UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August  2, 2019

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-33147

 

11-3742489

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

or organization)

 

 

 

 

 

1000 Main Street, Suite 3000

Houston, Texas 77002

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(713) 783-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Units representing limited partner interests

 

SNMP

 

NYSE American

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

 

 

 


 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement

 

On August 2, 2019, Sanchez Midstream Partners LP (the “Partnership”) and Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner” and together with the Partnership, the “Partnership Parties”), entered into an Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement (the “Board Representation and Standstill Agreement”) with Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC (“Stonepeak”).  Pursuant to the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Partnership and the General Partner have agreed to permit Stonepeak to designate up to two persons to serve as directors on the Board of Directors of the General Partner (the “Board”), and the Partnership and the General Partner are required take all actions necessary or advisable to effect such designations.  The right to designate one director will immediately terminate on such date as Stonepeak no longer owns at least 25% of the outstanding Class C Preferred Units of the Partnership (the “Class C Preferred Units”) issued to Stonepeak in exchange for all issued and outstanding Class B Preferred Units of the Partnership (the “Class B Preferred Units”), and the right to designate the second director will immediately terminate on such date in which Stonepeak does not hold any of the issued and outstanding Class C Preferred Units.  Stonepeak also has the right to appoint three independent members to the Board if all of the Class C Preferred Units have not been redeemed by December 31, 2021, with such right continuing until all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed.

 

The Board Representation and Standstill Agreement provides that until the earlier of the occurrence of a material breach of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) by the Partnership or General Partner and the date on which all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed, Stonepeak will not, among other things:  (i) acquire any additional equity or debt securities of the Partnership; (ii) engage in any hostile or takeover activities with respect to the Partnership or the General Partner, (iii) enter into any transaction the effect of which would be to “short” any securities of the Partnership; (iv) call (or participate in a group calling) a meeting of the limited partners of the Partnership for the purpose of removing the General Partner; (v) solicit any proxies or votes for or in support of (a) the removal of the General Partner or (b) the election of any successor general partner of the Partnership, in each case without the Partnership’s consent; (vi)  advise or influence any person with respect to voting in connection with the removal of the General Partner or election of a successor general partner of the Partnership; or (vii) control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Partnership, except through the designated directors to the Board.

 

In addition, the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement provides that until the date on which all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed, the prior written consent of Stonepeak will be required for the Partnership Parties or the Board, as applicable, among other things, to: (i) approve capital expenditures that exceed $5.0 million, in the aggregate, in a single year and any capital expenditure not in the ordinary course of business; (ii) approve any agreement or amendment to an agreement with any member of the Partnership Group (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), on the one hand, and the General Partner or Sanchez Energy Corporation (or its successor-in-interest to its business or assets) or any of their respective affiliates, on the other hand, that results in lower gathering rates currently in effect; (iii) approve total compensation of any officer (or any independent contractor performing officer functions) or director of the General Partner in amounts greater than ten percent (10%), in the aggregate, of the salaries approved in 2019 and the bonus approved for performance in 2018; (iv) approve any increases to the total compensation of any non-independent director of the General Partner or any member of the Partnership Group greater than the salary approved in 2019 and the bonus approved for performance in 2018; (v) approve any increase to the general and administrative expenses, other than certain expenses described in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, of the General Partner and the Partnership Group (taken as a whole) in amounts greater than ten percent (10%) in the aggregate of such expenses approved by the Board in January 2019; and (vi) any of member of the Partnership Group having an amount of cash or cash equivalents in excess of $10 million, in the aggregate, at any time other than to pay dividends or distributions within the following 90 calendar days.

 

Lastly, the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement provides that the General Partner may not materially diminish the duties of the chief executive officer of the General Partner without the consent of the directors appointed by Stonepeak. In addition, if at any time after August 2, 2022, the Partnership has a leverage ratio greater than 5.50 to 1.00, as calculated in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, Stonepeak will have the ability to appoint a new chief executive officer of the General Partner until such time as such leverage ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00. Such appointment right will terminate on the date on which Stonepeak and its affiliates no longer hold any of the outstanding Class C Preferred Units.

 

2


 

The foregoing description of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

On August 2, 2019, the Partnership entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Stonepeak relating to the registered resale of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”) issuable upon exercise of the warrant exercisable for Junior Securities (the “Warrant”).  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Partnership has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to prepare and file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended the (“Securities Act”) upon request of the holders of Class C Preferred Units and to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective no later than 210 days after such request is made.

 

In certain circumstances, the holders of Class C Preferred Units will have piggyback registration rights as described in the Registration Rights Agreement.  If the Partnership issues any Junior Securities, other than Common Units, then the Partnership will enter into a separate registration rights agreement for any Junior Securities that are issuable to Stonepeak upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such document, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Warrant

 

On August 2, 2019, the Partnership issued the Warrant to Stonepeak.  The information regarding the Warrant set forth in Item 3.02 hereof is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

On August 2, 2019, Stonepeak exchanged all of the issued and outstanding Class B Preferred Units for newly issued Class C Preferred Units and the Warrant in a privately negotiated transaction (the “Private Placement”). The Warrant may be exercised at any time and from time to time during the period beginning on August 2, 2019 and ending on the later of the seventh anniversary of such date and the date thirty days after the date on which all of the Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed for a number of Junior Securities equal to 10% of each applicable class of Junior Securities then outstanding as of the exercise date. No purchase price will be payable in connection with the exercise of the Warrant.

 

The issuance of the Class C Preferred Units and the Warrant was made in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

 

The information regarding the Class C Preferred Units set forth in Item 5.03 hereof is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

The description of the Warrant is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Warrant, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On August 2, 2019, the General Partner entered into Executive Services Agreements with each of: (1) Gerald F. Willinger, Chief Executive Officer, and (2) Charles C. Ward, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (each, an “Executive Agreement” and, collectively, the “Executive Agreements”). The Executive Agreements were approved by the Board on August 2 , 2019.

 

3


 

Each respective Executive Agreement provides (i) that the applicable executive will continue to serve in his current executive officer position with the General Partner and provide services to the Partnership Parties during the applicable term, (ii) for an annual base salary (Mr. Willinger: $600,000 and Mr. Ward: $375,000) and (iii) for eligibility to receive an annual cash bonus based on a qualitative assessment of financial and individual performance achievements.

 

Under each Executive Agreement, in the event of the applicable executive’s termination as an officer of the General Partner due to (a) such executive’s death or “disability,” (b) the General Partner terminating such executive without “cause,” or (c) such executive terminating for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the Executive Agreements), such executive (or such executive’s designated beneficiaries, as applicable) will be entitled to receive payment of: (i) any unpaid annual bonus for the year prior to the year of termination and (ii) a pro-rated annual bonus for the year of termination.

 

In addition, such executive will also be entitled to receive the following severance payments or benefits in the event of: (1) the General Partner terminating such executive without “cause” (2) such executive terminating for “good reason” or (3)(A) the General Partner terminating such executive without “cause”, (B) such executive’s death or “disability,” or (C) such executive terminating for any reason, in the case of (A)-(C), during a period beginning 60 days prior to and ending two years following a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Executive Agreements) such executive will be entitled to receive (w) a lump-sum cash payment equal to two times such executive’s then-current annual base salary plus two times the largest annual bonus paid (or due to be paid) to such executive for the year in which the termination occurs or any year in the three calendar year period immediately preceding the date of termination, (x) payment of the COBRA premiums for such executive and such executive’s eligible dependents during the COBRA continuation period, (y) to the extent not yet paid to such executive, a lump-sum cash payment equal to all outstanding amounts owed to such executive for services performed for or on behalf of the Partnership Parties, the amount of such executive’s annual bonus for the last full year during which such executive performed services for the Partnership Parties, and the amount of such executive’s annual bonus for the current year, based on such executive’s annual bonus for such last full year (pro-rated to the date of termination), and (z) immediate vesting in full, as of the date of such Change in Control, of any units awarded to such executive under the Partnership’s Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership

 

On August 2, 2019, in connection with the Private Placement, the General Partner entered into the Partnership Agreement to set forth the terms of the Class C Preferred Units.

 

Distributions

 

Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, commencing with the quarter ending on June 30, 2019, the Class C Preferred Units will receive a quarterly distribution of, at the election of the Board, (i) with respect to any distribution made with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2019, 10.0% per annum if paid in full in cash or 12.0% per annum if paid in paid-in-kind units; (ii) with respect to any distribution made with respect to any quarter beginning with and after the quarter ending September 30, 2019, through and including the quarter ending December 31, 2021, 12.5% per annum, regardless of whether paid in cash, paid-in-kind units or a combination thereof; and (iii) with respect to any distribution made with respect to any quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2022, 14.0% per annum, regardless of whether paid in cash, paid-in-kind units or a combination thereof.

 

Distributions are to be paid on or about the last day of each of February, May, August and November after the end of each quarter.

 

4


 

Voting

 

The Class C Preferred Units will have the same voting rights as the holders of the Common Units and shall vote together as a single class with the Common Units.

 

Redemption

 

The Partnership has the right to redeem the Class C Preferred Units as follows:

 

·                   from August 2, 2019 through December 31, 2019, the Partnership can redeem 66.67% of the outstanding Class C Preferred Units for cash at the greater of the current market price of the Common Units and 120% of the liquidation preference of the Class C Preferred Units plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions;

 

·                   from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, the Partnership can redeem 100% of the outstanding Class C Preferred Units for cash at the greater of the current market price of the Common Units and 110% of the liquidation preference of the Class C Preferred Units plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions; and

 

·                   from January 2021 and thereafter, the Partnership can redeem 100% of the outstanding Class C Preferred Units for cash at the greater of the current market price and 100% of the liquidation preference of the Class C Preferred Units plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions.

 

Subject to the foregoing limitations, if all Class C Preferred Units are not redeemed by December 31, 2021, then the Partnership is restricted from making cash distributions on any other units until the Class C Preferred Units are redeemed in full as a result of a monthly sweep of adjusted available cash.

 

The foregoing description of the Partnership Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such document, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amendment No. 3 to Limited Liability Company Agreement

 

On August 2, 2019, in connection with the Private Placement described in Item 3.02 above, SP Holdings, LLC, as the sole member of the General Partner entered into Amendment No. 3 to Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner (the “LLC Agreement Amendment”) to make certain changes to reflect the rights of the holders of the Class C Preferred Units.

 

The foregoing description of the LLC Agreement Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such document, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On August 2, 2019, in connection with the execution of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement described in Item 1.01 above, the Partnership Parties entered into a letter agreement with Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC (the “letter agreement”). Pursuant to the letter agreement, the Partnership Parties have agreed that, in the event the number of directors comprising the Board increases to more than nine directors, for each additional director added, the Partnership Parties shall take all actions necessary or advisable to cause an additional director to be added to the Board, to be designated by Stonepeak in its sole discretion, subject only to the qualification restrictions in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the letter agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the letter agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)  Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, dated August 2, 2019.

3.2

 

Amendment No. 3 to Limited Liability Company Agreement of Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, dated August 2, 2019.

4.1

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 2, 2019, by and among Sanchez Midstream Partners LP and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC.

10.1

 

Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated August 2, 2019, by and among Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC.

10.2

 

Warrant Exercisable for Junior Securities, dated August 2, 2019, by and between Sanchez Midstream Partners LP and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC.

99.1

 

Letter Agreement, dated August 2, 2019, by and among Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC.

 

5


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

By:

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

Date: August 2, 2019

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

 

Charles C. Ward

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

6


Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

OF

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Construction

26

 

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1

Formation

27

Section 2.2

Name

27

Section 2.3

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

27

Section 2.4

Purpose and Business

27

Section 2.5

Powers

28

Section 2.6

Term

28

Section 2.7

Title to Partnership Assets

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Limitation of Liability

29

Section 3.2

Management of Business

29

Section 3.3

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

29

Section 3.4

Rights of Limited Partners

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Certificates

30

Section 4.2

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

31

Section 4.3

Record Holders

31

Section 4.4

Transfer Generally

32

Section 4.5

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

32

Section 4.6

Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest

33

Section 4.7

Restrictions on Transfers

34

Section 4.8

Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders

35

Section 4.9

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders

37

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Contributions by Partners

38

Section 5.2

Interest and Withdrawal

38

Section 5.3

Capital Accounts

39

Section 5.4

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

42

 

i


 

Section 5.5

Limited Preemptive Right

43

Section 5.6

Splits and Combinations

43

Section 5.7

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

44

Section 5.8

Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights

44

Section 5.9

Establishment of Class C Preferred Units.

