.2% 245 0 3 6. OFI Steelpath, Inc. 3.9% 227 0 0 9. 10. 11. Brookfield Investment Management, Inc. Energy Income Partners LLC Salient Capital Advisors LLC 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 102 100 98 0 0 0 0 37 0 15. Harvest Fund Advisors LLC 1.3% 74 0 0 15. ING Bank NV (Investment Management) 0.1% 5 0 $0 No overlap Unitholder Overlap Top 15 Holder of EQM and EQGP _ Source: FactSet as of 11/23/18. 9 % of Total Market Value in Market Value in Market Value in EQGP Instituational Holder Units O/S EQGP ($mm) EQM ($mm) ETRN ($mm) 1. Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC 2.6% $124 $237 $41 2. Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP 1.1% 56 268 $6 3. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC 1.1% 52 46 $0 4. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP 0.5% 23 87 $0 5. Cushing Asset Management LP 0.5% 23 54 $1 6. Zimmer Partners LP 0.3% 16 45 $0 7. Neuberger Berman BD LLC 0.3% 14 57 $0 8. UBS Securities LLC 0.2% 11 109 $21 9. Advisory Research, Inc. 0.2% 10 15 $16 10. Tortoise Capital Advisors LLC 0.2% 9 729 $12 11. Barclays Bank Plc (Private Banking) 0.2% 9 59 $11 12. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. 0.1% 7 9 $0 13. Fidelity Management & Research Co. 0.1% 6 4 $24 14. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Broker) 0.1% 5 20 $12 12. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (Private Banking) 1.5% 90 2 49 13. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP 1.5% 87 23 0 14. Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC 1.3% 77 3 0 7. UBS Securities LLC 1.9% 109 11 21 8. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. 1.8% 103 5 31 5. Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC 4.1% 237 124 41 A B C D E % of Total Market Value in Market Value in Market Value in EQM Instituational Holder Units O/S EQM ($mm) EGQP ($mm) ETRN ($mm) 1. Tortoise Capital Advisors LLC 12.5% $729 $9 $12 2. ALPS Advisors, Inc. 6.1% 355 1 0 3. Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP 4.6% 268 56 6

 

Exhibit (d)(8)

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 29, 2018, by and among the unitholders of EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “ Sellers ” and each, a “ Seller ”) and Neuberger Berman Investment Adviser LP, as investment adviser acting on behalf of the Sellers (the “ Adviser ”), and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Sellers, Adviser and Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “ Parties ” and each, individually, as a “ Party .”

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)), of the number of common units (“ Common Units ”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership set forth on Schedule I hereto (all such Common Units beneficially owned by such Seller, such Seller’s “ Subject Units ”); and

 

WHEREAS, each Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from each Seller, such Seller’s Subject Units on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1                                Purchase and Sale .  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, each Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser (or its designee), and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from each Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to such Seller’s Subject Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Common Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Units constituting such Seller’s Subject Units (such purchase price with respect to such Seller, such Seller’s “ Purchase Price ”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account of the Sellers specified in writing by the Sellers (or Adviser on their behalf) to Purchaser no later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “ Account ”).

 

1.2                                Additional Units .  In addition to the Subject Units, the Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers (including Adviser in its capacity as a Seller), shall have the right, but not the obligation to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver any additional Common Units acquired after the date hereof until the date that is three days prior to the Closing (such additional Common Units delivered at the Closing are referred to herein as the “ Additional Units ”) to Purchaser (or its designee) and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to the Additional Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Additional Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Additional Units, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Account. Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, shall inform the Purchaser of number of Additional Units to be

 

1


 

delivered at the Closing no later than two days prior to the Closing Date and the provisions of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the Additional Units.

 

1.3                                Delivery of Purchase Price .  Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, shall be obligated to deliver to Purchaser evidence of the Subject Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of the Partnership; provided, that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchase Price by Partnership to such Seller in accordance with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 .

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1                                Closing .  The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (i) at the principal offices of Purchaser at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to the Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers, no later than one calendar day prior to the date specified in this Section 2.1 specifying a later date (which such date is no more than 30 days following the date specified in this Section 2.1 ) for the Closing, or (ii) at such other place, time and/or date as Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers, and Purchaser may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing takes place with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

 

The Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller, hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as follows:

 

3.1                                Organization .  Such Seller and Adviser are duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

3.2                                Authority and Approval .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

3.3                                No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Adviser or such Seller; (b) 

 

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conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Adviser or such Seller; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Adviser’s or such Seller’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which such Adviser or Seller is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Adviser’s or such Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.4                                Ownership of Subject Units; Total Common Units .  Such Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all such Seller’s Subject Units and has good and marketable title to all such Seller’s Subject Units free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, charges, levies, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, options or rights, understandings or arrangements inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a unitholder in respect of such Seller’s Subject Units (collectively, “ Encumbrances ”), except for any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (a) this Agreement and (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities Law. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.

 

3.5                                Dispositive Power .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has the sole power of disposition and the sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1.1 , and the sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, on behalf of such Seller, in each case with respect to all such Seller’s Subject Units.

 

3.6                                No Consents .  No consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Adviser or such Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.7                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, threatened against or by Adviser or such Seller that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.8                                Informed Seller .

 

(a)                                  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has evaluated the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based exclusively on its own independent review and consultations with such investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as it deemed necessary, and has made its own decision concerning the transactions

 

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contemplated by this Agreement without reliance on any representation or warranty of, or advice from, Purchaser, and (iii) upon the Closing, the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, will be consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with full understanding of the terms, conditions and risks and willingly assumes those terms, conditions and risks.

 

(b)                                  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has access to public filings of the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and has reviewed other publicly available information regarding the Partnership, and such other information that it and its financial, legal and other advisors deem necessary in connection with the Adviser’s decision, on behalf of such Seller, to enter into this Agreement and, upon the Closing, consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has not requested any information or advice with respect to such Seller’s Subject Units from Purchaser, its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), or any of its or their respective Representatives, and no such information or advice is necessary or desired.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to Agent, on behalf of each Seller, as follows:

 

4.1                                Organization .  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

4.2                                Authority and Approval .  Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

4.3                                No Conflicts The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Purchaser; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Purchaser; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Purchaser’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not

 

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reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.4                                No Consents .  Other than as required by any applicable securities Laws, no consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

4.5                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or by Purchaser that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1                                No Inconsistent Arrangements .  Except as provided hereunder, the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agrees that neither the Adviser no such Seller shall, directly or indirectly, take or permit any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such Seller’s or the Adviser’s obligations hereunder or otherwise make at or before the Closing any representation or warranty of such Seller herein untrue or incorrect, including any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, hedge, or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of such Seller’s Subject Units. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio .

 

5.2                                Documentation and Information .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agrees that neither the Adviser nor such Seller shall make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Purchaser). The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, consents to and hereby authorizes Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Seller’s identity and ownership of such Seller’s Subject Units, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of such Seller’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and such Seller and the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, acknowledges that Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange.

 

5.3                                Litigation .  Each of Purchaser and the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agree to provide the other with prompt notice of any claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) brought, asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving a Party relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall keep the other informed on a reasonably prompt basis with respect to the status thereof. Each of Purchaser and the Adviser, on behalf of each

 

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Seller, shall give the other the opportunity to participate (at the other’s expense) in the defense or settlement of any such litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the other’s prior written consent.

 

5.4                                Indemnification .  Purchaser and Adviser (on behalf of Sellers), respectively, will each indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in this Agreement or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant or agreement contained herein.