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

52

Section 6.2

Allocations for Tax Purposes

64

Section 6.3

Distributions; Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

66

Section 6.4

Distributions from Operating Surplus

67

Section 6.5

Distributions from Capital Surplus

67

Section 6.6

Adjustment of Target Distribution Levels

68

Section 6.7

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of IDR Reset Common Units

68

Section 6.8

Entity-Level Taxation

68

Section 6.9

Special Provisions Relating to the Class C Preferred Holders

69

Section 6.10

Special Provisions Relating to the 2019 Warrant

69

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Management

70

Section 7.2

Replacement of Fiduciary Duties

72

Section 7.3

Certificate of Limited Partnership

72

Section 7.4

Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority

73

Section 7.5

Reimbursement of the General Partner

73

Section 7.6

Outside Activities

74

Section 7.7

Indemnification

75

Section 7.8

Liability of Indemnitees

77

Section 7.9

Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

77

Section 7.10

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Indemnitees

80

Section 7.11

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

81

Section 7.12

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates

81

Section 7.13

Reliance by Third Parties

84

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Records and Accounting

84

Section 8.2

Fiscal Year

85

Section 8.3

Reports

85

 

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ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Tax Returns and Information

85

Section 9.2

Tax Elections

86

Section 9.3

Tax Controversies

86

Section 9.4

Withholding; Tax Payments

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Admission of Limited Partners

87

Section 10.2

Admission of Successor General Partner

88

Section 10.3

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

88

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Withdrawal of the General Partner

88

Section 11.2

Removal of the General Partner

90

Section 11.3

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

90

Section 11.4

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

92

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

 

 

Section 12.1

Dissolution

92

Section 12.2

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

93

Section 12.3

Liquidator

93

Section 12.4

Liquidation

94

Section 12.5

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

94

Section 12.6

Return of Contributions

95

Section 12.7

Waiver of Partition

95

Section 12.8

Capital Account Restoration

95

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

95

Section 13.2

Amendment Procedures

96

Section 13.3

Amendment Requirements

97

Section 13.4

Special Meetings

98

Section 13.5

Notice of a Meeting

98

Section 13.6

Record Date

98

Section 13.7

Adjournment

99

Section 13.8

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

99

Section 13.9

Quorum and Voting

99

Section 13.10

Conduct of a Meeting

100

Section 13.11

Action Without a Meeting

100

Section 13.12

Right to Vote and Related Matters

101

 

iii


 

Section 13.13

Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights

101

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION

 

 

 

Section 14.1

Authority

102

Section 14.2

Procedure for Merger or Consolidation

102

Section 14.3

Approval by Limited Partners

103

Section 14.4

Certificate of Merger

105

Section 14.5

Effect of Merger or Consolidation

105

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

 

 

Section 15.1

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

105

 

 

 

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

 

Section 16.1

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications

106

Section 16.2

Further Action

107

Section 16.3

Binding Effect

107

Section 16.4

Integration

107

Section 16.5

Creditors

108

Section 16.6

Waiver

108

Section 16.7

Third-Party Beneficiaries

108

Section 16.8

Counterparts

108

Section 16.9

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction

108

Section 16.10

Invalidity of Provisions

109

Section 16.11

Consent of Partners

109

Section 16.12

Facsimile and Email Signatures

109

 

iv


 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP dated as of August 2, 2019 (“ Execution Date ”), is entered into by and between Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

 

WHEREAS , the General Partner and the other parties thereto entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership on October 14, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 thereto (as amended, the “ Prior Agreement ”) in connection with the issuance of the Class B Preferred Units (as defined in the Prior Agreement);

 

WHEREAS , Section 5.4(a) of the Prior Agreement provides that, subject to Section 5.10(e) of the Prior Agreement, the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time, and from time to time, to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner in its sole discretion shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners;

 

WHEREAS , Section 5.4(b) of the Prior Agreement provides that subject to Section 5.10(e) of the Prior Agreement, each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest;

 

WHEREAS , Section 5.4(c) of the Prior Agreement provides, among other things, that the General Partner shall take all actions that it determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with each issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Prior Agreement and to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to the Prior Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading;

 

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WHEREAS , Section 5.10(e)(iii) of the Prior Agreement provides that to the extent any proposed amendment to the Prior Agreement would adversely affect any Class B Preferred Holder (as defined in the Prior Agreement) in a disproportionate manner as compared to any other Class B Preferred Holder, the consent of such Class B Preferred Holder so adversely and disproportionately affected, in addition to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.10(e)(ii) of the Prior Agreement, shall be necessary to effect such amendment;

 

WHEREAS , subject to Section 5.10(e) of the Prior Agreement, Section 13.1(g) of the Prior Agreement provides that each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Prior Agreement and execute, swear, acknowledge, delivery, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Prior Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , subject to Section 5.10(e) of the Prior Agreement, Section 13.1(d)(i) of the Prior Agreement provides that each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Prior Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect a change that the General Partner determines does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect;

 

WHEREAS , the Class B Preferred Holder desires to exchange all of the issued and outstanding Class B Preferred Units for newly issued Class C Preferred Units (as defined below) and the 2019 Warrant (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the Partnership to issue Class C Preferred Units and the 2019 Warrant to the Class B Preferred Holder, in each case on the terms provided herein;

 

WHEREAS , the General Partner desires to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to, among other things, remove certain provisions that are no longer applicable to the Partnership; and

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to Section 5.10(e)(iii) of the Prior Agreement, the Class B Preferred Holder hereby consents to the amendments reflected in this Agreement.

 

In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1            Definitions .  The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

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2019 Warrant ” means the warrant exercisable for Junior Securities issued to the Class C Preferred Holder on the date of this Agreement and any future warrants exercisable for Junior Securities issued pursuant to the 2019 Warrant.

 

Additional Book Basis ” means, with respect to any Adjusted Property, the portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as determined in accordance with the provisions set forth below in this definition of Additional Book Basis.  For purposes of determining the extent to which Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:

 

(a)           Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.

 

(b)           If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided , however , that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).

 

Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis.  To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “ Excess Additional Book Basis ”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.  With respect to a Disposed of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items shall be the amount of Additional Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of Adjusted Property; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the determination of the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items attributable to Disposed of Adjusted Property.

 

Adjusted Available Cash ” means, with respect to the last day of any month ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

 

(a)           the sum of:

 

(i)            all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such month; and

 

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(ii)           all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such month resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such month; less

 

(b)           the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including cash reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future debt service requirements of the Partnership Group) for the month as of which the determination of Adjusted Available Cash is made, which amount shall not exceed the amount established in the most recent budget approved by the Board to which a Stonepeak Designated Director (as defined in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement) gave his or her consent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Adjusted Available Cash ” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

 

Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of each taxable period of the Partnership after giving effect to the following adjustments: (a) credit to such Capital Account any amount which such Partner is (i) obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or (ii) deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).  The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.  The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d) .

 

Advisers ” is defined in Section 7.10(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. For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Class C Preferred Holders, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates solely by virtue of such Class C Preferred Holders holding Class C Preferred Units or the right to appoint a member to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement or as Affiliates of such member of the Board of Directors.

 

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Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ” is defined in Section 5.8(a) .

 

Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.

 

Agreed Allocation ” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1 , including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

 

Agreed Value ” of (a) a Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property at the time of contribution and (b) an Adjusted Property means the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the Revaluation Event, in both cases as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

 

Agreement ” means this Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, as it may be further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, member, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

 

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

 

(a)           the sum of:

 

(i)            all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter; and

 

(ii)           if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less;

 

(b)           the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to:

 

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(i)            provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including cash reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future debt service requirements of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter;

 

(ii)           comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject; or

 

(iii)          provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;

 

provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to subclause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the cash portion of any Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution on all Class C Preferred Units with respect to such Quarter or Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further , that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Available Cash ” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

 

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to the General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company.  If any successor General Partner is a limited partnership, and its general partner is a corporation or limited liability company, the “Board of Directors” shall mean the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner.

 

Board Representation and Standstill Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among the Partnership, the General Partner and Stonepeak, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).

 

Book-Down Event ” means a Revaluation Event that gives rise to a Net Termination Loss.

 

Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of such date.  A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.3

 

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and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

 

Book-Up Event ” means a Revaluation Event that gives rise to a Net Termination Gain.

 

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the States of New York or Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.3 .  The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributed or contributes to the Partnership or that was or is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions).

 

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) replacement, improvement, addition or expansion of capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing or new capital assets (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) or construction or development of new capital assets by any Group Member, or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member had or has, or after such capital contribution had or will have, directly or indirectly, an equity interest, to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of any replacement, improvement, addition or expansion of capital assets or acquisition of existing or new capital assets or construction or development of new capital assets, by such Person, in each case if and to the extent such replacement, improvement, addition, expansion, acquisition, construction or development is made to increase over the long-term, the operating capacity, operating income or asset base of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity, operating income or asset base of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such replacement, improvement, addition, expansion, acquisition, construction, development or Capital Contribution.

 

Capital Surplus ” means cash and cash equivalents distributed by the Partnership or SPP LLC in excess of Operating Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a) .

 

Carrying Value ” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, Simulated Depletion, amortization and other cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.  The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time

 

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in accordance with Section 5.3(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

 

Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner is liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for actual fraud or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

 

Certificate ” means a certificate in such form (including in global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Partnership Interests.  The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.3 , as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Citizenship Eligibility Trigger ” is defined in Section 4.8(a)(ii) .

 

claim ” (as used in Section 7.12(c) ) is defined in Section 7.12(c) .

 

Class C Preferred Distribution Rate ” means (a) with respect to any distribution made with respect to the Quarter ended June 30, 2019, an amount per Class C Preferred Unit paid fully in either cash or Class C Preferred PIK Units, and equal to, if paid fully in cash, 10% per annum, or 2.5% per Quarter, of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference, and if paid fully in Class C Preferred PIK Units, 12% per annum (3.0% per Quarter) of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference; (b) with respect to any distribution made with respect to any Quarter beginning with and after the Quarter ending September 30, 2019, through and including the Quarter ending December 31, 2021, an amount per Class C Preferred Unit equal to 12.5% per annum (3.125% per Quarter) of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference payable in cash, Class C Preferred PIK Units or a combination thereof; and (c) with respect to any distribution made with respect to any Quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2022, an amount per Class C Preferred Unit equal to 14% per annum (3.5% per Quarter) of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference payable in cash, Class C Preferred PIK Units or a combination thereof.

 

Class C Preferred Holder ” means a holder of a Class C Preferred Unit.

 

Class C Preferred Issue Date ” means August 2, 2019.

 

Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference ” means, with respect to each Class C Preferred Unit, an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Unit Price, plus all accrued and unpaid distributions on such Class C Preferred Unit.

 

Class C Preferred PIK Unit ” means a Class C Preferred Unit issued pursuant to a Class C Preferred Unit Distribution in accordance with Section 5.9(b) .

 

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Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution ” is defined in Section 5.9(b)(i) .

 

Class C Preferred Redemption Date ” means any date on which Class C Preferred Units are redeemed pursuant to Section 5.9(c) , as set forth in a Class C Preferred Redemption Notice.

 

Class C Preferred Redemption Notice ” is defined in Section 5.9(c)(iv) .

 

Class C Preferred Unit ” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to a Class C Preferred Unit in this Agreement, including Class C Preferred PIK Units, provided that such Class C Preferred PIK Units shall be subject to such restrictions as are set forth herein.

 

Class C Preferred Unit Liquidation Amount ” means the greater of (i) the Current Market Price (as of the relevant date of determination) or (ii) with respect to a redemption occurring, (A) on or after January 1, 2019 and on or before December 31, 2019, an amount equal to 120% of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference, (B) on or after January 1, 2020 and on or before December 31, 2020, an amount equal to 110% of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference, and (C) on or after January 1, 2021, an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference.

 

Class C Preferred Unit Price ” means, with respect to a Class C Preferred Unit, $11.29.

 

Closing Date ” means November 20, 2006, which is the first date on which SPP LLC issued and delivered Predecessor Units.

 

Closing Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to such Limited Partner Interests of such class, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

 

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.  Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

 

Combined Interest ” is defined in Section 11.3(a) .

 

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Commercial Service Commencement Date ” means the date on which a Capital Improvement or capital asset, as applicable, was or is first put into commercial service by a Group Member following, if applicable, completion of construction, acquisition or development and testing, as applicable.

 

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not refer to or include the 2019 Warrant prior to exercise for a Common Unit pursuant to its terms, as applicable.

 

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed entirely of two (2) or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner or a director of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than any Group Member), (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, including any Group Member, other than Common Units and awards that are granted to such director under the LTIP and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which any class of Partnership Interests is listed or admitted to trading.

 

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership.  Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d) , such property or other assets shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

 

Conversion Date ” means the effective date and time of the conversion of SPP LLC from a limited liability company to the Partnership.

 

Curative Allocation ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xii) .

 

Current Market Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

 

Deemed Issued Junior Security ” is defined in Section 6.10(i) .

 

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C.  Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

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Departing General Partner ” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 .

 

Disposed of Adjusted Property ” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(B) .

 

Economic Risk of Loss ” is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

 

Eligibility Certificate ” is defined in Section 4.8(b) .

 

Eligible Holder ” means a Person that satisfies the eligibility requirements established by the General Partner for Partners pursuant to Section 4.8 .

 

Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount ” is defined in Section 6.8 .

 

Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will need to incur to maintain, over the long-term, the operating capacity, operating income or asset base of the Partnership Group existing at the time the estimate is made.  The Board of Directors will be permitted to make such estimate in any manner it determines reasonable.  The estimate will be made at least annually and whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of future Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures.  The Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section 8.3 to the extent not previously disclosed.  Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall be prospective only.

 

Event of Withdrawal ” is defined in Section 11.1(a) .

 

Event Issue Value ” means, with respect to any Common Unit as of any date of determination, (i) in the case of a Revaluation Event that includes the issuance of Common Units pursuant to a public offering and solely for cash, the price paid for such Common Units, or (ii) in the case of any other Revaluation Event, the Closing Price of the Common Units on the date of such Revaluation Event or, if the General Partner determines that a value for the Common Unit other than such Closing Price more accurately reflects the Event Issue Value, the value determined by the General Partner.

 

Excess Additional Book Basis ” is defined in the definition of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.

 

Excess Distribution ” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) .

 

Excess Distribution Unit ” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) .

 

Execution Date ” is defined in the Preamble.

 

Exercise Period ” is defined in the 2019 Warrant.

 

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Exercise Date ” is defined in the 2019 Warrant.

 

Existing Credit Facility ” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2015 among the Partnership, as Borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as may be amended, restated, refinanced, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time; provided that the credit facility provided under the Existing Credit Facility shall be, at all times, a revolving bank facility provided by commercial banks and/or affiliates of commercial banks that are primarily engaged in providing such facilities.

 

Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Capital Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures.  Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued to finance all or any portion of the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that a Group Member entered or enters into a binding obligation to commence construction of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the Commercial Service Commencement Date for such Capital Improvement and (ii) the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of.  Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments, or such construction period distributions on equity, shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and the incremental Incentive Distributions paid relating to newly issued equity to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement.  If capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation of such capital expenditures between the amounts paid for each.

 

First Liquidation Target Amount ” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D) .

 

First Target Distribution ” means $0.575 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of more or less than one fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8 , Section 6.6 and Section 6.8 .

 

General Partner ” means Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in their capacities as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

 

General Partner Interest ” means the non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner and without any reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  The General Partner Interest does not include any rights to ownership or profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.

 

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Gross Liability Value ” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm’s-length transaction.

 

Group ” means two or more Persons that with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests.

 

Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

 

Group Member Agreement ” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Hedge Contract ” means any exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar, option or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons or interest rates, basis differentials or currency exchange rates in their operations or financing activities, in each case, other than for speculative purposes.

 

Holder ” as used in Section 7.12 , is defined in Section 7.12(a) .

 

IDR Reset Common Unit ” is defined in Section 5.8(a) .

 

IDR Reset Election ” is defined in Section 5.8(a) .

 

Incentive Distribution Right ” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in this Agreement.

 

Incentive Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4 .

 

Incremental Income Taxes ” is defined in Section 6.8 .

 

Indemnified Persons ” is defined in Section 7.12(c) .

 

Indemnitee ” means (a) any General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, a General Partner, any Departing General Partner or any of their respective Affiliates, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of a General Partner, any Departing

 

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General Partner or any of their respective Affiliates as an officer, director, manager, managing member, general partner, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary or similar duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) any Person who controls a General Partner or Departing General Partner and (g) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s service, status or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.

 

Ineligible Holder ” is defined in Section 4.8(c) .

 

Initial Common Units ” means the Predecessor Units sold in the Initial Offering.

 

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Predecessor Units to the public.

 

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Predecessor Unit at which they were sold on the Closing Date or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.

 

Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase price in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member and (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements.

 

Investment Capital Expenditures ” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.

 

Junior Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks junior to the Class C Preferred Units, including, but not limited to, Common Units.

 

Liability ” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise.

 

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, each Person who holds Predecessor Units or Converted Units on the Conversion Date, each additional Person that

 

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becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3 , in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership.

 

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Liquidation Date ” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2 , the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

 

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

 

LTIP ” means the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Partnership, as may be amended, or any equity compensation plan successor thereto.

 

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the replacement, improvement, addition or expansion of the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing or new capital assets or the construction or development of new capital assets) by a Group Member if such expenditures are made to maintain, over the long-term, the operating capacity, operating income or asset base of the Partnership Group.

 

Member ” means “Member” as defined in that certain Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, as amended, of SPP LLC.

 

Member Interest ” means “Member Interest” as defined in that certain Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, as amended, of SPP LLC.

 

Merger Agreement ” is defined in Section 14.1 .

 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.50 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to periods of more or less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8 , Section 6.6 and Section 6.8 .

 

Modified EBITDA ” means, with respect to an applicable Quarter, an amount equal to (A) such Quarter’s net income (loss), minus (B) the amount of cash distributions made by the

 

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Partnership with respect to such Quarter on account of Common Units issued since January 1, 2017 pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, plus (minus) (C) (i) interest (income) expense, net (which includes interest expense, interest expense net (gain) loss on interest rate derivative contracts, and interest (income)); (ii) income tax expense (benefit); (iii) depreciation, depletion and amortization; (iv) asset impairments; (v) accretion expense; (vi) (gain) loss on sale of assets; (vii) unit-based compensation programs; (viii) unit-based asset management fees; (ix) distributions in excess of equity earnings; (x) (gain) loss on mark-to-market activities; (xi) commodity derivatives settlements applied to future positions; and (xii) (gain) loss on embedded derivatives.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section) and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) (or successor to such Section) of the Securities Exchange Act) that the General Partner shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(ii) ) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

 

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period.  The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3 and shall include Simulated Gain but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) ; provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xiv) .

 

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period.  The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3 and shall include Simulated Gain but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) ; provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xiv) .

 

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Net Positive Adjustments ” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.

 

Net Termination Gain ” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.3 ) that are recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date, (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group) or (iii) upon the sale of assets to fund a redemption pursuant to Section 4.9(a)(ii) or Section 5.9(c ), or (b) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided , however , that the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall include Simulated Gain, but shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) .

 

Net Termination Loss ” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.3 ) that are recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date, (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group) or (iii) upon the sale of assets to fund a redemption pursuant to Section 4.9(a)(iii) or Section 5.9(c) or (b) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided , however , that the items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall include Simulated Gain, but shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(e) .

 

Noncompensatory Option ” is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(f).

 

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain ” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(d) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code), Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

Notice of Election to Purchase ” is defined in Section 15.1(b) .

 

Offering Notice ” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(iii) .

 

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Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including taxes, amounts paid under the Shared Services Agreement, reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts, Board of Directors, officer and employee compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments and Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures, subject to the following:

 

(a)           repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;

 

(b)           payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties and the purchase price of indebtedness that is repurchased and cancelled) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures;

 

(c)           Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (iii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iv) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (v) distributions to Partners (including in respect of Incentive Distribution Rights) or (vi) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans, or reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner for such purchases.  If capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation of such capital expenditures between the amounts paid for each; and

 

(d)           (i) payments made in connection with the initial purchase of any Hedge Contract shall be amortized over the life of such Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be amortized in equal quarterly installments over what would have been the remaining scheduled term of such Hedge Contract had it not been so terminated.

 

Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,

 

(a)           the sum of (i) $20.0 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and provided that cash receipts from the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be amortized in equal quarterly installments over what would have been the remaining scheduled term of such Hedge Contract had it not been so terminated, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) the amount of cash distributions paid (including incremental Incentive

 

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Distributions) in respect of equity issued, other than equity issued in the Initial Offering, to finance all or a portion of the Expansion Capital Expenditures and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member entered or enters into a binding obligation to commence the replacement, improvement, addition, expansion, acquisition, construction or development of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the Commercial Service Commencement Date for such Capital Improvement and the date on which such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued, other than equity issued in the Initial Offering, to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements), or construction period distributions on equity issued (including incremental Incentive Distributions), to finance the Expansion Capital Expenditures shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the replacement, improvement, addition, expansion, acquisition, construction or development of a Capital Improvement for purposes of this clause (iv)); less

 

(b)           the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures, (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve (12) months after having been incurred or repaid within such twelve (12)-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) any cash loss realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure;

 

provided , however , that the General Partner’s estimates of disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member), the General Partner’s estimates of cash received, or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of cash or cash equivalents to be distributed with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, received, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Operating Surplus ” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.  Cash receipts from an Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a return on principal, but in no event shall a return of principal be treated as cash receipts.  Customer payments that are paid no more than several days after their due date will be treated as paid on their due date.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.

 

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however , that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding (other than the Class C Preferred Units), none of the Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group shall be entitled to be voted on any

 

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matter or be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law or approved by the Board of Directors), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner, acting in its sole discretion, shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply; provided, moreover , that if any Person or Group beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding solely as a result of actions taken by the Partnership, then the 20% threshold specified herein shall be increased, with respect to such Person, to a percentage equal to such Person’s new beneficial ownership after the taking of such action plus the difference between 20% and such Person’s beneficial ownership prior to such action, (iv) Stonepeak with respect to its ownership (beneficial or record) of the Class C Preferred Units or (v) the holder of the 2019 Warrant with respect to the Junior Securities issued or issuable upon exercise of the 2019 Warrant.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors has approved the issuance of (1) the Class C Preferred Units to Stonepeak in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding Class B Preferred Units (as defined in the Prior Agreement) and (2) the Junior Securities issued or issuable upon exercise of the 2019 Warrant in accordance with clause (v) of the immediately preceding sentence, and any Class C Preferred PIK Units issued to Stonepeak shall be deemed to be approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, and the foregoing limitations of the immediately preceding sentence do not apply to Stonepeak, the holder of the 2019 Warrant, their respective Affiliates or their permitted assigns with respect to their ownership of the Class C Preferred Units, the 2019 Warrant or the Junior Securities issued or issuable upon exercise of the 2019 Warrant, as applicable.

 

Parity Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks pari passu with the Class C Preferred Units.

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction, expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code),

 

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Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.

 

Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners (and, as applicable, the Members prior to the Conversion Date).

 

Partnership ” means Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (and, as applicable, SPP LLC prior to the Conversion Date).

 

Partnership Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

 

Partnership Interest ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class C Preferred Unit and Incentive Distribution Right), but shall exclude any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (and, as applicable, Member Interests prior to the Conversion Date).

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

 

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination as to any Unitholder with respect to Units or a class thereof, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of such Units held by such Unitholder, by the total number of such Outstanding Units. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest and an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.

 

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

Per Unit Capital Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any class of Units held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.

 

Predecessor Units ” means “Common Units” as defined in that certain Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2006, as amended, of SPP LLC.

 

Prior Agreement ” is defined in the Recitals.

 

Privately Placed Units ” means any Common Units issued for cash or property other than pursuant to a public offering.

 

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to (i) Units (other than the Class C Preferred Units) or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Outstanding Units (other than the Class C Preferred Units) in accordance with the relative Percentage Interests of such Units, (ii) all Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (iii) some but not all Partners or Record Holders, in accordance with the relative Percentage Interests of such Partners

 

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or Record Holders and (b) when used with respect to Class C Preferred Units, apportioned among all Class C Preferred Holders in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Class C Preferred Units, as applicable, held by each such holder to the total number of Outstanding Class C Preferred Units.

 

Proposed Transaction ” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(iii) .

 

Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV .

 

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.

 

Rate Eligibility Trigger ” is defined in Section 4.8(a)(i) .

 

Recapture Income ” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

 

Record Date ” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

 

Record Holder ” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the closing of business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the closing of business on such Business Day.

 

Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9 ; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Partnership Interests owned by Stonepeak shall under no circumstances constitute Redeemable Interests.

 

Registration Statement ” means, collectively, the Registration Statements on Form S-4 (Registration Nos. 333-198440 and 333-202526) as they may have been or as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by SPP LLC with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the Common Units issued to the holders of the Predecessor Units and Converted Units in connection with the conversion of the Predecessor Units and Converted Units into Common Units.

 

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Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, and (ii)  with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.

 

Required Allocations ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) , Section 6.1(d)(ii) , Section 6.1(d)(iv) , Section 6.1(d)(v) , Section 6.1(d)(vi) , Section 6.1(d)(vii) , Section 6.1(d)(ix)  or Section 6.1(e) .

 

Reset MQD ” is defined in Section 5.8(a) .

 

Reset Notice ” is defined in Section 5.8(b) .

 

Revaluation Event ” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.3(d) .

 

ROFO Interest ” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(iii) .

 

ROFO Response ” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(iii) .

 

Sanchez ” is defined in Section 4.7(e)(iii) .

 

Second Liquidation Target Amount ” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E) .

 

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.625 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of more or less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8 , Section 6.6 and Section 6.8 .

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

 

Securities Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

 

Senior Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests of cash or property or distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), or both, ranks senior to the Class C Preferred Units.

 

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Shared Services Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Shared Services Agreement between SP Holdings, LLC and the Partnership dated March 6, 2015, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, and (ii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.

 

Simulated Basis ” means the Carrying Value of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code).

 

Simulated Depletion ” means, with respect to an oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), a depletion allowance computed in accordance with federal income tax principles (as if the Simulated Basis of the property were its adjusted tax basis) and in the manner specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2). For purposes of computing Simulated Depletion with respect to any property, the Simulated Basis of such property shall be deemed to be the Carrying Value of such property, and in no event shall such allowance for Simulated Depletion, in the aggregate, exceed such Simulated Basis.

 

Simulated Gain ” means the excess, if any, of the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of an oil or gas property over the Carrying Value of such property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

Simulated Loss ” means the excess, if any, of the Carrying Value of an oil or gas property over the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of such property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.

 

SPP LLC ” means Sanchez Production Partners LLC (formerly known as Constellation Energy Partners LLC), a Delaware limited liability company, which was continued as of the Conversion Date as the Partnership.

 

Stonepeak ” means Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such

 

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Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general partner of such partnership, but only if such Person, directly or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, controls such partnership on the date of determination or (c) any other Person in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

Surviving Business Entity ” is defined in Section 14.2(b)(ii) .

 

Target Distribution ” means each of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.

 

Third Liquidation Target Amount ” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(F) .

 

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.875 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of more or less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8 , Section 6.6 and Section 6.8 .

 

Trading Day ” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

Transaction Agreements ” means (i) the Shared Services Agreement, (ii) that certain Contract Operating Agreement, dated May 8, 2014, between SPP LLC and Sanchez Oil & Gas Corporation, (iii) that certain Geophysical Seismic Data Use License Agreement, dated May 8, 2014, between SPP LLC, certain subsidiaries thereof and Sanchez Oil & Gas Corporation, and (iv) that certain Transition and Assistance Agreement, dated May 8, 2014, between SPP LLC, SP Holdings, LLC and Sanchez Oil & Gas Corporation.

 

transfer ” is defined in Section 4.4(a) .

 

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as may be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests; provided , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

 

Unit ” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units (including Deemed Issued Junior Securities to the extent they are treated as Common Units pursuant to Section 6.10(i) ) and Class C Preferred Units but shall not include (i) the General Partner Interest, (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights or (iii) the 2019 Warrant.

 

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Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

Unit Majority ” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and, subject to Section 13.3 , the Incentive Distribution Rights together as a single class.

 

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.3(d) ) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  as of such date).

 

Unrealized Loss ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.3(d) ).

 

Unrecovered Initial Unit Price ” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision, or combination of such Units.

 

Unrestricted Person ” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Unrestricted Person” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.

 

Warrant Securities ” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(xvi)(A) .

 

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” is defined in Section 11.1(b) .

 

Working Capital Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners, made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or other similar financing arrangement; provided that when such borrowings are incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within twelve (12) months from the date of such borrowings other than from additional Working Capital Borrowings.