 

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1                                Mutual Condition .  The respective obligations of each Seller and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of the condition, which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser in each of their respective sole discretion, that no Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.2                                Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser .  The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Purchaser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  Consents and Approvals .  All authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities or third parties required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received or waived by such Governmental Authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser, and all notices required to be delivered to such Governmental Authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods with respect thereto shall have expired or been waived by such Governmental Authority or third parties entitled to such notice.

 

(c)                                   Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Adviser, on behalf of itself and the Sellers contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which

 

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representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

6.3                                Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers .  The obligations of Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Adviser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any material suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith; provided, that this Section 6.3(a) shall not apply to any suits, actions or proceedings by a Seller against Adviser relating to the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Defined Terms .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                  Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

 

(b)                                  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

 

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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.

 

(c)                                   Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in New York, New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

(d)                                  Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority, or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   Law ” means any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(f)                                    Partner ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of October 12, 2018.

 

(h)                                  Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

(i)                                      Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, partners, members, shareholders, agents or representatives.

 

(j)                                     Tax ” means any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales use tax, payroll tax, withholding tax, property tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including, without limitation, any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, any related charge or amount (including, without limitation, any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other agreement, contract, instrument or other commitment, whether written or oral, relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

 

(k)                                  Tax Return ” means any return, report, information return or other such statement or document (including, without limitation, any schedule or attachment thereto any amendment thereof) filed or required to be filed with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, administration or imposition of any Tax.

 

7.2                                Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery by hand, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses: (a) if to

 

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Purchaser, to 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Baker Botts L.L.P., 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500, Austin, TX, Attn: Mollie Duckworth, and (b) if to Adviser or any Seller, to 8117 Preston Road, Suite 440, Dallas, TX  75225, Attn:  General Counsel, or to such other address or facsimile number as any Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties.

 

7.3                                Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing on mutual written consent of Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, no Party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) nothing in this Section 7.3 shall relieve any Party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to the termination hereof and (b) the provisions of this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

7.4                                Acknowledgements .

 

(a)                                  Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller acknowledges and understands that Purchaser and its Affiliates possess material nonpublic information regarding the Partnership and such Seller’s Subject Units not known to such Seller or Adviser that may impact the value of such Seller’s Subject Units, including, without limitation, (i) information received by principals and employees of Purchaser in their respective capacities as Representatives of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), and (ii) information received on a privileged basis from the attorneys and financial advisors representing Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) (collectively, the “ Information ”), and that Purchaser is unable to disclose the Information to such Seller or to Adviser. Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which such Seller and Advisor are subject due to the disparity of information between such Seller and Advisor, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand. Notwithstanding such disparity, Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, has deemed it appropriate to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except with respect to (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein and (ii) fraud, Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, agrees that none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such Seller, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives whatsoever due to or in connection with Purchaser’s and its Affiliates’ (including, without limitation, the Partnership) use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it might have based on the failure of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to disclose the Information.

 

(b)                                  Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller, acknowledges that (i) Purchaser is relying on Adviser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement on behalf of each Seller as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser acknowledges that (i) Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, is relying on Purchaser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements, Adviser, on behalf

 

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of such Seller, would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.5                                Amendment; Waiver .  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, and Purchaser. Any agreement on the part of any Party to any extension or waiver with respect to this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

7.6                                Expenses .  All fees and expenses incurred in connection this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.

 

7.7                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

7.8                                Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser, as applicable, of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9                                Specific Enforcement; Jurisdiction .

 

(a)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.9(b) , without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without such right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for the purpose of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and

 

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each of the Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims with respect to such legal action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in such court. Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware in the event any legal action, suit or proceeding arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) irrevocably consents to the service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, on behalf of itself or its property, in accordance with Section 7.2 (provided that nothing in this Section 7.9(b)  shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law) and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any legal action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware. The Parties agree that a final trial court judgment in any such legal action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided , however , that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.

 

7.10                         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such Party would not, in the event of any legal action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 7.10 .

 

7.11                         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

7.12                         Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to any Party.

 

7.13                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

7.14                         Further Assurances .  Each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each

 

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Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Partnership, on the other hand, in doing, any and all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.15                         Certain Transaction-Related Taxes .  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording fees, registration and similar Taxes and fees (including, without limitation, any penalties and interest) attributable to each Seller’s sale of such Seller’s Subject Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by such Seller when due, and such Seller shall, at its expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes.  All income taxes, including, without limitation, capital gains taxes, arising out of or in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement shall be borne by the applicable Seller. Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Purchaser may be required to deduct and withhold under any provision of applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to the applicable Seller hereunder.

 

7.16                         Purchaser Covenant .  Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to Adviser, on behalf each Seller, that until the earlier to occur of the Closing Date, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and January 31, 2019, without the prior written consent of Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, it will not acquire from any other holder of EQGP Common Units (other than open-market purchases) such holder’s EQGP Common Units other than pursuant to an agreement with such holder of EQGP Common Units that is on substantially the same terms as this Agreement and does not result in such holder of EQGP Common Units receiving consideration for their EQGP Common Units that is greater than the consideration being received for the Subject Units under this Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

a Pennsylvania corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, as discretionary investment adviser to and on behalf of the Sellers

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Yves Siegel

 

 

Yves Siegel

 

 

Managing Director and Portfolio Manager

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

SCHEDULE I

 

Sellers; Subject Units; Purchase Price; Aggregate Purchase Price

 

Seller

 

Subject Units

 

Purchase Price

 

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LP

 

1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
Attn: Legal

 

5,200,000

 

$

104,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

5,200,000

 

$

104,000,000

 

 


Exhibit (d)(9)

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 29, 2018, by and among the unitholders of EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “ Sellers ” and each, a “ Seller ”), and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Sellers and Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “ Parties ” and each, individually, as a “ Party .”

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)), of the number of common units (“ Common Units ”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule I hereto (all such Common Units beneficially owned by such Seller, such Seller’s “ Subject Units ”); and

 

WHEREAS, each Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from each Seller, such Seller’s Subject Units on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1           Purchase and Sale .  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, each Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser (or its designee), and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from each Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to such Seller’s Subject Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Common Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Units constituting such Seller’s Subject Units (such purchase price with respect to such Seller, such Seller’s “ Purchase Price ”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account of such Seller specified in writing by such Seller to Purchaser no later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “ Account ”).

 

1.2           Additional Units .  In addition to the Subject Units, each Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver any additional Common Units acquired after the date hereof until the date that is three days prior to the Closing (such additional Common Units delivered at the Closing are referred to herein as the “ Additional Units ”) to Purchaser (or its designee) and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from such Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to the Additional Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Additional Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Additional Units, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Account. Such Seller shall inform the Purchaser of number of Additional Units to be delivered at the Closing no later than two days prior to the Closing Date and the provisions of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the Additional Units.

 

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1.3           Delivery of Purchase Price .  Each Seller shall be obligated to deliver to Purchaser evidence of the Subject Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of the Partnership; provided, that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchase Price by Partnership to such Seller in accordance with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 .

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1           Closing .  The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (i) at the principal offices of Purchaser at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to the Sellers no later than one calendar day prior to the date specified in this Section 2.1 specifying a later date (which such date is no more than 30 days following the date specified in this Section 2.1 ) for the Closing, or (ii) at such other place, time and/or date as Sellers and Purchaser may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing takes place with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

 

Each Seller hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as follows:

 

3.1           Organization .  Such Seller is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

3.2           Authority and Approval .  Such Seller has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

3.3           No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Seller does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of such Seller; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Seller; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of such Seller’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any

 

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indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which such Seller is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on such Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.4           Ownership of Subject Units; Total Common Units .  Such Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all such Seller’s Subject Units and has good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, charges, levies, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, options or rights, understandings or arrangements inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a unitholder in respect of such Seller’s Subject Units (collectively, “ Encumbrances ”), except for any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (a) this Agreement and (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities Law. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.