 

Section 1.2                                     Construction .  Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this

 

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Agreement.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation.  Any construction or interpretation of this Agreement and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination, in each case, made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on any Limited Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and any other Person who is bound by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1                                     Formation .  The Partnership was previously formed as a limited partnership when SPP LLC converted from a limited liability company to the Partnership on the Conversion Date, with the Partnership continuing in all of the rights, privileges and powers of SPP LLC.  The General Partner hereby amends and restates the Prior Agreement in its entirety, pursuant to Section 13.1 thereof (including Section 13.1(d)  and 13.1(g)  thereof). This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof.  Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.2                                     Name .  The name of the Partnership shall be “Sanchez Midstream Partners LP”.  Subject to applicable law, the Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner.  The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires.  The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.3                                     Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices .  Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company.  The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 1000 Main Street, Suite 3000, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.  The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.  The address of the General Partner shall be 1000 Main Street, Suite 3000, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.4                                     Purpose and Business .  The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other

 

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arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however , that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may, in its sole discretion, decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may, in its sole discretion, decline to so propose or approve free of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any Person who acquires an interest in the Partnership or is bound by this Agreement and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

 

Section 2.5                                     Powers .  The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.6                                     Term .  The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of formation of SPP LLC in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII .  The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.7                                     Title to Partnership Assets .  Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof.  Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine.  The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership or one or more of the Partnership’s designated Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner

 

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satisfactory to the General Partner.  All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.

 

ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1                                     Limitation of Liability .  The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

 

Section 3.2                                     Management of Business .  No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership.  All actions taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3                                     Outside Activities of the Limited Partners .  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.6 , which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, each Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group.  Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

 

Section 3.4                                     Rights of Limited Partners .

 

(a)                                  Each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose that is reasonably related, as determined by the General Partner, to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense, to obtain:

 

(i)                                      true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership ( provided that the requirements of this Section 3.4(a)(i)  shall be satisfied to the extent the Limited Partner is furnished the Partnership’s most recent annual report and any subsequent quarterly or periodic reports required to be filed (or which would be required to be filed) with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act);

 

(ii)                                   a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Record Holder;

 

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(iii)                                a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed;

 

(iv)                               information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other capital contribution, contributed or to be contributed by each Partner and the date on which each became a Partner; and

 

(v)                                  such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as the General Partner determines is just and reasonable.

 

(b)                                  The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4 ).

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have rights to receive information from the Partnership or any Indemnitee for the purpose of determining whether to pursue litigation or assist in pending litigation against the Partnership or any Indemnitee relating to the affairs of the Partnership except pursuant to the applicable rules of discovery relating to litigation commenced by such Person.

 

ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 4.1                                     Certificates .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates.  Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner.  No Certificate for a class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent for such class of Partnership Interests; provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.  The Transfer Agent may, and is hereby authorized to, effect any

 

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countersignature of any Certificate authorized or required by this Agreement either in manual form or by facsimile signature.

 

Section 4.2                                     Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

 

(a)                                  If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.

 

(b)                                  The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

 

(i)                                      makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

 

(ii)                                   requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

 

(iii)                                if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

 

(iv)                               satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner or the Transfer Agent.

 

If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after such Limited Partner has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.

 

(c)                                   As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2 , the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

 

Section 4.3                                     Record Holders .  The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed

 

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or admitted to trading.  Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein.

 

Section 4.4                                     Transfer Generally .

 

(a)                                  The term “ transfer ,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

(b)                                  No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV .  Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

 

(c)                                   Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of any Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, limited liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in such Partner and the term “transfer” shall not mean any such disposition.

 

Section 4.5                                     Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b) , the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

 

(b)                                  The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer.  No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5 , the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.  Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions hereof, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or

 

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the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

 

(c)                                   Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated Common Units, such uncertificated Common Units shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated Common Units shall be made to the holder of Common Units entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the Partnership’s register.

 

(d)                                  By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this Section 4.5 and except as provided in Section 4.7 , each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person.  The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5 , (ii)  Section 4.4 , (iii)  Section 4.7 , (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

 

(f)                                    The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units and the General Partner, its Affiliates and any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights shall have the right at any time to transfer its Incentive Distribution Rights to one or more Persons without Unitholder approval.

 

Section 4.6                                     Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner may at its option transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to

 

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purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest held by the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member.  In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6 , the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2 , be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

 

Section 4.7                                     Restrictions on Transfers .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV , no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

(b)                                  The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it determines, with the advice of counsel, that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof).  The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided , however , that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.

 

(c)                                   Nothing contained in this Agreement, other than Section 4.7(a) , shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

 

(d)                                  The transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.8 shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7 .

 

(e)                                   Transfer Restrictions on Class C Preferred Units.

 

(i)                                      Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.7(e) , no Class C Preferred Unit shall be transferrable by any Class C Preferred Holder without the prior written consent of the General Partner.

 

(ii)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Class C Preferred Holder shall be permitted to transfer any Class C Preferred Units held by such

 

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Class C Preferred Holder without the prior written consent of the General Partner to any Person, including another Class C Preferred Unit Holder or its Affiliates, subject to Section 4.7(e)(ii) , provided that such Person agrees to be bound by the “standstill” provisions of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Until December 31, 2021, at any time prior to the sale or transfer of any Class C Preferred Units by a Class C Preferred Holder to a party or group (as defined by Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) other than an Affiliate or another Class C Preferred Holder (a “ Proposed Transaction ”), such selling Class C Preferred Holder shall first provide written notice (the “ Offering Notice ”) to the Partnership of its intention to enter into a Proposed Transaction.  The Partnership and its Affiliates (collectively, “ Sanchez ”) shall then have a right of first offer with respect to any or all of such Class C Preferred Units (the “ ROFO Interest ”).  Sanchez shall have ten (10) days following receipt of the Offering Notice to propose an offer to enter into the Proposed Transaction with such Class C Preferred Holder (the “ ROFO Response ”). The ROFO Response shall set forth the terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the purchase price Sanchez proposes to pay for such Class C Preferred Units and the other terms of the purchase) pursuant to which Sanchez would be willing to enter into a binding agreement for such purpose.  If no ROFO Response is delivered by Sanchez within such ten (10)-day period, then Sanchez shall be deemed to have waived its right of first offer with respect to such Proposed Transaction, and such Class C Preferred Holder shall be free to enter into a Proposed Transaction with any third person on terms and conditions determined in the sole discretion of such Class C Preferred Holder without the consent of the General Partner.  If Sanchez submits a ROFO Response, Sanchez and the Class C Preferred Holder shall negotiate, in good faith, the terms of the purchase and sale of all such Preferred Units for fifteen (15) days following the receipt of the ROFO Response by the Class C Preferred Holder.  If the Class C Preferred Holder and the Partnership are unable to agree on such terms during such fifteen (15)-day period, the Class C Preferred Holder may, without the prior written consent of the General Partner, Transfer any or all such Class C Preferred Units to any third person on terms generally no less favorable to the Class C Preferred Holder within the next 180 days, subject to this Article IV .  Any Person acquiring Class C Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.7(e)(iii)  (other than Sanchez) shall agree to be bound by the “standstill” provisions of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement as a condition precedent to any such Transfer during the period such “standstill” provisions would have applied to Stonepeak in accordance with the terms of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement.

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Class C Preferred Holder shall transfer any Class C Preferred Units to any Person that (a) is an operating company (and not a financial institution) and (b) engages in the upstream energy business, midstream energy business or otherwise provides similar services or engages in similar business as the Partnership at any time during the twelve months preceding the proposed transfer.

 

Section 4.8                                     Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders .

 

(a)                                  If at any time the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that:

 

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(i)                                      the Partnership’s status other than as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the failure of the Partnership otherwise to be subject to an entity-level tax for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes, coupled with the tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax status) of one or more Limited Partners or their beneficial owners has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member with respect to assets that are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or similar regulatory body (a “ Rate Eligibility Trigger ”); or

 

(ii)                                   any Group Member is subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner (a “ Citizenship Eligibility Trigger ”);

 

then, the General Partner may adopt such amendments to this Agreement as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to (x) in the case of a Rate Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the U.S. federal income tax status of the Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their beneficial owners, as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reduce the risk of the occurrence of a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member or (y) in the case of a Citizenship Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of the Limited Partner, and to the extent relevant, their beneficial owners as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to eliminate or mitigate a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any properties or interests therein of a Group Member.

 

(b)                                  Such amendments may include provisions requiring all Limited Partners to certify as to their (and their beneficial owners’) status as Eligible Holders upon demand and on a regular basis, as determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Units to so certify prior to being admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner (any such required certificate, an “ Eligibility Certificate ”).

 

(c)                                   Such amendments may provide that any Partner who fails to furnish to the General Partner within a reasonable period requested proof of its (and its beneficial owners’) status as an Eligible Holder or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner (or its beneficial owner) is not an Eligible Holder (an “ Ineligible Holder ”), the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9 .  In addition, if the General Partner exercises its right to redeem the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner, the General Partner shall be treated as the owner of all Limited Partner Interests owned by an Ineligible Holder and the Limited Partner with respect thereto.

 

(d)                                  The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Ineligible Holders, cast such votes in the same manner and in the same ratios as the votes of Limited Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast.

 

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(e)                                   Upon dissolution of the Partnership, an Ineligible Holder shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Ineligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind.  Such payment and assignment shall be treated for purposes hereof as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of the portion of his Limited Partner Interest representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind.

 

(f)                                    At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Holder, an Ineligible Holder may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9 , such Ineligible Holder be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such Ineligible Holder shall be admitted as a Partner and shall no longer constitute an Ineligible Holder and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the owner and Limited Partner in respect of such Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

Section 4.9                                     Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders .

 

(a)                                  If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or other information requested within the period of time specified in amendments adopted pursuant to Section 4.8 , or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is an Eligible Holder or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows:

 

(i)                                      The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, as applicable, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid.  The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed.  The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

 

(ii)                                   The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests (except for any Class C Preferred Units) shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests.  The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 8% annually and payable in three equal annual installments

 

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of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

(iii)                                With respect to the redemption of any Class C Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.9 , the redemption price for the Units so redeemed will be determined in accordance with the applicable formula set forth in Section 5.9(c)(i) based on the date of such redemption (provided that the right to redeem percentage for such calculation shall be 100%).  The redemption price shall be paid in cash at the time of the redemption.

 

(iv)                               The Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for the Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank).

 

(v)                                  After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.

 

(b)                                  The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.

 

(c)                                   Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement.  Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Holder.  If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption will be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1                                     Contributions by Partners .  Each Partner has contributed to the Partnership the cash or other property (if any) set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. No Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 5.2                                     Interest and Withdrawal .  No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions.  No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon liquidation of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement.  Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.  Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 5.3                                     Capital Accounts .

 

(a)                                  The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including Simulated Gain and income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b)  and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 , and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property (other than Class C Preferred PIK Units) made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss (including Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss) computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b)  and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(b)                                  For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss that is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided , that:

 

(i)                                      Solely for purposes of this Section 5.3 , the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.

 

(ii)                                   All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(iii)                                Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  To the extent an

 

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adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

 

(iv)                               In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d) , any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain, and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

 

(v)                                  Any income, gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the property’s Carrying Value as of such date.

 

(vi)                               Any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery, amortization or Simulated Depletion attributable to any Contributed Property or Adjusted Property shall be determined under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.

 

(vii)                            The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to Carrying Values.  The amount of any such adjustment shall be treated for purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership).

 

(c)                                   (i) Except as provided in this Section 5.3(c) , a transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

 

(ii)                                   Subject to Section 6.7(b) , immediately prior to the transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph Section 5.3(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its IDR Reset Common Units will (A)  first , be allocated to the IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B)  second , any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any IDR Reset Common Units.  Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred IDR Reset Common Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) above.

 

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(d)                                  (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2) and Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(v), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8 , the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b) , or in connection with an agreement to change (other than a de minimis change) the manner in which the Partners share any item or class of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit (which shall include changes in connection with the issuance of the Class C Preferred Units and the 2019 Warrant), the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance or change shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance or change; provided, however , that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided, further , that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. Any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss (or items thereof) shall be allocated (A) if the operation of this sentence is triggered by an agreement to change the manner in which the Partners share any item or class of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit, first to the holder of the 2019 Warrant as may be necessary to cause the Capital Account with respect to each Deemed Issued Junior Security to equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Junior Security of the same class or series of Partnership Interests (other than a Deemed Issued Junior Security) then Outstanding (or in the event the 2019 Warrant is not exercised prior to the end of the Exercise Period, first to cause the Capital Account in respect of each Deemed Issued Junior Security to be equal to zero), and (B) any remaining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized would have been allocated. In determining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss in connection with a Revaluation Event, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. For this purpose, the General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time (on a fully converted basis), and the amount of Partnership liabilities consistent with the methodology of

 

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Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

 

(ii)                                   In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated among the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c)  in the same manner as any item of gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated.  In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of a distribution other than a distribution made pursuant to Section 12.4 , be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.3(d)(i)  or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4 , be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

Section 5.4                                     Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 5.9(d)  the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner in its sole discretion shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 5.9(d) , each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4(a)  may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such

 

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Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.

 

(c)                                   The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.4 , (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8 , (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests.  The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued.  The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and, subject to Section 5.9(d) , is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

 

(d)                                  No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.

 

Section 5.5                                     Limited Preemptive Right .  Except as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.

 

Section 5.6                                     Splits and Combinations .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 5.6(d) , the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least twenty (20) days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of such notice.  The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination.  The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

 

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(c)                                   Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes.  If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

 

(d)                                  The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.  If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.4(d)  and this Section 5.6(d) , each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (with fractional Units equal to or greater than 0.5 Unit rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

Section 5.7                                     Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests .  All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.8                                     Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.8 , the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(g)  for each of the four most recently completed Quarters, to make an election (the “ IDR Reset Election ”) to cause the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8(e)  and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the “ IDR Reset Common Units ”) derived by dividing (i) the amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.8(b) ) by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit during each of the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the “ Reset MQD ”) (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “ Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ”).  If at the time of any IDR Reset Election the General Partner and its Affiliates are not the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied.  The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.8(b)  shall cause the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8(e)  and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval

 

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required by the General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.8(c)  unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.8(d) .

 

(b)                                  To exercise the right specified in Section 5.8(a) , the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “ Reset Notice ”) to the Partnership.  Within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate number of Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.

 

(c)                                   The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the 15th Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such Common Units by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.

 

(d)                                  If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.8 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion (on terms acceptable to the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).

 

(e)                                   The Target Distributions shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.8 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to be equal to the Reset MQD, (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 175% of the Reset MQD.

 

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(f)                                    Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8(a)  (or other Partnership Interests as described in Section 5.8(d) ), the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (A)  first , be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units (or other Partnership Interests) in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units (or other Partnership Interests) and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (B)  second , any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights.  In the event that there is not a sufficient Capital Account associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (A) of this Section 5.8(f) , the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A)  and Section 6.1(d)(xi)(B) .

 

Section 5.9                                     Establishment of Class C Preferred Units.

 

(a)                                  General .

 

(i)                                      The General Partner hereby designates and creates a series of Units, including any Class C Preferred PIK Units issued pursuant to Section 5.9(b) , to be designated as “Class C Preferred Units,” having the same rights and preferences, and subject to the same duties and obligations as the Common Units, except as set forth in this Section 5.9 .

 

(ii)                                   The rights of the Class B Preferred Unit Purchasers under the Class B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (each as defined in the Prior Agreement) shall survive the exchange of Class C Preferred Units for Class B Preferred Units as described in the Recitals.

 

(b)                                  Distributions .

 

(i)                                      Commencing with the Quarter ending on June 30, 2019, the holders of the Class C Preferred Units as of an applicable Record Date shall be entitled to receive cumulative distributions (each, a “ Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution ”), prior to any other distributions made in respect of any other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.3 , Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 or any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 12.4), in an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Distribution Rate on all Outstanding Class C Preferred Units.  Distributions shall be paid on or about the last day of each of February, May, August and November following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ended June 30, 2019.  Each Record Date established pursuant to this Section 5.9(b)(i)  for a Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution in respect of any Quarter shall be the same Record Date established for any distribution to be made by the Company in respect of other Company Securities pursuant to Section 6.3 , Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 for such Quarter.  For the Quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distributions must be paid either (i) 100% in cash or (ii) if Available Cash is insufficient to pay the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution in full in cash or such payment is prohibited by the terms of the Partnership’s material financing agreements, 100% in Class C Preferred PIK Units. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution with respect to the Quarter ended June 30, 2019 shall

 

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be paid as though the Class C Preferred Units were outstanding for the whole Quarter notwithstanding that the Class C Preferred Units were exchanged for Class B Preferred Units after such Quarter ended.  For any Quarter beginning with and after the Quarter ending September 30, 2019, the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distributions must be paid 100% in cash, except that to the extent that Available Cash is insufficient to pay the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution in full in cash or such payment is prohibited by the terms of the Partnership’s material financing agreements, all or a portion of the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distributions may be paid in Class C Preferred PIK Units to the extent of such insufficiency or prohibition.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution with respect to the Quarter ending September 30, 2019 shall be paid as though the Class C Preferred Units were outstanding for the whole Quarter notwithstanding that the Class C Preferred Units were exchanged for Class B Preferred Units during such Quarter.  The amount of cash paid to, or accumulated with respect to, a Class C Preferred Holder on account of each Class C Preferred Unit held by such Class C Preferred Holder shall be determined by multiplying the Class C Preferred Distribution Rate by the Class C Preferred Unit Price applicable to such Class C Preferred Unit.  The number of Class C Preferred PIK Units to be issued to a Class C Preferred Holder on account of its Class C Preferred Units in connection with any Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution paid partially in Class C Preferred PIK Units shall be determined by multiplying the Class C Preferred Distribution Rate with respect to such Quarter (expressed as a percentage that is to be paid in Class C Preferred PIK Units) by the number of Class C Preferred Units held by such Class C Preferred Holder.  Any fractional Class C Preferred PIK Unit will be rounded up to the nearest whole Class C Preferred PIK Unit.  Unless otherwise expressly provided, references in this Agreement to Class C Preferred Units shall include all Class C Preferred PIK Units Outstanding as of the date of such determination.  If, in violation of this Agreement, the Partnership fails to pay in full any in-kind portion of a Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution when due, then the holders entitled to the unpaid Class C Preferred PIK Units shall be entitled to Class C Preferred Quarterly Distributions in subsequent Quarters, and to all other rights under this Agreement, as if such unpaid Class C Preferred PIK Units had in fact been distributed on the date due.  Nothing in this Section 5.9(b)(i)  shall alter the obligation of the Partnership to pay any unpaid Class C Preferred PIK Units or the right of Class C Preferred Holders to enforce this Agreement to compel the Partnership to distribute any unpaid Class C Preferred PIK Units.

 

(ii)                                   For any Quarter beginning with and after the Quarter ended June 30, 2019, each Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution shall be paid in cash, Class C Preferred PIK Units or a combination thereof as set forth in Section 5.9(b)(i) .

 

(iii)                                Until the first Quarter in which no Class C Preferred Units remain Outstanding, the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make, any distributions, redemptions or repurchases in respect of any Junior Securities or any Parity Securities.

 

(iv)                               When any Class C Preferred PIK Units are payable to a Class C Preferred Holder pursuant to this Section 5.9 , the Partnership shall make a notation in book-entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent, or, at the request of a Class C Preferred Holder,

 

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issue to such Class C Preferred Holder a Certificate or Certificates for the number of Class C Preferred PIK Units to which such Class C Preferred Holder shall be entitled, and all such Class C Preferred PIK Units shall, when so issued, be duly authorized, validly issued fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien, claim, rights or encumbrances, other than those arising under the Delaware Act or this Agreement.

 

(v)                                  The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of Class C Preferred PIK Units, other than the transfer taxes payable upon the issuance of Class C Preferred PIK Units in a name or names other than that of the Class C Preferred Holder, which shall be paid by the converting Class C Preferred Holder.

 

(vi)                               For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and as otherwise set forth herein, if the Partnership issues one or more Class C Preferred PIK Units with respect to a Class C Preferred Unit, (i) the Partnership shall be treated as distributing cash with respect to such Class C Preferred Unit in an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Distribution Rate attributable to such Class C Preferred PIK Units (rounded up as appropriate with respect to each whole Class C Preferred PIK Unit issued in lieu of a fractional interest therein), and (ii) the holder of such Class C Preferred Unit shall be treated as having contributed to the Partnership in exchange for such newly issued Class C Preferred PIK Units an amount of cash equal to the amount treated as distributed pursuant to this Section 5.9(b)(vi) .

 

(vii)                            Accrued and unpaid distributions in respect of the Class C Preferred Units will not constitute an obligation of the Partnership.

 

(c)                                   Redemption .

 

(i)                                      The Partnership shall have the right to redeem Outstanding Class C Preferred Units as follows:

 

(A)                                commencing on the Execution Date through and including December 31, 2019, the Partnership shall have the right to redeem 66.67% of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units as of the Execution Date for cash in an amount equal to the number of Class C Preferred Units so redeemed multiplied by the greater of (I) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the Class C Preferred Redemption Date) of a Common Unit and (II) 120% of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference;

 

(B)                                commencing January 1, 2020 through and including December 31, 2020, the Partnership shall have the right to redeem 100% of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units for cash in an amount equal to the number of Class C Preferred Units so redeemed multiplied by the greater of (I) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the Class C Preferred

 

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Redemption Date) of a Common Unit and (II) 110% of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference; and

 

(C)                                commencing January 1, 2021, the Partnership shall have the right to redeem 100% of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units for cash in an amount equal to the number of Class C Preferred Units so redeemed multiplied by the greater of (I) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the Class C Preferred Redemption Date) of a Common Unit and (II) the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Class C Preferred Holder have the right to require the Partnership to redeem any Outstanding Class C Preferred Units.

 

(ii)                                   If all Outstanding Class C Preferred Units are not redeemed on or before December 31, 2021, then 100% of all Adjusted Available Cash on hand and thereafter received by the Partnership shall be distributed to the Class C Preferred Holders, pro rata in accordance with each Class C Preferred Holder’s ownership of Outstanding Class C Preferred Units, within five (5) Business Days after the end of each month, with the first distribution to occur no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day of January 2022 and continuing until all Outstanding Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed in accordance with Section 5.9(c)(i)(C) . In connection with each such distribution of Adjusted Available Cash, the number of Class C Preferred Units to be redeemed shall equal the quotient of (x) the amount of Adjusted Available Cash so distributed over (y) the greater of (A) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such Adjusted Available Cash is distributed to the Class C Preferred Holders) and (B) the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference, and any fractional Class C Preferred Unit resulting from such calculation will be rounded down to the nearest whole Class C Preferred Unit.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right of the Class C Preferred Holders to have their Outstanding Class C Preferred Units redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.9(c)(ii)  will be senior in right of payment to all distributions or redemptions of Partnership Interests by the Partnership.

 

(iii)                                Immediately prior to the redemption of the Class C Preferred Units on a Class C Preferred Redemption Date, the Partnership shall (A) with respect to the immediately preceding Quarter for which a distribution pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(i)  has not yet been made, make a distribution pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(i)  for such Quarter with respect to the Class C Preferred Units being redeemed and (B) with respect to the period from the beginning of the Quarter in which a Class C Preferred Redemption Date occurs through such Class C Preferred Redemption Date, make a distribution pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(i)  for such period equal to (y) the product obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Class C Preferred Units held by such Class C Preferred Holder on such Class C Preferred Redemption Date that are being redeemed by (2) the Class C Preferred Distribution Rate, and multiplying such result by (z) a quotient obtained by dividing (1) the number of days from the beginning of the Quarter in which such Class C Preferred Redemption Date occurs through and including such Class C Preferred Redemption Date, by (2) the total number of days in the Quarter in which such Class C Preferred

 

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Redemption Date occurs.  For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution pursuant to this Section 5.9(c)(iii)  shall not be considered part of the Class C Preferred Liquidation Preference.

 

(iv)                               No later than three (3) Trading Days before the Class C Preferred Redemption Date, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto (the “ Class C Preferred Redemption Notice ”) to the Class C Preferred Holders stating that all or a portion of the Class C Preferred Units will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.9(c ) on the Class C Preferred Redemption Date.  The Class C Preferred Redemption Notice shall state therein the number of Class C Preferred Units to be redeemed and the Partnership’s computation of the cash amount to be received by the Class C Preferred Holders upon redemption of such Class C Preferred Units.

 

(v)                                  No later than ten (10) Trading Days following the Class C Preferred Redemption Date, the Partnership shall remit the applicable cash consideration to the Class C Preferred Holders.  The Class C Preferred Holders shall deliver to the Partnership any Certificates representing the Class C Preferred Units as soon as practicable following the Class C Preferred Redemption Date.  Class C Preferred Holders shall retain all of the rights and privileges of the Class C Preferred Units unless and until the full cash consideration due to them as a result of such redemption shall be paid in full in cash.

 

(d)                                  Voting Rights; Amendment .

 

(i)                                      Subject to the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Class C Preferred Units will have such voting rights pursuant to this Agreement identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote together with the Common Units as a single class, and each Class C Preferred Holder will be entitled to one vote per Class C Preferred Unit (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Class C Preferred PIK Units).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Class C Preferred Units shall be entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter on which Unitholders are entitled to vote that adversely affects the rights or preferences of the Class C Preferred Units in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect or as required by law or as otherwise set forth in this Section 5.9(d) .  Each reference in this Agreement to a vote of Unitholders or holders with respect to Common Units, including any action or approval requiring a Unit Majority, shall be deemed to be a reference to the holders of Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding Class C Preferred Units, voting together as a single class during any period in which any Class C Preferred Units are Outstanding.

 

(ii)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Class C Preferred Unit, shall be necessary to amend this Agreement in any manner that (A) alters or changes the rights, powers, privileges or preferences or duties and obligations of the Class C Preferred Units in any material respect, (B)  results in the issuance of any additional Class C Preferred Units, other than Class C Preferred PIK Units, or (C) otherwise adversely affects the Class C Preferred Units, including, without limitation, the creation

 

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(by reclassification or otherwise) or issuance of any class of Senior Securities or Parity Securities (or amending the provisions of any existing class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Senior Securities or Parity Securities);  provided, however , that the Partnership may, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units, create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Junior Securities (including by amending the provisions of any existing class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Junior Securities) in an unlimited amount.

 

(iii)                                To the extent that any proposed amendment to this Agreement would adversely affect any Class C Preferred Holder in a disproportionate manner as compared to any other Class C Preferred Holder, the consent of such Class C Preferred Holder so adversely and disproportionately affected, in addition to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.9(d)(ii) , shall be necessary to effect such amendment.

 

(e)                                   Certificates .

 

(i)                                      If requested by a Class C Preferred Holder, the Class C Preferred Units shall be evidenced by Certificates in such form as the Board of Directors may approve and, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units. The Certificates evidencing Class C Preferred Units shall be separately identified and shall not bear the same CUSIP number as the Certificates evidencing Common Units.

 

(ii)                                   The Certificate(s) representing the Class C Preferred Units may be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT OR THE ISSUER HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT. THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF THE PARTNERSHIP, DATED AS OF AUGUST 2, 2019, A

 

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COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PARTNERSHIP AT ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.”

 

(iii)                                In connection with a sale of Class C Preferred Units pursuant to an effective registration statement or in reliance on Rule 144 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, upon receipt by the Partnership of such information as the Partnership reasonably deems necessary to determine that the sale of the Class C Preferred Units is made in compliance with Rule 144, the Partnership shall remove or cause to be removed the restrictive legend from the Certificate(s) representing such Class C Preferred Units (or the book-entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent), and the Partnership shall bear all costs associated therewith.

 

ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 6.1                                     Allocations for Capital Account Purposes .  For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss (computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b) ) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.

 

(a)                                  Net Income .  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d)  and Section 6.1(e) , Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)                                      First , to the General Partner until the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i)  for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii)  for all previous taxable periods;

 

(ii)                                   Second , to the Class C Preferred Holders in proportion to the amounts to be allocated to each of them under this Section 6.1(a)(ii)  until the Net Income allocated to such holders of Class C Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the Class C Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii)  for all previous taxable periods; and

 

(iii)                                The balance , if any, 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them).