 

3.5           Dispositive Power .  Such Seller has sole power of disposition and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1.1 , and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all such Seller’s Subject Units.

 

3.6           No Consents .  No consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by such Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.7           No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of such Seller, threatened against or by such Seller that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.8           Informed Seller .

 

(a)           Such Seller (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has evaluated the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based exclusively on its own independent review and consultations with such investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as it deemed necessary, and has made its own decision concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without reliance on any representation or warranty of, or advice from, Purchaser, and (iii) upon the Closing, such Seller will be consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with full understanding of the terms, conditions and risks and willingly assumes those terms, conditions and risks.

 

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(b)           Such Seller has access to public filings of the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and has reviewed publicly available information regarding the Partnership that it and its financial, legal and other advisors deem necessary in connection with such Seller’s decision to enter into this Agreement and, upon the Closing, consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such Seller has not requested any information or advice with respect to such Seller’s Subject Units from Purchaser, its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), or any of its or their respective Representatives, and no such information or advice is necessary or desired.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to each Seller as follows:

 

4.1           Organization .  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

4.2           Authority and Approval .  Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

4.3           No Conflicts The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Purchaser; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Purchaser; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Purchaser’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.4           No Consents .  Other than as required by any applicable securities Laws, no consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by

 

4


 

Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

4.5           No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or by Purchaser that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1           No Inconsistent Arrangements .  Except as provided hereunder, no Seller shall, directly or indirectly, take or permit any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such Seller’s obligations hereunder or otherwise make at or before the Closing any representation or warranty of such Seller herein untrue or incorrect, including any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, hedge, or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of such Seller’s Subject Units. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio.

 

5.2           Documentation and Information .  No Seller shall make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Purchaser). Each Seller consents to and hereby authorizes Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Seller’s identity and ownership of such Seller’s Subject Units, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of such Seller’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and each Seller acknowledges that Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange.

 

5.3           Litigation .  Each Party shall provide each other Party with prompt notice of any claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) brought, asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving such Party relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall keep each other Party informed on a reasonably prompt basis with respect to the status thereof. Each Party shall give each other Party the opportunity to participate (at such other Party’s expense) in the defense or settlement of any such litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without each other Party’s prior written consent.

 

5.4           Indemnification .  Purchaser, on the one hand, and each Seller, severally and not jointly, on the other hand, shall each indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in this Agreement

 

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or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant or agreement of such indemnifying party contained herein .

 

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1           Mutual Condition .  The respective obligations of Sellers and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of the condition, which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Sellers and Purchaser in each of their respective sole discretion, that no Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.2           Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser .  The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Purchaser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)           No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)           Consents and Approvals .  All authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities or third parties required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received or waived by such Governmental Authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Purchaser, and all notices required to be delivered to such Governmental Authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods with respect thereto shall have expired or been waived by such Governmental Authority or third parties entitled to such notice.

 

(c)           Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of each Seller contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Each Seller shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

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6.3           Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers .  The obligations of each Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by such Seller in its sole discretion:

 

(a)           No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any material suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith; provided, that this Section 6.3(a) shall not apply to any suits, actions or proceedings by a Seller against Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP relating to the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)           Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1           Defined Terms .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)           “ Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

 

(b)           “ 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.

 

(c)           “ Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in New York, New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

(d)           “ Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-

 

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governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority, or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)           “ Law ” means any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(f)            “ Partner ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(g)           “ Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of October 12, 2018.

 

(h)           “ Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

(i)            “ Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, partners, members, shareholders, agents or representatives.

 

(j)            “ Tax ” means any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales use tax, payroll tax, withholding tax, property tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including, without limitation, any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, any related charge or amount (including, without limitation, any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other agreement, contract, instrument or other commitment, whether written or oral, relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

 

(k)           “ Tax Return ” means any return, report, information return or other such statement or document (including, without limitation, any schedule or attachment thereto any amendment thereof) filed or required to be filed with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, administration or imposition of any Tax.

 

7.2           Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery by hand, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses: (a) if to Purchaser, to 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Baker Botts L.L.P., 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500, Austin, TX, Attn: Mollie Duckworth, and (b) if to any Seller, to the address set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule I hereto, or to such other address or facsimile number as any Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties.

 

7.3           Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing on mutual written consent of Sellers and Purchaser to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, no Party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) nothing in this Section 7.3 shall relieve any Party from

 

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liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to the termination hereof and (b) the provisions of this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

7.4           Acknowledgements .

 

(a)           Each Seller acknowledges and understands that Purchaser and its Affiliates possess material nonpublic information regarding the Partnership and such Seller’s Subject Units not known to such Seller that may impact the value of such Seller’s Subject Units, including, without limitation, (i) information received by principals and employees of Purchaser in their respective capacities as Representatives of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), and (ii) information received on a privileged basis from the attorneys and financial advisors representing Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) (collectively, the “ Information ”), and that Purchaser is unable to disclose the Information to such Seller. Each Seller understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which such Seller is subject due to the disparity of information between such Seller and Purchaser. Notwithstanding such disparity, each Seller has deemed it appropriate to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except with respect to (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein and (ii) fraud, each Seller agrees that none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such Seller, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives whatsoever due to or in connection with Purchaser’s and its Affiliates’ (including, without limitation, the Partnership) use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each Seller hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it might have based on the failure of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to disclose the Information.

 

(b)           Each Seller acknowledges that (i) Purchaser is relying on such Seller’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.  Purchaser acknowledges that (i) each Seller is relying on Purchaser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements, such Seller would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.5           Amendment; Waiver .  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each Seller and Purchaser.  Any agreement on the part of any Party to any extension or waiver with respect to this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

7.6           Expenses .  All fees and expenses incurred in connection this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.

 

7.7           Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and

 

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understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

7.8           Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser, as applicable, of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9           Specific Enforcement; Jurisdiction .

 

(a)           The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.9(b) , without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without such right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement.

 

(b)           Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for the purpose of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims with respect to such legal action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in such court. Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware in the event any legal action, suit or proceeding arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) irrevocably consents to the service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, on behalf of itself or its property, in accordance with Section 7.2 (provided that nothing in this Section 7.9(b)  shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law) and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any legal action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware. The Parties agree that a final trial court judgment in any such legal action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided , however , that nothing in

 

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the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.

 

7.10         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such Party would not, in the event of any legal action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 7.10 .

 

7.11         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

7.12         Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to any Party.

 

7.13         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

7.14         Further Assurances .  Each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Partnership, on the other hand, in doing, any and all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.15         Certain Transaction-Related Taxes .  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording fees, registration and similar Taxes and fees (including, without limitation, any penalties and interest) attributable to each Seller’s sale of such Seller’s Subject Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by such Seller when due, and such Seller shall, at its expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes.  All income taxes, including, without limitation, capital gains taxes, arising out of or in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement shall be borne by the applicable Seller. Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Purchaser may be

 

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required to deduct and withhold under any provision of applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to the applicable Seller hereunder.