 

(b)                                  Net Loss .  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d)  and Section 6.1(e) , Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)                                      First , to the Unitholders (other than the Class C Preferred Holders), Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them);

 

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provided , that Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i)  to the extent that such allocation would cause any such Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account) as such Adjusted Capital Account would be determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by such Unitholder;

 

(ii)                                   Second , to the Class C Preferred Holders pro rata in accordance with the number of Class C Preferred Units held by them; provided , that the Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii)  to the extent that such allocation would cause any such Class C Preferred Holder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

 

(iii)                                The balance , if any, 100% to the General Partner.

 

(c)                                   Net Termination Gains and Losses.  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d)  and Section 6.1(e) , Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for each taxable period shall be allocated in the manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c) . All allocations under this Section 6.1(c)  shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of cash and cash equivalents provided under Section 5.9 , Section 6.3 , Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however , that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c) , Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4 .

 

(i)                                      Subject to the provisions set forth in the last sentence of this Section 6.1(c)(i) , Net Termination Gain (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain) shall be allocated:

 

(A)                                First , to the General Partner until the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A)  for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C)  for all previous taxable periods;

 

(B)                                Second , to the Class C Preferred Holders in proportion to the amounts to be allocated to each of them under this Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) until the Net Termination Gain allocated to such Class C Preferred Holders pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Termination Loss allocated to the Class C Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(B)  for all previous taxable periods;

 

(C)                                Third , to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them), until the Capital Account in

 

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respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(d)  with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter, and (3) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of cash or cash equivalents that are deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(d)  for such period (the sum of (1), (2), and (3)  is hereinafter referred to as the “ First Liquidation Target Amount ”);

 

(D)                                Fourth , 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 87% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of cash or cash equivalents that are deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(e)  for such period (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Second Liquidation Target Amount ”);

 

(E)                                 Fifth , 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 77% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of cash or cash equivalents that are deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(f)  for such period (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “ Third Liquidation Target Amount ”); and

 

(F)                                  Finally , 35.5% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 64.5% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in this Section 6.1(c)(i) , the General Partner may (1) adjust the amount of any Net Termination Gain arising in connection with a Revaluation Event that is allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in a manner that will result (i) in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value and (ii) to the greatest extent possible, the Capital Account with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights that are Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the amount of Net Termination Gain that would be allocated to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)  if the Capital

 

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Accounts with respect to all Partnership Interests that were Outstanding immediately prior to such Revaluation Event and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property were equal to zero and (2) adjust the allocations of any Net Termination Gain arising in connection with a redemption of Class C Preferred Units, so as to cause the Per Unit Capital Amount associated with each Class C Preferred Unit being redeemed (after adjustment to take into account required allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction) to equal, to the maximum extent possible, the Class C Preferred Unit Liquidation Amount with respect to such Class C Preferred Unit.

 

(ii)                                   Net Termination Loss shall be allocated:

 

(A)                                First , to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Class C Preferred Units then held by them) until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

 

(B)                                Second , to the Class C Preferred Holders, pro rata in accordance with the number of Class C Preferred Units held by them until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and

 

(C)                                The balance , if any, 100% to the General Partner.

 

(d)                                  Special Allocations.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , the following special allocations shall be made for each taxable period in the following order:

 

(i)                                      Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income, gain and Simulated Gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(d) , each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income, gain and Simulated Gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)  with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi)  or Section 6.1(d)(vii) ).  This Section 6.1(d)(i)  is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(ii)                                   Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain .  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i) ), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income, gain and Simulated Gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any

 

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successor provisions.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(d) , each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income, gain or Simulated Gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) , other than Section 6.1(d)(i)  and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi)  or Section 6.1(d)(vii) , with respect to such taxable period.  This Section 6.1(d)(ii)  is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(iii)                                Priority Allocations .

 

(A)                                If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4 ) with respect to a Unit for a taxable period exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit within the same taxable period (the amount of the excess, an “Excess Distribution” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid, an “Excess Distribution Unit”), then there shall be allocated gross income and gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to such Excess Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A)  for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution; provided, however, that this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A)  shall not apply to any Excess Distribution in respect to or measured by a distribution to a Class C Preferred Unit and shall not apply to the extent distributions are not made with respect to a Deemed Issued Junior Security.

 

(B)                                After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) , the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B)  for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period.

 

(iv)                               Qualified Income Offset .  In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership gross income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible; provided , that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iv)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(iv)  were not in this Agreement.

 

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(v)                                  Gross Income Allocation .  In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income, gain and Simulated Gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided , that an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(v)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv)  and this Section 6.1(d)(v)  were not in this Agreement.

 

(vi)                               Nonrecourse Deductions .  Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Common Unitholders Pro Rata.  If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

(vii)                            Partner Nonrecourse Deductions .  Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).  If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, the Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.

 

(viii)                         Nonrecourse Liabilities .  For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated as determined by the General Partner in accordance with any permissible method under Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3).

 

(ix)                               Code Section 754 Adjustments .  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or Simulated Gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss or Simulated Loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) taken into account pursuant to Section 5.3 , and such item of gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

 

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(x)                                  Exercise of Noncompensatory Option .  Upon the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, the General Partner shall make such special allocations as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(2).

 

(xi)                               Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law .

 

(A)                                With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  during any taxable period of the Partnership ending upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8 , any Unrealized Gains and Unrealized Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.8 equaling the product of (1) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (2) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.

 

(B)                                With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Common Unit is transferred to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the transferor Partner of such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit until such transferor Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.

 

(C)                                For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof).  The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(C)  only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or the Partnership.

 

(xii)                            Curative Allocation .

 

(A)                                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of gross income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated

 

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Gain and Simulated Loss allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1 .  In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) , the General Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made.  Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A)  shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners.

 

(B)                                The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A)  in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A)  among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(xiii)                         Equalization of Capital Accounts With Respect to Privately Placed Units . Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss deemed recognized as a result of a Revaluation Event shall first be allocated to the (A) Unitholders holding Privately Placed Units, Pro Rata, or (B) Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, as applicable, to the extent necessary to cause the Capital Account in respect of each Privately Placed Unit then Outstanding to equal the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit (other than Privately Placed Units) then Outstanding.

 

(xiv)                        Corrective and Other Allocations .  In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:

 

(A)                                The General Partner shall allocate Additional Book Basis Derivative Items consisting of depreciation, amortization, Simulated Depletion or any other form of cost recovery (other than Additional Book Basis Derivative Items included in Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) with respect to any Adjusted Property to the Unitholders and the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, all in the same proportion as the Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss resulting from the Revaluation Event that gave rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to Section 6.1(c) .

 

(B)                                If a sale or other taxable disposition of an Adjusted Property (“ Disposed of Adjusted Property ”) occurs other than in connection with an event giving rise to Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, the General Partner shall allocate (1) items of gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis

 

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Derivative Items with respect to the Disposed of Adjusted Property (determined in accordance with the last sentence of the definition of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items) treated as having been allocated to the Unitholders pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(B)  exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(B) , the Unitholders shall be treated as having been allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under the Partnership Agreement.  Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(B)  shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xiv)  were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.

 

(C)                                Net Termination Loss in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) such Net Termination Loss and (2) the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible, the Capital Account balances of the Partners will equal the amount they would have been had no prior Book-Up Events occurred, and any remaining Net Termination Loss shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)  hereof.  In allocating Net Termination Loss pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(C) , the General Partner shall attempt, to the extent possible, to cause the Capital Accounts of the Unitholders, on the one hand, and holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, on the other hand, to equal the amount they would equal if (i) the Carrying Values of the Partnership’s property had not been previously adjusted in connection with any prior Book-Up Events, (ii) Unrealized Gain and Unrealized Loss (or, in the case of a liquidation, actual gain or loss) with respect to such Partnership Property were determined with respect to such unadjusted Carrying Values, and (iii) any resulting Net Termination Gain had been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)  (including, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account the provisions set forth in the last sentence of Section 6.1(c)(i) .

 

(D)                                In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xiv) , the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xiv) .  Without limiting the foregoing, if an Adjusted Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “ lower tier partnership ”), the General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(A)  through Section 6.1(d)(xiv)(C)  to the extent the General Partner determines such allocations are necessary to account for the Partnership’s allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the lower tier partnership that relate to the contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xiv) .

 

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(xv)                           Allocations with respect to Class C Preferred Units .

 

(A)                                Items of Partnership gross income shall be allocated to the Class C Preferred Holders in amounts equal to the amount of cash actually distributed in respect of each such holder’s Class C Preferred Units and the amount of cash treated as having been distributed with respect to Class C Preferred Units upon issuance of Class C Preferred PIK Units, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated pursuant hereto for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all cash distributions actually made to the Class C Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 5.9(b)  or treated as having been made upon the issuance of Class C Preferred PIK Units pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(vi) ; provided that the allocations to a Class C Preferred Holder with respect to any distributions provided under this Section 6.1(d)(xv)  shall be reduced to the extent such distributions are properly treated as guaranteed payments under Section 707(c) of the Code or payments to such Class C Preferred Holder other than in its capacity as a partner pursuant to Section 707(a) of the Code.

 

(B)                                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the redemption of the last Outstanding Class C Preferred Unit and (B) after tentatively making all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Class C Preferred Unit does not equal or exceed the Class C Preferred Unit Liquidation Amount, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner, to the maximum extent possible, first to cause the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit to equal the Class C Preferred Unit Liquidation Amount.  For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amount balances described above, items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than Class C Preferred Units to Class C Preferred Holders.  In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xv)(B)  fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xv)(B) , cause, the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit to equal the Class C Preferred Unit Liquidation Amount.

 

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(xvi)                        Allocations with respect to Warrant Securities .

 

(A)                                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), and prior to any allocations in Section 6.1(d)  (other than the Required Allocations), Net Termination Gain, Net Termination Loss or items of income, gain, loss or deduction included therein deemed recognized as a result of a Revaluation Event shall first be allocated to (a) the holders of the Deemed Issued Junior Securities or the Junior Securities issued in connection with the exercise of the 2019 Warrant (collectively, the “Warrant Securities”), in respect of such securities, or (b) Unitholders holding Junior Securities (other than Warrant Securities), as applicable, to the extent necessary to cause the Capital Account of each such Warrant Security to equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of the same class or series of Partnership Interests (other than the Warrant Securities) then Outstanding; provided, however , in the event that the 2019 Warrant is not exercised during the Exercise Period, then Net Termination Loss or items of loss or deduction included therein deemed recognized as a result of a Revaluation Event shall be allocated first to the holders of Deemed Issued Junior Securities to cause the Capital Account in respect of each Deemed Issued Junior Security to be equal to zero.

 

(B)                                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs and (B) after tentatively making all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Capital Account of each Junior Security does not equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of the same class or series of Partnership Interests then Outstanding, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner, to the maximum extent possible, first to cause the Capital Account of each Junior Security to equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of the same class or series of Partnership Interests then Outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amount balances described above, items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than those issued pursuant to exercise of the 2019 Warrant to the holders of the Junior Securities issued pursuant to the 2019 Warrant. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xvi)(B)  fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xvi)(B) , cause the Capital Account in respect of each Junior Security (and assuming that the 2019 Warrant will be exercised as of

 

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the Liquidation Date) to equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of the same class or series of Partnership Interests (other than Warrant Securities) then Outstanding as of the Liquidation Date.

 

(C)                                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), in the event the Liquidation Date occurs prior to exercise of the 2019 Warrant and there remains a Capital Account in respect of the Deemed Issued Junior Securities, items of loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated first among the holders of Deemed Issued Junior Securities in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner, to the maximum extent possible, to cause the Capital Account in respect of each Deemed Issued Junior Security to be equal to zero.  For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Capital Account balances described above, items of loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than Deemed Issued Junior Securities. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xvi)(C)  fails to achieve the Capital Accounts described above, items of loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xvi)(C) , cause the Capital Account in respect of each Deemed Issued Junior Security to be equal to zero.

 

(e)                                   Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss .

 

(i)                                      Except as otherwise required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k), Simulated Depletion with respect to each oil and gas property shall be allocated (A) first, among the Common Unitholders Pro Rata until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; (B) second, to the Class C Preferred Holders, pro rata in accordance with the number of Class C Preferred Units held by them until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and (C) thereafter, to the General Partner.

 

(ii)                                   Simulated Loss with respect to the disposition of an oil and gas property shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their allocable share of total amount realized from such disposition under Section 6.2(c)(i) .

 

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Section 6.2                                     Allocations for Tax Purposes .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(b)                                  The deduction for depletion with respect to each separate oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) shall be computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes separately by the Partners rather than by the Partnership in accordance with Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code. Except as provided in Section 6.2(c)(iii) , for purposes of such computation (before taking into account any adjustments resulting from an election made by the Partnership under Section 754 of the Code), the adjusted tax basis of each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner to permit the Partners to take deductions for depletion, as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the maximum extent permissible in a manner consistent with the Partnership’s allocations of Simulated Depletion. Each Partner shall separately keep records of his adjusted tax basis in each oil and gas property, as initially determined by the General Partner as provided above, adjust such share of the adjusted tax basis for any cost or percentage depletion allowable with respect to such property, and use such adjusted tax basis in the computation of its cost depletion or in the computation of his gain or loss on the disposition of such property by the Partnership.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 6.2(c)(iii) , for the purposes of the separate computation of gain or loss by each Partner on the sale or disposition of each separate oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), the Partnership’s allocable share of the “amount realized” (as such term is defined in Section 1001(b) of the Code) from such sale or disposition shall be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

 

(i)                                      first, to the extent such amount realized constitutes a recovery of the Simulated Basis of the property, to the Partners in the same proportion as the depletable basis of such property was allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(b)  (without regard to any special allocation of basis under Section 6.2(c)(iii) );

 

(ii)                                   second, the remainder of such amount realized, if any, to the Partners so that, to the maximum extent possible, the amount realized allocated to each Partner under this Section 6.2(c)(ii)  will equal such Partner’s share of the Simulated Gain recognized by the Partnership from such sale or disposition.