 

7.16         Purchaser Covenant .  Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to each Seller that until the earlier to occur of the Closing Date, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and January 31, 2019, without the prior written consent of such Seller, it will not acquire from any other holder of EQGP Common Units (other than open-market purchases) such holder’s EQGP Common Units other than pursuant to an agreement with such holder of EQGP Common Units that is on substantially the same terms as this Agreement and does not result in such holder of EQGP Common Units receiving consideration for their EQGP Common Units that is greater than the consideration being received for such Seller’s Subject Units under this Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

a Pennsylvania corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 

13


 

 

SELLERS:

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs MLP Energy Infrastructure Fund

 

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Its Investment Adviser

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ganesh Jois

 

 

Ganesh Jois

 

 

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund

 

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Its Investment Adviser

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ganesh Jois

 

 

Ganesh Jois

 

 

Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

SCHEDULE I

 

Sellers; Subject Units; Purchase Price; Aggregate Purchase Price

 

Seller

 

Subject Units

 

Purchase
Price

 

Aggregate
Price

 

Teacher’s Retirement System of Oklahoma

 

469,010

 

$

20.00

 

$

9,380,200.00

 

Cushing MLP Total Return Alpha Collective Investment Trust

 

121,000

 

$

20.00

 

$

2,420,000.00

 

Mercy Health Inc

 

101,200

 

$

20.00

 

$

2,024,000.00

 

San Mateo County Employees’ Retirement Association

 

81,200

 

$

20.00

 

$

1,624,000.00

 

The Government of Guam Retirement Fund

 

55,000

 

$

20.00

 

$

1,100,000.00

 

Cushing/SALI MLP Alpha Total Return Insurance Dedicated Fund Series of SALI Multi-Series Fund, LP

 

48,800

 

$

20.00

 

$

976,000.00

 

Communities Foundation of Texas, Inc.

 

14,100

 

$

20.00

 

$

282,000.00

 

St. Clair County Employees’ Retirement System

 

9,850

 

$

20.00

 

$

197,000.00

 

W.W. Caruth Jr. Foundation

 

9,650

 

$

20.00

 

$

193,000.00

 

City of Sarasota Firefighters’ Pension Fund

 

6,650

 

$

20.00

 

$

133,000.00

 

The Sherwin Williams Company

 

3,400

 

$

20.00

 

$

68,000.00

 

King Capital Parrtners Fund I, Ltd

 

270

 

$

20.00

 

$

5,400.00

 

 

 

920,130

 

 

 

$

18,402,600.00

 

 


Exhibit (d)(10)

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 29, 2018, by and among the unitholders of EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “ Sellers ” and each, a “ Seller ”) and Cushing Asset Management, LP, as investment adviser acting on behalf of the Sellers (the “ Adviser ”), and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Sellers, Adviser and Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “ Parties ” and each, individually, as a “ Party .”

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), of the number of common units (“ Common Units ”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership set forth on Schedule I hereto (all such Common Units beneficially owned by such Seller, such Seller’s “ Subject Units ”); and

 

WHEREAS, each Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from each Seller, such Seller’s Subject Units on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1                                Purchase and Sale .  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, each Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser (or its designee), and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from each Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to such Seller’s Subject Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Common Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Units constituting such Seller’s Subject Units (such purchase price with respect to such Seller, such Seller’s “ Purchase Price ”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account of the Sellers specified in writing by the Sellers (or Adviser on their behalf) to Purchaser no later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “ Account ”).

 

1.2                                Additional Units .  In addition to the Subject Units, the Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers (including Adviser in its capacity as a Seller), shall have the right, but not the obligation to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver any additional Common Units acquired after the date hereof until the date that is three days prior to the Closing (such additional Common Units delivered at the Closing are referred to herein as the “ Additional Units ”) to Purchaser (or its designee) and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to the Additional Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Additional Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Additional Units, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Account. Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, shall inform the Purchaser of number of Additional Units to be

 

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delivered at the Closing no later than two days prior to the Closing Date and the provisions of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the Additional Units.

 

1.3                                Delivery of Purchase Price .  Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, shall be obligated to deliver to Purchaser evidence of the Subject Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of the Partnership; provided, that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchase Price by Partnership to such Seller in accordance with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 .

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1                                Closing .  The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (i) at the principal offices of Purchaser at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to the Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers, no later than one calendar day prior to the date specified in this Section 2.1 specifying a later date (which such date is no more than 30 days following the date specified in this Section 2.1 ) for the Closing, or (ii) at such other place, time and/or date as Adviser, on behalf of the Sellers, and Purchaser may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing takes place with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

 

The Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller, hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as follows:

 

3.1                                Organization .  Such Seller and Adviser are duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

3.2                                Authority and Approval .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

3.3                                No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Adviser or such Seller; (b) 

 

2


 

conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Adviser or such Seller; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Adviser’s or such Seller’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which such Adviser or Seller is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Adviser’s or such Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.4                                Ownership of Subject Units; Total Common Units .  Such Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all such Seller’s Subject Units and has good and marketable title to all such Seller’s Subject Units free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, charges, levies, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, options or rights, understandings or arrangements inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a unitholder in respect of such Seller’s Subject Units (collectively, “ Encumbrances ”), except for any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (a) this Agreement and (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities Law. Such Seller’s Subject Units constitute all of the Common Units owned by such Seller, beneficially or of record, as of the date hereof. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.

 

3.5                                Dispositive Power .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has the sole power of disposition and the sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1.1 , and the sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, on behalf of such Seller, in each case with respect to all such Seller’s Subject Units.

 

3.6                                No Consents .  No consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Adviser or such Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.7                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, threatened against or by Adviser or such Seller that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.8                                Informed Seller .

 

(a)                                  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has evaluated the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based exclusively on its own

 

3


 

independent review and consultations with such investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as it deemed necessary, and has made its own decision concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without reliance on any representation or warranty of, or advice from, Purchaser, and (iii) upon the Closing, the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, will be consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with full understanding of the terms, conditions and risks and willingly assumes those terms, conditions and risks.

 

(b)                                  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has access to public filings of the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and has reviewed other publicly available information regarding the Partnership, and such other information that it and its financial, legal and other advisors deem necessary in connection with the Adviser’s decision, on behalf of such Seller, to enter into this Agreement and, upon the Closing, consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, has not requested any information or advice with respect to such Seller’s Subject Units from Purchaser, its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), or any of its or their respective Representatives, and no such information or advice is necessary or desired.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to Agent, on behalf of each Seller, as follows:

 

4.1                                Organization .  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

4.2                                Authority and Approval .  Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

4.3                                No Conflicts The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Purchaser; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Purchaser; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Purchaser’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint

 

4


 

venture or other instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.4                                No Consents .  Other than as required by any applicable securities Laws, no consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

4.5                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or by Purchaser that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1                                No Inconsistent Arrangements .  Except as provided hereunder, the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agrees that neither the Adviser nor such Seller shall, directly or indirectly, take or permit any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such Seller’s or the Adviser’s obligations hereunder or otherwise make at or before the Closing any representation or warranty of such Seller herein untrue or incorrect, including any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, hedge, or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of such Seller’s Subject Units. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio .

 

5.2                                Documentation and Information .  The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agrees that neither the Adviser nor such Seller shall make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Purchaser). The Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, consents to and hereby authorizes Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Seller’s identity and ownership of such Seller’s Subject Units, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of such Seller’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and such Seller and the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, acknowledges that Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange.

 

5.3                                Seller Litigation .  Each of Purchaser and the Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, agree to provide the other with prompt notice of any claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) brought, asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving a Party relating to this Agreement or any of

 

5


 

the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall keep the other informed on a reasonably prompt basis with respect to the status thereof. Each of Purchaser and the Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, shall give the other the opportunity to participate (at the other’s expense) in the defense or settlement of any such litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the other’s prior written consent.

 

5.4                                Indemnification .  Purchaser and Adviser (on behalf of Sellers), respectively, will each indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in this Agreement or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant or agreement contained herein.

 

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1                                Mutual Condition .  The respective obligations of each Seller and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of the condition, which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser in each of their respective sole discretion, that no Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.2                                Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser .  The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Purchaser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  Consents and Approvals .  All authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities or third parties required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received or waived by such Governmental Authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser, and all notices required to be delivered to such Governmental Authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods with respect thereto shall have expired or been waived by such Governmental Authority or third parties entitled to such notice.

 

(c)                                   Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Adviser, on behalf of itself and the Sellers contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions

 

6


 

contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

6.3                                Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers .  The obligations of Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Adviser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any material suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith; provided, that this Section 6.3(a) shall not apply to any suits, actions or proceedings by a Seller against Adviser relating to the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Defined Terms .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                  Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

 

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(b)                                  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.

 

(c)                                   Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in New York, New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

(d)                                  Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority, or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   Law ” means any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(f)                                    Partner ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of October 12, 2018.

 

(h)                                  Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

(i)                                      Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, partners, members, shareholders, agents or representatives.

 

(j)                                     Tax ” means any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales use tax, payroll tax, withholding tax, property tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including, without limitation, any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, any related charge or amount (including, without limitation, any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other agreement, contract, instrument or other commitment, whether written or oral, relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

 

(k)                                  Tax Return ” means any return, report, information return or other such statement or document (including, without limitation, any schedule or attachment thereto any amendment thereof) filed or required to be filed with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, administration or imposition of any Tax.

 

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7.2                                Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery by hand, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses: (a) if to Purchaser, to 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Baker Botts L.L.P., 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500, Austin, TX, Attn: Mollie Duckworth, and (b) if to Adviser or any Seller, to 8117 Preston Road, Suite 440, Dallas, TX  75225, Attn:  General Counsel, or to such other address or facsimile number as any Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties.

 

7.3                                Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing on mutual written consent of Adviser, on behalf of Sellers, and Purchaser to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, no Party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) nothing in this Section 7.3 shall relieve any Party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to the termination hereof and (b) the provisions of this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

7.4                                Acknowledgements .

 

(a)                                  Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller acknowledges and understands that Purchaser and its Affiliates possess material nonpublic information regarding the Partnership and such Seller’s Subject Units not known to such Seller or Adviser that may impact the value of such Seller’s Subject Units, including, without limitation, (i) information received by principals and employees of Purchaser in their respective capacities as Representatives of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), and (ii) information received on a privileged basis from the attorneys and financial advisors representing Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) (collectively, the “ Information ”), and that Purchaser is unable to disclose the Information to such Seller or to Adviser. Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which such Seller and Advisor are subject due to the disparity of information between such Seller and Advisor, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand. Notwithstanding such disparity, Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, has deemed it appropriate to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except with respect to (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein and (ii) fraud, Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, agrees that none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such Seller, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives whatsoever due to or in connection with Purchaser’s and its Affiliates’ (including, without limitation, the Partnership) use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it might have based on the failure of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to disclose the Information.

 

(b)                                  Adviser, on behalf of itself and each Seller, acknowledges that (i) Purchaser is relying on Adviser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement on behalf of each Seller as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser acknowledges that (i) Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, is

 

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relying on Purchaser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements, Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.5                                Amendment; Waiver .  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, and Purchaser. Any agreement on the part of any Party to any extension or waiver with respect to this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

7.6                                Expenses .  All fees and expenses incurred in connection this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.

 

7.7                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

7.8                                Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser, as applicable, of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9                                Specific Enforcement; Jurisdiction .

 

(a)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.9(b) , without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without such right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement.

 

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(b)                                  Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for the purpose of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims with respect to such legal action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in such court. Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware in the event any legal action, suit or proceeding arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) irrevocably consents to the service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, on behalf of itself or its property, in accordance with Section 7.2 (provided that nothing in this Section 7.9(b)  shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law) and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any legal action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware. The Parties agree that a final trial court judgment in any such legal action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided , however , that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.

 

7.10                         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such Party would not, in the event of any legal action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 7.10 .

 

7.11                         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

7.12                         Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to any Party.

 

7.13                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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7.14                         Further Assurances .  Each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist Adviser, on behalf of each Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Partnership, on the other hand, in doing, any and all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.15                         Certain Transaction-Related Taxes .  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording fees, registration and similar Taxes and fees (including, without limitation, any penalties and interest) attributable to each Seller’s sale of such Seller’s Subject Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by such Seller when due, and such Seller shall, at its expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes.  All income taxes, including, without limitation, capital gains taxes, arising out of or in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement shall be borne by the applicable Seller. Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Purchaser may be required to deduct and withhold under any provision of applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to the applicable Seller hereunder.

 

7.16                         Purchaser Covenant .  Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to Adviser, on behalf each Seller, that until the earlier to occur of the Closing Date, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and January 31, 2019, without the prior written consent of Adviser, on behalf of such Seller, it will not acquire from any other holder of EQGP Common Units (other than open-market purchases) such holder’s EQGP Common Units other than pursuant to an agreement with such holder of EQGP Common Units that is on substantially the same terms as this Agreement and does not result in such holder of EQGP Common Units receiving consideration for their EQGP Common Units that is greater than the consideration being received for the Subject Units under this Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

a Pennsylvania corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

ADVISER

 

 

 

CUSHING ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP

 

By: SWANK CAPITAL, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jerry V. Swank

 

 

Jerry V. Swank

 

 

Managing Member

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


Exhibit (d)(11)

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 29, 2018, by and among the unitholders of EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “ Sellers ” and each, a “ Seller ”), and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Sellers and Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “ Parties ” and each, individually, as a “ Party .”

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)), of the number of common units (“ Common Units ”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule I hereto (all such Common Units beneficially owned by such Seller, such Seller’s “ Subject Units ”); and

 

WHEREAS, each Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from each Seller, such Seller’s Subject Units on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1                                Purchase and Sale .  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, each Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser (or its designee), and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from each Seller, all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to such Seller’s Subject Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Common Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Units constituting such Seller’s Subject Units (such purchase price with respect to such Seller, such Seller’s “ Purchase Price ”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account of such Seller specified in writing by such Seller to Purchaser no later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “ Account ”).

 

1.2                                Additional Units .  In addition to the Subject Units, each Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver any additional Common Units acquired after the date hereof until the date that is three days prior to the Closing (such additional Common Units delivered at the Closing are referred to herein as the “ Additional Units ”) to Purchaser (or its designee) and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from such Seller all of such Seller’s right, title and interest to the Additional Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Additional Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Additional Units, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Account. Such Seller shall inform the Purchaser of number of Additional Units to be delivered at the Closing no later than two days prior to the Closing Date and the provisions of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the Additional Units.

 

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1.3                                Delivery of Purchase Price .  Each Seller shall be obligated to deliver to Purchaser evidence of the Subject Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of the Partnership; provided, that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchase Price by Partnership to such Seller in accordance with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 .