 

(iii)                                The Partners recognize that with respect to Contributed Property and Adjusted Property there will be a difference between the Carrying Value of such property at the time of contribution or revaluation, as the case may be, and the adjusted tax basis of such property at that time. All items of tax depreciation, cost recovery, amortization, adjusted tax basis of depletable properties, amount realized and gain or loss with respect to such Contributed Property and Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners to take into account the disparities between the Carrying Values and the adjusted tax

 

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basis with respect to such properties in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d).

 

(d)                                  In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, other than oil and gas properties pursuant to Section 6.2(c) , items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into account the General Partner’s discretion under Section 6.1(d)(xi)(C) ); provided , that the General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.

 

(e)                                   The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto.  If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property.  If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

 

(f)                                    In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2 , be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.

 

(g)                                   All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.

 

(h)                                  Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided , however , that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership

 

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or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for federal income tax purposes.  The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent the General Partner determines necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder or for the proper administration of the Partnership.

 

(i)                                      Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.

 

(j)                                     If, as a result of an exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the General Partner may make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

Section 6.3                                     Distributions; Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .

 

(a)                                  On or about the last day of each of February, May, August and November following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner.  All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of cash and cash equivalents theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter.  Any remaining amounts of cash and cash equivalents distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5 , be deemed to be “ Capital Surplus .” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement or otherwise made by the Partnership shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) , in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all Partnership assets shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4 .

 

(c)                                   The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Partners, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.

 

(d)                                  Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through any Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. 

 

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Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

Section 6.4                                     Distributions from Operating Surplus . Cash and cash equivalents that are deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.4(b)  in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:

 

(a)                                  First , to the Unitholders holding Class C Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution;

 

(b)                                  Second to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

 

(c)                                   Third , to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

 

(d)                                  Fourth , (A) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 87% to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

 

(e)                                   Thereafter , all cash and cash equivalents that are distributed shall be distributed as if they were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4 .

 

(f)                                    Fifth , (A) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 77% to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

 

(g)                                   Thereafter , (A) 35.5% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (B) 64.5% to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata;

 

provided , however , that if the Target Distributions have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a) , the distribution of cash or cash equivalents that are deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(g) .

 

Section 6.5                                     Distributions from Capital Surplus .  Cash and cash equivalents that are distributed and deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a)  shall be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise;

 

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(a)                                  First , 100% to Unitholders holding Class C Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Class C Preferred Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Class C Preferred Quarterly Distribution; and

 

(b)                                  Second , 100% to Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a) .

 

Section 6.6                                     Adjustment of Target Distribution Levels .

 

(a)                                  The Target Distributions shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Interests.  In the event of a distribution of cash or cash equivalents that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then-applicable Target Distributions shall be reduced in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units immediately prior to the announcement of the distribution.  If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the ex-dividend date.  If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the fair market value will be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                  The Target Distributions shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.8 and Section 6.8 .

 

Section 6.7                                     Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of IDR Reset Common Units .

 

(a)                                  A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer an IDR Reset Common Unit (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.3(c)(ii) .

 

(b)                                  A Unitholder holding an IDR Reset Common Unit shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that upon transfer each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics to the transferee, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit to such transferee.  In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(b) , the General Partner may apply Section 5.3(c)(ii) , Section 6.1(d)(xi)  and Section 6.7(a)  or, to the extent not resulting in a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units, take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such IDR Reset Common Units.

 

Section 6.8                                     Entity-Level Taxation .  If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation applicable to the Group Member),

 

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then the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce the Target Distributions by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “ Incremental Income Taxes ”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.8 .  If the General Partner elects to reduce the Target Distributions for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “ Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount ”) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined.  For each such Quarter, the Target Distributions, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.8 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) cash and cash equivalents with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of cash and cash equivalents with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner.  For purposes of the foregoing, cash and cash equivalents with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.

 

Section 6.9                                     Special Provisions Relating to the Class C Preferred Holders .  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Class C Preferred Holder shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder.

 

Section 6.10                              Special Provisions Relating to the 2019 Warrant .

 

(i)                                      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, and solely for U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes (including, but not limited to, maintaining Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 5.3 and allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 ), the 2019 Warrant shall be treated as exercised for the Junior Securities issuable upon exercise of the 2019 Warrant that are not entitled to any distributions (each a “ Deemed Issued Junior Security ”) and issued to the holder of the 2019 Warrant (x) as of August 2, 2019, and (y) at each time during the Exercise Period ending on the Exercise Date if an actual exercise pursuant to the 2019 Warrant at such time would result in additional Junior Securities being issued in excess of Deemed Issued Junior Securities deemed issued pursuant to clause (x) above.

 

(ii)                                   A Unitholder holding a Junior Security that has resulted from the exercise of the 2019 Warrant shall not be issued a Certificate evidencing the applicable Junior Security pursuant to Section 4.1 , if the applicable Junior Securities are then evidenced by Certificates, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Junior Security to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Junior Security should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics of a Junior Security, provided that in all events such determination shall be made within five (5) Business Days of the date of the exercise of a 2019 Warrant. In connection with the

 

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condition imposed by this Section 6.10(ii) , the General Partner shall act in good faith to provide economic uniformity to such Junior Securities in preparation for a transfer of such Junior Securities, including the application of this Section 6.10(ii) ; provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Junior Securities.

 

ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1                                     Management .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, including without limitation Section 5.9 , but without limitation on the ability of the General Partner to delegate its rights and powers to other Persons, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no other Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership.  In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 5.9 and Section 7.4 , shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4 , including the following:

 

(i)                                      the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible or exchangeable into Partnership Interests, and the incurring of any other obligations;

 

(ii)                                   the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

 

(iii)                                the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, grant of a security interest in or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.4 or Article XIV );

 

(iv)                               the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;

 

(v)                                  the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party

 

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to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if the same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);

 

(vi)                               the distribution of cash or cash equivalents by the Partnership;

 

(vii)                            the selection, employment, retention and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the General Partner or the Partnership Group and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

(viii)                         the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;

 

(ix)                               the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time);

 

(x)                                  the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

 

(xi)                               the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

(xii)                            the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange;

 

(xiii)                         the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance, purchase or other acquisition of options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests;

 

(xiv)                        the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the management of any Group Member; and

 

(xv)                           the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Partners and each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, each Transaction Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as

 

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exhibits to the Registration Statement (in the case of each agreement other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements after the date hereof); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform or assume the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, the other Persons who acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest and the Persons who are otherwise bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery, performance or assumption by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV ) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise that the General Partner may owe the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the other Persons who acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest or the Persons who are otherwise bound by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.2                                     Replacement of Fiduciary Duties .

 

(a)                                  Each Limited Partner and any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, hereby agrees that (i) all fiduciary duties that would or could otherwise be owed to such Persons or to the Partnership by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or by any Indemnitee under the Delaware Act or any other applicable law are hereby eliminated and (ii) the only duties owed by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any Indemnitee to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in any Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement shall be the duties expressly provided under this Agreement and any duties provided under the Delaware Act or other applicable law that cannot be eliminated by agreement.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted (a) to have the effect of replacing, restricting or eliminating the duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner or any other Indemnitee to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, or (b) to constitute a waiver or consent by the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement to any such replacement, restriction or elimination, such provision shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partnership, all the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3                                     Certificate of Limited Partnership .  The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property.  To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be

 

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necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property.  Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a) , the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Partner.

 

Section 7.4                                     Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority .  Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV , the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the approval of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

 

Section 7.5                                     Reimbursement of the General Partner .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner and its Affiliates, without duplication, shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person (including Affiliates of the General Partner), to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group, including the fees and expenses payable by the Partnership pursuant to the Transaction Agreements), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates).  The General Partner shall determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to the General Partner or any member of the Partnership Group.  Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7 .  The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon revenues or gross margin of any member of the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment for such management fee exceeds the amount of such fee.

 

(b)                                  The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof except and to the extent required under the rules of a National Securities Exchange to which the Partnership or its securities are subject), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership benefit plans, programs and practices (including the LTIP and other plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests (or other awards under the LTIP) in connection with, or pursuant to, any benefit plan, program or practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees, officers, consultants and directors of the General Partner or its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or

 

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indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group.  The Partnership agrees to issue or sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees, officers, consultants and directors pursuant to any such benefit plans, programs or practices.  Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates, from the Partnership or otherwise, to fulfill awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.5(a) .  Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any benefit plans, programs or practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.5(b)  shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 .

 

Section 7.6                                     Outside Activities .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, (B) the acquisition, ownership or disposition of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member or (C) the guarantee of, and mortgage, pledge, or encumbrance of any or all of its assets in connection with, any indebtedness of any Group Member.

 

(b)                                  Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member.  No such business interest or activity shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, or obligation of any type whatsoever to the Partnership or other Group Member, any Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any Person who is otherwise bound by this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Subject to the terms of Section 7.6(a)  and Section 7.6(b) , but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.6 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary or any other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, or obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the

 

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Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner).  No Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to any Group Member, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership or any other Group Member, any Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is otherwise bound by this Agreement for breach of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, or obligation of any type whatsoever by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity information to any Group Member.

 

(d)                                  The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Interests acquired by them.  The term “ Affiliates ” when used in this Section 7.6(d)  with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

 

Section 7.7                                     Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by law, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.  Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

(b)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a)  in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 , the Indemnitee is not entitled

 

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to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.7 .

 

(c)                                   The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, or as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                  The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of an Indemnitee and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Indemnitee in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Indemnitee’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   For purposes of this Section 7.7 , the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a) ; and action taken or omitted by an Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

(f)                                    In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(h)                                  The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

(i)                                      No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims

 

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arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.8                                     Liability of Indemnitees .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Partners or any other Persons who have acquired interests in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.  In the case where an Indemnitee is liable for damages, those damages shall only be direct damages and shall not include punitive damages, consequential damages or lost profits.

 

(b)                                  The General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

 

(c)                                   To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership, the Partners, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the Partnership, the Partners, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, for its reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.9                                     Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

 

(a)                                  Whenever the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliates of the General Partner cause the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors, such committee or such Affiliates causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any higher standard

 

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contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.  A determination, other action or failure to act by the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) will be deemed to be in good faith unless the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) believed such determination, other action or failure to act was adverse to the interests of the Partnership; provided , that if the Board of Directors of the General Partner is making a determination or taking or declining to take an action pursuant to clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.9(c) , then in lieu thereof, such determination or other action or inaction will be deemed to be in good faith for all purposes of this Agreement unless the Board of Directors of the General Partner believed such determination, other action or inaction did not meet the standard set forth in clause (iii) or (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.9(c) , as applicable; provided , further , that if the Board of Directors of the General Partner is making a determination that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of a Conflicts Committee, then in lieu thereof, such determination will be deemed to be in good faith for all purposes of this Agreement unless the Board of Directors of the General Partner believed that the director did not satisfy the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee.  In any proceeding brought by the Partnership, any Limited Partner, or any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement challenging such action, determination or failure to act, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or failure to act was not in good faith.

 

(b)                                  Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who otherwise is bound by this Agreement, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.  By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases, “at the option of the General Partner,” “in its sole discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity.  For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

 

(c)                                   Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement on the other hand, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or

 

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its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership).  The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, seek Unitholder Approval or adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder Approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in its sole discretion.  If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors of the General Partner acted in good faith.  In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging any action by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval by the General Partner, any action by the Board of Directors of the General Partner in determining whether the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or whether a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors of the General Partner, as applicable, acted in good faith; in all cases subject to the provisions for conclusive determination in Section 7.10(b) .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

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(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates or any other Indemnitee shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use.  Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be in its sole discretion.

 

(e)                                   The Partners, each Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9 .

 

(f)                                    For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee), the officers of the General Partner or any Affiliates of the General Partner make a determination on behalf of the General Partner, or cause the General Partner to take or omit to take any action, whether in the General Partner’s capacity as the General Partner or in its individual capacity, the standards of care applicable to the General Partner shall apply to such Persons, and such Persons shall be entitled to all benefits and rights of the General Partner hereunder, including waivers and modifications of duties, protections and presumptions, as if such Persons were the General Partner hereunder.

 

(g)                                   The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge and agree that none of the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof is under any obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions, and that none of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee shall be liable to the Limited Partners for monetary damages or equitable relief or losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions.

 

Section 7.10                              Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Indemnitees .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner, the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) and any other Indemnitee may rely upon, and shall be protected from liability to the Partnership, any Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest, and any other Person bound by this Agreement in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(b)                                  The General Partner, the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) and any other Indemnitee may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers (collectively, “ Advisers ”) selected by it, and any act taken or omitted in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be

 

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conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.  In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partners, each Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, hereby agrees that so long as the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) referenced above is of an Adviser as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence, the conclusive good faith presumption will apply irrespective of the matters included in or omitted from any such advice or opinion.

 

(c)                                   The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of any Group Member.

 

Section 7.11                              Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests .  The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests.  As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein.  The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Article IV and Article X .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, any Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests that are purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership or any Group Member may, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be canceled or held by the Partnership in treasury and, if so held in treasury, shall no longer be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, Partnership Interests or Derivative Instruments that are canceled or held by the Partnership in treasury (a) shall not be allocated Net Income (Loss) pursuant to Article VI , (b) shall not be entitled to distributions pursuant to Article VI , and (c) shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes.

 

Section 7.12                              Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates .