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1                                Closing .  The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (i) at the principal offices of Purchaser at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to the Sellers no later than one calendar day prior to the date specified in this Section 2.1 specifying a later date (which such date is no more than 30 days following the date specified in this Section 2.1 ) for the Closing, or (ii) at such other place, time and/or date as Sellers and Purchaser may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing takes place with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

 

Each Seller hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as follows:

 

3.1                                Organization .  Such Seller is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

3.2                                Authority and Approval .  Such Seller has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

3.3                                No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Seller does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of such Seller; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Seller; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of such Seller’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint

 

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venture or other instrument to which such Seller is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on such Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.4                                Ownership of Subject Units; Total Common Units .  Such Seller is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all such Seller’s Subject Units and has good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, charges, levies, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, options or rights, understandings or arrangements inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a unitholder in respect of such Seller’s Subject Units (collectively, “ Encumbrances ”), except for any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (a) this Agreement and (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities Law. Such Seller’s Subject Units constitute all of the Common Units owned by such Seller, beneficially or of record, as of the date hereof. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to such Seller’s Subject Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.

 

3.5                                Dispositive Power .  Such Seller has sole power of disposition and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1.1 , and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all such Seller’s Subject Units.

 

3.6                                No Consents .  No consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by such Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.7                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of such Seller, threatened against or by such Seller that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.8                                Informed Seller .

 

(a)                                  Such Seller (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has evaluated the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based exclusively on its own independent review and consultations with such investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as it deemed necessary, and has made its own decision concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without reliance on any representation or warranty of, or advice from, Purchaser, and (iii) upon the Closing, such Seller will be consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with full understanding of the terms, conditions and risks and willingly assumes those terms, conditions and risks.

 

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(b)                                  Such Seller has access to public filings of the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and has reviewed publicly available information regarding the Partnership that it and its financial, legal and other advisors deem necessary in connection with such Seller’s decision to enter into this Agreement and, upon the Closing, consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such Seller has not requested any information or advice with respect to such Seller’s Subject Units from Purchaser, its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), or any of its or their respective Representatives, and no such information or advice is necessary or desired.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to each Seller as follows:

 

4.1                                Organization .  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

4.2                                Authority and Approval .  Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

4.3                                No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Purchaser; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Purchaser; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Purchaser’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.4                                No Consents .  Other than as required by applicable securities Laws, no consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Purchaser in

 

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connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

4.5                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or by Purchaser that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1                                No Inconsistent Arrangements .  Except as provided hereunder, no Seller shall, directly or indirectly, take or permit any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such Seller’s obligations hereunder or otherwise make at or before the Closing any representation or warranty of such Seller herein untrue or incorrect, including any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, hedge, or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of such Seller’s Subject Units. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio .

 

5.2                                Documentation and Information .  No Seller shall make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Purchaser). Each Seller consents to and hereby authorizes Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Seller’s identity and ownership of such Seller’s Subject Units, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of such Seller’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and each Seller acknowledges that Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange.

 

5.3                                Litigation .  Each Party shall provide each other Party with prompt notice of any claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) brought, asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving such Party relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall keep each other Party informed on a reasonably prompt basis with respect to the status thereof. Each Party shall give each other Party the opportunity to participate (at such other Party’s expense) in the defense or settlement of any such litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without each other Party’s prior written consent.

 

5.4                                Indemnification .  Purchaser, on the one hand, and each Seller, severally and not jointly, on the other hand, shall each indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in this Agreement

 

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or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant or agreement of such indemnifying party contained herein.

 

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1                                Mutual Condition .  The respective obligations of Sellers and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of the condition, which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Sellers and Purchaser in each of their respective sole discretion, that no Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.2                                Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser .  The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Purchaser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  Consents and Approvals .  All authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities or third parties required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received or waived by such Governmental Authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Purchaser, and all notices required to be delivered to such Governmental Authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods with respect thereto shall have expired or been waived by such Governmental Authority or third parties entitled to such notice.

 

(c)                                   Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of each Seller contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Each Seller shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

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6.3                                Conditions to the Obligations of Sellers .  The obligations of each Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by such Seller in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any material suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith; provided , that this Section 6.3(a)  shall not apply to any suits, actions or proceedings by a Seller against Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP relating to the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Defined Terms .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                  Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

 

(b)                                  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.

 

(c)                                   Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in New York, New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

(d)                                  Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-

 

7


 

governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority, or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   Law ” means any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction or decree.

 

(f)                                    Partner ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of October 12, 2018.

 

(h)                                  Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

(i)                                      Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, partners, members, shareholders, agents or representatives.

 

(j)                                     Tax ” means any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales use tax, payroll tax, withholding tax, property tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including, without limitation, any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, any related charge or amount (including, without limitation, any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other agreement, contract, instrument or other commitment, whether written or oral, relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

 

(k)                                  Tax Return ” means any return, report, information return or other such statement or document (including, without limitation, any schedule or attachment thereto any amendment thereof) filed or required to be filed with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, administration or imposition of any Tax.

 

7.2                                Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery by hand, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses: (a) if to Purchaser, to 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Baker Botts L.L.P., 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500, Austin, TX, Attn: Mollie Duckworth, and (b) if to any Seller, to the address set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule I hereto, or to such other address or facsimile number as any Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties.

 

7.3                                Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing on mutual written consent of Sellers and Purchaser to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, no Party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) nothing in this Section 7.3 shall relieve any Party from

 

8


 

liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to the termination hereof and (b) the provisions of this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

7.4                                Acknowledgements .

 

(a)                                  Each Seller acknowledges and understands that Purchaser and its Affiliates possess material nonpublic information regarding the Partnership and such Seller’s Subject Units not known to such Seller that may impact the value of such Seller’s Subject Units, including, without limitation, (i) information received by principals and employees of Purchaser in their respective capacities as Representatives of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), and (ii) information received on a privileged basis from the attorneys and financial advisors representing Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) (collectively, the “ Information ”), and that Purchaser is unable to disclose the Information to such Seller. Each Seller understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which such Seller is subject due to the disparity of information between such Seller and Purchaser. Notwithstanding such disparity, each Seller has deemed it appropriate to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except with respect to (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein and (ii) fraud, each Seller agrees that none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such Seller, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives whatsoever due to or in connection with Purchaser’s and its Affiliates’ (including, without limitation, the Partnership) use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each Seller hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it might have based on the failure of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to disclose the Information.

 

(b)                                  Each Seller acknowledges that (i) Purchaser is relying on such Seller’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser acknowledges that (i) each Seller is relying on Purchaser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements, such Seller would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.5                                Amendment; Waiver .  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each Seller and Purchaser.  Any agreement on the part of any Party to any extension or waiver with respect to this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

7.6                                Expenses .  All fees and expenses incurred in connection this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.

 

7.7                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and

 

9


 

understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

7.8                                Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser, as applicable, of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9                                Specific Enforcement; Jurisdiction .

 

(a)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.9(b) , without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without such right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for the purpose of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims with respect to such legal action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in such court. Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware in the event any legal action, suit or proceeding arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) irrevocably consents to the service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, on behalf of itself or its property, in accordance with Section 7.2 (provided that nothing in this Section 7.9(b)  shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law) and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any legal action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware. The Parties agree that a final trial court judgment in any such legal action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided , however , that nothing in

 

10


 

the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.

 

7.10                         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such Party would not, in the event of any legal action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 7.10 .

 

7.11                         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

7.12                         Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to any Party.

 

7.13                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

7.14                         Further Assurances .  Each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Partnership, on the other hand, in doing, any and all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.15                         Certain Transaction-Related Taxes .  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording fees, registration and similar Taxes and fees (including, without limitation, any penalties and interest) attributable to each Seller’s sale of such Seller’s Subject Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by such Seller when due, and such Seller shall, at its expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes.  All income taxes, including, without limitation, capital gains taxes, arising out of or in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement shall be borne by the applicable Seller. Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Purchaser may be

 

11


 

required to deduct and withhold under any provision of applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to the applicable Seller hereunder.

 

7.16                         Purchaser Covenant .  Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to each Seller that until the earlier to occur of the Closing Date, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and January 31, 2019, without the prior written consent of such Seller, it will not acquire from any other holder of EQGP Common Units (other than open-market purchases) such holder’s EQGP Common Units other than pursuant to an agreement with such holder of EQGP Common Units that is on substantially the same terms as this Agreement and does not result in such holder of EQGP Common Units receiving consideration for their EQGP Common Units that is greater than the consideration being received for such Seller’s Subject Units under this Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

12


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

a Pennsylvania corporation

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

SELLERS:

 

 

 

 

Kayne Anderson MLP/Midstream Investment Company

 

 

 

 

By:

KA Fund Advisors, LLC ,

 

 

as Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James C. Baker

 

 

James C. Baker

 

 

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayne Anderson MLP Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayne Anderson Midstream Institutional Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayne Anderson Real Assets Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

Kayne Anderson Income Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayne Anderson Capital Income Partners (QP), L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Hermann Health System

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Hermann Health System Pension Plan and Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

Ascension Health Master Pension Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ascension Alpha Fund, LLC

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

General Retirement System of the City of Detroit

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alfred I. DuPont Testamentary Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange County Employees Retirement System

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cornerstone Real Assets Fund

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Sub-Adviser

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the GM Separate Retiree Account)

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the Ford Separate Retiree Account)

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the Chrysler Separate Retiree Account)

 

 

 

 

By:

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ,

 

 

as its Investment Manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Shladovsky

 

 

David Shladovsky

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

SCHEDULE I Sellers; Subject Units; Purchase Price Seller Address Subject Units Purchase Price Kayne Anderson MLP Fund, L.P. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 331,934 $6,638,680.00 Kayne Anderson Midstream Institutional Fund, L.P. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 249,590 4,991,800.00 Kayne Anderson Real Assets Fund, L.P. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 9,200 184,000.00 Kayne Anderson Income Partners, L.P. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 2,400 48,000.00 Kayne Anderson Capital Income Partners (QP), L.P. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 34,500 690,000.00 Memorial Hermann Health System 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 26,800 536,000.00 Memorial Hermann Health System Pension Plan and Trust 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 6,800 136,000.00 Ascension Health Master Pension Trust 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 11,400 228,000.00 Ascension Alpha Fund, LLC 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 16,600 332,000.00 General Retirement System of the City of Detroit 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 22,500 450,000.00 Alfred I. DuPont Testamentary Trust 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 24,800 496,000.00 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 30,600 612,000.00 Orange County Employees Retirement System 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 39,700 794,000.00 Cornerstone Real Assets Fund 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 19,150 383,000.00 Kayne Anderson MLP/Midstream Investment Company 811 Main Street, 14th Floor Houston, TX 77002 Attn: Jim Baker (jbaker@kaynecapital.com) 445,000 8,900,000.00 State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the Chrysler Separate Retiree Account) 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 19,200 384,000.00 State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the Ford Separate Retiree Account) 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 29,800 596,000.00 State Street Bank and Trust Company, not personally but as trustee for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (solely for the benefit of the GM Separate Retiree Account) 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: David Shladovsky (dshladovsky@kaynecapital.com) 44,000 880,000.00 1,363,974 $27,279,480.00

GRAPHIC

 

Exhibit (d)(12)

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of November 29, 2018, by and between ZP Energy Fund, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Seller ”), and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“ Purchaser ”). Seller and Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “ Parties ” and each, individually, as a “ Party .”

 

WHEREAS, on or before the Closing (as defined below), Seller will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) of 3,414,168 common units (“ Common Units ”) representing limited partner interests (the “ Subject Units ”) in EQGP Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”); and

 

WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, the Subject Units on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

1.1                                Purchase and Sale .  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser (or its designee), and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from Seller, all of Seller’s right, title and interest to the Subject Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Common Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Units constituting the Subject Units (the “ Purchase Price ”), payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account of Seller specified in writing by Seller to Purchaser no later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “ Account ”).

 

1.2                                Additional Units .  In addition to the Subject Units, Seller (or one or more investment funds managed by Zimmer Partners, LP) shall have the right, but not the obligation to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver up to any additional Common Units acquired after the date hereof until the date that is three days prior to the Closing (such additional Common Units delivered at the Closing, are referred to herein as the “ Additional Units ”) to Purchaser (or its designee) and Purchaser (or its designee) shall purchase, accept and assume from Seller, all of Seller’s right, title and interest to the Additional Units for a purchase price in cash equal to (i) $20.00 per Additional Unit, multiplied by (ii) the number of Additional Units, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Account. Seller shall inform the Purchaser of number of Additional Units to be delivered at the Closing no later than two days prior to the Closing Date and the provisions of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the Additional Units.

 

1.3                                Delivery of Purchase Price .  Seller shall be obligated to deliver to Purchaser evidence of the Subject Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of

 

1


 

the Partnership; provided, that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchase Price by Partnership to the Seller in accordance with Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 .

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1                                Closing .  The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (i) at the principal offices of Purchaser at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2018, unless Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to Seller no later than one calendar day prior to the date specified in this Section 2.1 specifying a later date (which such date is no more than 30 days following the date specified in this Section 2.1 ) for the Closing, or (ii) at such other place, time and/or date as the Parties may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing takes place with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

 

Seller hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:

 

3.1                                Organization .  Seller is a Delaware limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

3.2                                Authority and Approval .  Seller has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

3.3                                No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Seller; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Seller; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Seller’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be

 

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expected to have a material adverse effect on Seller’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.4                                Ownership of the Subject Units; Total Common Units .  At and as of the Closing, Seller will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of all the Subject Units and have good and marketable title to all the Subject Units free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, charges, levies, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, options or rights, understandings or arrangements inconsistent with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a unitholder in respect of the Subject Units (collectively, “ Encumbrances ”), except for any such Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to (a) this Agreement and (b) any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities Law. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will receive good and marketable title to the Subject Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.

 

3.5                                Dispositive Power .  At the Closing, Seller will have sole power of disposition and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1.1 , in each case, with respect to all the Subject Units.

 

3.6                                No Consents .  No consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.7                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against or by Seller that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.8                                Informed Seller .

 

(a)                                  Seller (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has evaluated the merits and risks of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based exclusively on its own independent review and consultations with such investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as it deemed necessary, and has made its own decision concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without reliance on any representation or warranty of, or advice from, Purchaser, and (iii) upon the Closing, Seller will be consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with full understanding of the terms, conditions and risks and willingly assumes those terms, conditions and risks.

 

(b)                                  Seller has access to the public filings of the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and has reviewed publicly available information regarding the Partnership and such other information that it and its financial, legal and other advisors deem necessary in connection with Seller’s decision to enter into this Agreement and, upon the Closing, consummate the transactions contemplated by this

 

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Agreement. Seller has not requested any information or advice with respect to the Subject Units from Purchaser, its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), or any of its or their respective Representatives, and no such information or advice is necessary or desired.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:

 

4.1                                Organization .  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

4.2                                Authority and Approval .  Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of the obligations hereof to be performed by it. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

4.3                                No Conflicts The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or require the consent of any Person under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the governing agreements of Purchaser; (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Purchaser; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of Purchaser’s assets under, or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture or other instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) for those items which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.4                                No Consents .  Other than as required by any applicable securities Laws, no consent, approval, permit, governmental or regulatory order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party is required to be made or obtained by Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as has been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

4.5                                No Litigation .  There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or other legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or by Purchaser that

 

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challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or could otherwise potentially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1                                No Inconsistent Arrangements .  Except as provided hereunder, Seller shall not, directly or indirectly, take or permit any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of Seller’s obligations hereunder or otherwise make at or before the Closing any representation or warranty of Seller herein untrue or incorrect, including any transfer, sale, assignment, gift, hedge, or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of the Subject Units. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio.

 

5.2                                Documentation and Information .  Seller shall not make any public announcement regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), except as may be required by applicable Law (provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Purchaser). Seller consents to and hereby authorizes Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Seller’s identity and ownership of the Subject Units, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of Seller’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and Seller acknowledges that Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange.

 

5.3                                Litigation .  Each Party shall provide each other Party with prompt notice of any claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) brought, asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving such Party relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall keep each other Party informed on a reasonably prompt basis with respect to the status thereof. Each Party shall give each other Party the opportunity to participate (at such other Party’s expense) in the defense or settlement of any such litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without each other Party’s prior written consent.

 

5.4                                Indemnification .  Purchaser and Seller, respectively, will each indemnify and hold harmless the other from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified party to the extent arising from any breach of any representation or warranty of the indemnifying party contained in this Agreement or any breach by the indemnifying party, or failure by the indemnifying party to fulfill, any covenant or agreement of such indemnifying party contained herein.

 

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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1                                Mutual Condition .  The respective obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of the condition, which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by both Parties in each of their respective sole discretion, that no Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and that enjoins, restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.2                                Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser .  The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Purchaser in its sole discretion:

 

(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  Consents and Approvals .  All authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities or third parties required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been received or waived by such Governmental Authority or third party and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Parties, and all notices required to be delivered to such Governmental Authorities or third parties shall have been delivered and all notice periods with respect thereto shall have expired or been waived by such Governmental Authority or third parties entitled to such notice.

 

(c)                                   Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Seller shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

6.3                                Conditions to the Obligations of Seller .  The obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be waived in writing by Seller in its sole discretion:

 

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(a)                                  No Litigation .  There shall not be pending any material suit, action or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking damages in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any schedule, certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) both when made and as of the Closing Date, or in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such specified date. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all covenants and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Defined Terms .  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                  Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

 

(b)                                  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.

 

(c)                                   Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in New York, New York or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

(d)                                  Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority, or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   Law ” means any provision of any law or administrative rule or regulation or any judicial, administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction or decree.

 

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(f)                                    Partner ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of October 12, 2018.

 

(h)                                  Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

(i)                                      Representative ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, partners, members, shareholders, agents or representatives.

 

(j)                                     Tax ” means any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales use tax, payroll tax, withholding tax, property tax, gift tax or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including, without limitation, any customs duty), deficiency or other fee, any related charge or amount (including, without limitation, any fine, penalty, interest or addition to tax), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other agreement, contract, instrument or other commitment, whether written or oral, relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency or fee.

 

(k)                                  Tax Return ” means any return, report, information return or other such statement or document (including, without limitation, any schedule or attachment thereto any amendment thereof) filed or required to be filed with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, administration or imposition of any Tax.

 

7.2                                Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery by hand, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses: (a) if to Purchaser, to 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to Baker Botts L.L.P., 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500, Austin, TX, Attn: Mollie Duckworth, and (b) if to Seller, to ZP Energy Fund, L.P. c/o Zimmer Partners, LP, 9 West 57 th  Street, 33 rd  Floor, New York, New York 10019 Attn: General Counsel, or to such other address or facsimile number as either Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Party.

 

7.3                                Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing on mutual written consent of the Parties to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, no Party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) nothing in this Section 7.3 shall relieve either Party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to the termination hereof and (b) the provisions of this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

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7.4                                Acknowledgements .

 

(a)                                  Seller acknowledges and understands that Purchaser and its Affiliates possess material nonpublic information regarding the Partnership and the Subject Units not known to Seller that may impact the value of the Subject Units, including, without limitation, (i) information received by principals and employees of Purchaser in their respective capacities as Representatives of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership), and (ii) information received on a privileged basis from the attorneys and financial advisors representing Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) (collectively, the “ Information ”), and that Purchaser is unable to disclose the Information to Seller. Seller understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which Seller is subject due to the disparity of information between Seller and Purchaser. Notwithstanding such disparity, Seller has deemed it appropriate to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except with respect to (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein and (ii) fraud, Seller agrees that none of Purchaser, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives shall have any liability to Seller, its Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Representatives whatsoever due to or in connection with Purchaser’s and its Affiliates’ (including, without limitation, the Partnership) use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Seller hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it might have based on the failure of Purchaser and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Partnership) to disclose the Information.

 

(b)                                  Seller acknowledges that (i) Purchaser is relying on Seller’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser acknowledges that (i) Seller is relying on Purchaser’s representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements in this Agreement as a condition to proceeding with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) without such representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements, Seller would not enter into this Agreement or engage in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.5                                Amendment; Waiver .  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.  Any agreement on the part of either Party to any extension or waiver with respect to this Agreement shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of either Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

7.6                                Expenses .  All fees and expenses incurred in connection this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.

 

7.7                                Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

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7.8                                Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, except that Purchaser may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser, as applicable, of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9                                Specific Enforcement; Jurisdiction .

 

(a)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.9(b) , without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without such right, neither of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for the purpose of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims with respect to such legal action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in such court. Each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware in the event any legal action, suit or proceeding arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) irrevocably consents to the service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, on behalf of itself or its property, in accordance with Section 7.2 (provided that nothing in this Section 7.9(b)  shall affect the right of either Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable Law) and (iv) agrees that it will not bring any legal action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware. The Parties agree that a final trial court judgment in any such legal action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided , however , that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict either Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.

 

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7.10                         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of the other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such Party would not, in the event of any legal action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Party have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 7.10 .

 

7.11                         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

7.12                         Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to either Party.

 

7.13                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

7.14                         Further Assurances .  Each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Partnership, on the other hand, in doing, any and all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.15                         Certain Transaction-Related Taxes .  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording fees, registration and similar Taxes and fees (including, without limitation, any penalties and interest) attributable to Seller’s sale of the Subject Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by Seller when due, and Seller shall, at its expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes.  All income taxes, including, without limitation, capital gains taxes, arising out of or in connection with the execution and performance of this Agreement shall be borne by Seller. Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Purchaser may be required to deduct and withhold under any provision of applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to Seller hereunder.

 

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7.16                         Purchaser Covenant .  Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to Seller that until the earlier to occur of the Closing Date, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and January 31, 2019, without the prior written consent of Seller, it will not acquire from any other holder of EQGP Common Units (other than open-market purchases) such holder’s EQGP Common Units other than pursuant to an agreement with such holder of EQGP Common Units that is on substantially the same terms as this Agreement and does not result in such holder of EQGP Common Units receiving consideration for their EQGP Common Units that is greater than the consideration being received for the Subject Units under this Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION

 

a Pennsylvania corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Kirk R. Oliver

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

 


 

 

SELLER:

 

 

 

ZP ENERGY FUND L.P.,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara Burger

 

 

Barbara Burger

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]