 

(a)                                  If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12 , any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the “ Holder ”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Interests specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) ; provided, further ,

 

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that if the General Partner determines that a postponement of the requested registration would be in the best interests of the Partnership and its Partners due to a pending transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the effectiveness thereof may be deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter.  In connection with any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states.  Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

(b)                                  If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of Partnership Interests for cash (other than an offering relating solely to a benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of Partnership Interests held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided , however, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the Partnership Interests of the Holder once the registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of Partnership Interests pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act.  If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b)  shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Interests would adversely and materially affect the timing or success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of Partnership Interests held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering.  Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.  During the two-year period set forth in Section 7.12(d) , the Partnership shall not grant to any other Person registration rights similar to the rights set forth in this Section 7.12(b)  that are superior to such rights without the consent of the General Partner (and any of its Affiliates) that holds rights pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) .

 

(c)                                   If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12 , the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters.  Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7 , the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Indemnified Persons ”) from

 

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and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(c)  as a “ claim ” and in the plural as “ claims ”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Interests were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

(d)                                  The provisions of Section 7.12(a)  and Section 7.12(b)  shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Interests with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file after such two-year period successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Interests for which registration was demanded during such two-year period.  The provisions of Section 7.12(c)  shall continue in effect thereafter.

 

(e)                                   The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Interests, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Interests with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12 .

 

(f)                                    Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Interests, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and

 

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materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Interests.

 

(g)                                   The Partnership may enter into separate registration rights agreements with the General Partner or any of its Affiliates.

 

Section 7.13                              Reliance by Third Parties .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially.  Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing.  In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives.  Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 8.1                                     Records and Accounting .  The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a) .  Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time.  The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

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Section 8.2                                     Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

 

Section 8.3                                     Reports .

 

(a)                                  As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means, to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

(b)                                  As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 50 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

(c)                                   The General Partner shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder as required by this Section 8.3 if it has either (i) filed such report with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such report is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1                                     Tax Returns and Information .  The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or year that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner.  In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31.  The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends; provided that, if the 90 th  day is not a Business Day, then the 90 th  day shall be deemed to be the next Business Day.  The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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Section 9.2                                     Tax Elections .

 

(a)                                  The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners.  Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(h)  without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.

 

Section 9.3                                     Tax Controversies .  Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code as in effect prior to the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015) and the “partnership representative” (as defined in Section 6223 of the Code following the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. In its capacity as “partnership representative,” the General Partner shall exercise, in its sole discretion, any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, including, without limitation, (i) binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings. Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the General Partner if the Partnership has either (a) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (b) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available. The General Partner may amend the provisions of this Agreement as determined appropriate in order to minimize the potential U.S. federal and state or local income tax consequences to current and former Limited Partners, and for the proper administration of the Partnership, upon any amendment to the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Subtitle A of the Code, as enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, or the promulgation of regulations or publication of other administrative guidance thereunder.

 

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Section 9.4                                     Withholding; Tax Payments .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, all or less than all of the Partners, either as a distribution of cash to such Partners or as a general expense of the Partnership, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code.  To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

 

(c)                                   If any Partner (or any of its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates) is required to join in the filing of a combined group tax return for Texas franchise tax purposes with any member of the Partnership Group, the Partnership shall prepare such combined group return or reimburse such Partner for the cost of preparing such combined group return, and if such Partner (or any of its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates) pays the Texas franchise tax due with respect to such combined group return, the Partnership shall promptly reimburse the Partner in an amount equal to the incremental amount of Texas franchise tax due to the State of Texas (or any agency or instrumentality thereof) from such Partner (or any of its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates).  No amounts reimbursed pursuant hereto shall be treated as a distribution to the Partner with respect to its Partnership Interest (and instead will be treated as a reimbursement of Partnership expenses paid by the Partner or its Affiliates).  The Partnership and the Partners shall cooperate in the preparation and filing of any such tax returns, including sharing of information reasonably necessary to the preparation of such tax returns.

 

ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1                              Admission of Limited Partners .

 

(a)                                  A Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement if such Person purchases or otherwise lawfully acquires any Limited Partner Interest and becomes the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests in accordance with the provisions of Article IV or Article V hereof.  A Person may become a Record Holder of a Unit without the consent or approval of any of the Partners.  A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and until such Person is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.  The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.8 .

 

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(b)                                  The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed on the books and records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent.  The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).  A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1 .

 

(c)                                   Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(a) .

 

Section 10.2                              Admission of Successor General Partner .  A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 , provided, however , that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission.  Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

 

Section 10.3                              Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership .  To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.

 

ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1                              Withdrawal of the General Partner .

 

(a)                                  The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “ Event of Withdrawal ”);

 

(i)                                      The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;

 

(ii)                                   The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 ;

 

(iii)                                The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 ;

 

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(iv)                               The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv) ; or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

 

(v)                                  A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or

 

(vi)                               (A) if the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) if the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) if the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) if the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise upon the termination of the General Partner.

 

If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , Section 11.1(a)(v) , Section 11.1(a)(vi)(A) , (B) , (C)  or (E)  occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence.  The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 11:59 pm, prevailing Eastern Standard Time, on September 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided , that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“ Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 11:59 pm, prevailing Eastern Standard Time, on September 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii)  or is removed pursuant to

 

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Section 11.2 ; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units.  The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members.  If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i) , a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner.  The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to carry on the business of the Partnership and the other Group Members.  If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i) , a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 .  Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 .

 

Section 11.2                              Removal of the General Partner .  The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class.  Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by a Unit Majority (including Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).  Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2 .  The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member.  If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 , such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.2 , automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to carry on the business of the Partnership and the other Group Members.  The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel.  Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 .

 

Section 11.3                              Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner .

 

(a)                                  In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , the

 

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Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal.  If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest.  In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.5 , including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

 

For purposes of this Section 11.3(a) , the fair market value of the Combined Interest (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include a value for the non-economic General Partner Interest) shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter.  If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest.  In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the value of the Units, including the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner, the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.

 

(b)                                  If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a) , the Departing General Partner (and its Affiliates, if applicable) shall become a Limited Partner and the Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a) , without reduction in such Partnership Interest and taking into account both the

 

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value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the non-economic General Partner Interest.  Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner becomes a Limited Partner.  For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (and its Affiliates, if applicable) contributed the Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

 

(c)                                   If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a)  is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date.  In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled.  In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.

 

Section 11.4                              Withdrawal of Limited Partners .  No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however , that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

 

ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 12.1                              Dissolution .  The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1 , Section 11.2 or Section 12.2 , the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership.  Subject to Section 12.2 , the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a)                                  an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)  (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii) ), unless a successor is elected and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by a Unit Majority;

 

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(c)                                   the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act;

 

(d)                                  at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act; or

 

(e)                                   any other dissolution event as required by the Delaware Act.

 

Section 12.2                              Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution .  Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i)  or Section 11.1(a)(iii)  and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , Section 11.1(a)(v)  or Section 11.1(a)(vi) , then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by a Unit Majority.  Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs.  If such an election is so made, then:

 

(i)                                      the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII ;

 

(ii)                                   if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3 ; and

 

(iii)                                the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement; provided , that the right of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

Section 12.3                              Liquidator .  Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 , the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator.  The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by a Unit Majority.  The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by a Unit Majority.  Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by a

 

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Unit Majority.  The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided.  Except as expressly provided in this Article XII , the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.4 ) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

Section 12.4                              Liquidation .  The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

 

(a)                                  The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree.  If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c)  to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners.  The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.  The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

 

(b)                                  Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3 ) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI .  With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment.  When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

 

(c)                                   All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b)  shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c) ) for the taxable period of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable period (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).

 

Section 12.5                              Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership .  Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all

 

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qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

Section 12.6                              Return of Contributions .  The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.

 

Section 12.7                              Waiver of Partition .  To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

 

Section 12.8                              Capital Account Restoration .  No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership.  The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable period of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.

 

ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1                              Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner .  Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

 

(a)                                  a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

 

(b)                                  admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(d)                                  subject to Section 5.9(d) , a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different

 

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classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.6 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e)                                   a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “ Quarter ” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

 

(f)                                    an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

 

(g)                                   subject to Section 5.9(d) , an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.4 ;

 

(h)                                  any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;

 

(i)                                      an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3 ;

 

(j)                                     an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 or Section 7.1(a) ;

 

(k)                                  a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d) ; or

 

(l)                                      any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.

 

Section 13.2                              Amendment Procedures .  Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so in its sole discretion, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any

 

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other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.  An amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3 , a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law.  Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment.  If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment.  The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments.  In proposing or approving any amendment that requires a vote of the Unitholders hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner may propose and approve any such amendment in its sole discretion and shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.  The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has either (i) filed such amendment with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such amendment is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such amendment available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership

 

Section 13.3                              Amendment Requirements .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2 , no provision of this Agreement (other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4 ) that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) or requires a vote or approval of Partners (or a subset of Partners) holding a specified Percentage Interest required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such percentage, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced or the affirmative vote of Partners whose aggregate Percentage Interests constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, as applicable.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2 , no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of (including requiring any holder of a class of Partnership Interests to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership) any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) , or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict, change or modify in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 14.3 or Section 13.1 , any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.  If the General Partner determines an amendment does not satisfy the requirements of Section 13.1(d)(i)  because it

 

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adversely affects one or more classes of Partnership Interests, as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, in any material respect, such amendment shall only be required to be approved by the adversely affected class or classes.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b) , no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.

 

(e)                                   Except as provided in Section 13.1 , the approval of Limited Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) holding at least 75% of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners shall be required to alter, amend or adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal this Section 13.3 , Section 13.4 , Section 13.5 , Section 13.9 and Section 13.11 .

 

Section 13.4                              Special Meetings .  All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII .  Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed.  Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called.  Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent.  A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1 .  Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

 

Section 13.5                              Notice of a Meeting .  Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1 .  The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.

 

Section 13.6                              Record Date .  For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange

 

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on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.  If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11 .

 

Section 13.7                              Adjournment .  Any meeting may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting one or more times for any reason, including the failure of a quorum to be present at the meeting with respect to any proposal or the failure of any proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No Limited Partner vote shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting as to one or more proposals regardless of whether action has been taken on other matters.  If a quorum is present with respect to any one or more proposals, the chairman of the meeting may, but shall not be required to, cause a vote to be taken with respect to any such proposal or proposals which vote can be certified as final and effective notwithstanding the adjournment of the meeting with respect to any other proposal or proposals. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days.  At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII .

 

Section 13.8                              Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes .  The transaction of business at any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy.  Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the sufficiency of notice, in which case, if notice to such Limited Partner is not in compliance with this Agreement, then attendance by such Limited Partner shall not constitute waiver of notice.

 

Section 13.9                              Quorum and Voting .  The holders of a majority, by Percentage Interest, of Partnership Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Partners requires approval by holders of a greater Percentage Interest, in which case the quorum shall be such greater Percentage Interest.  The Limited Partners holding Outstanding Common Units shall be entitled to one vote per Unit on all matters submitted to the Limited Partners for approval.  At any meeting of the Partners at which a quorum is present, the act of Partners holding Partnership Interests that, in the aggregate, represent a majority of the Percentage Interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to

 

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constitute the act of all Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Partners holding Partnership Interests that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required; provided, however, that if, as a matter of law or amendment to this Agreement, approval by plurality vote of Partners (or any class thereof) is required to approve any action, no minimum quorum shall be required.  The Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by Partners holding the required Percentage Interest specified in this Agreement.

 

Section 13.10                       Conduct of a Meeting .  The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4 , the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting.  The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting.  All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner.  The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.  A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Limited Partner shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.  Subject to the provisions of the Delaware Act or this Agreement, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, shall govern all matters concerning the giving, voting or validity of proxies, as if the Partnership were a Delaware corporation and the Limited Partners were stockholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

Section 13.11                       Action Without a Meeting .  Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage, by Percentage Interest, of the Partnership Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner), as the case may be, that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners entitled to vote at such meeting were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern).  Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing.  The General Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner.  If a ballot returned to the Partnership does

 

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not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted.  If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner and (b) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.  Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require the General Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the holders of the requisite percentage of Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

 

Section 13.12                       Right to Vote and Related Matters .

 

(a)                                  Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act.  All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.

 

(b)                                  With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry.  The provisions of this Section 13.12(b)  (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 .

 

Section 13.13                       Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights .

 

(a)                                  For so long as a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Rights on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law and the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, in their capacity as such, shall be deemed to have approved any matter approved by the General Partner.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, if less than a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Units, other than amendments and other matters that the General Partner determines do not adversely affect the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights as a whole in any material respect.  On any matter in which the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights are entitled to vote, such holders will vote together with the Common Units as a single class, except

 

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as otherwise required by Section 13.3(c) , and such Incentive Distribution Rights shall be treated in all respects as Common Units when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement.  The relative voting power of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the Common Units will be set in the same proportion as cumulative cash distributions, if any, in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights for the four consecutive Quarters prior to the record date for the vote bears to the cumulative cash distributions in respect of such class of Units for such four Quarters.

 

(c)                                   In connection with any equity financing, or anticipated equity financing, by the Partnership of an Expansion Capital Expenditure, the General Partner may, without the approval of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, temporarily or permanently reduce the amount of Incentive Distributions that would otherwise be distributed to such holders, provided that in the judgment of the General Partner, such reduction will be in the long-term best interest of such holders.

 

ARTICLE XIV
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION

 

Section 14.1                              Authority .  The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) or plan of conversion in accordance with this Article XIV .

 

Section 14.2                              Procedure for Merger or Consolidation .

 

(a)                                  Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner; provided , however , that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger or consolidation, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

 

(b)                                  If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

 

(i)                                      the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

 

(ii)                                   the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “ Surviving Business Entity ”);

 

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(iii)                                the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

 

(iv)                               the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity interests of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, then the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of equity interests represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

 

(v)                                  a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

 

(vi)                               the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement ( provided , that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain and stated in the certificate of merger); and

 

(vii)                            such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 14.3                              Approval by Limited Partners .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) , the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement shall direct that the Merger Agreement and the merger or consolidation contemplated thereby, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII .  A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in Section 14.3(d)  and Section 14.3(e) , the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or the Delaware Act would

 

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require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 14.3(d)  and Section 14.3(e) , after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 , the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

(e)                                   Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1 , (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (D) each Partnership Interest outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Partnership Interest of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

 

(f)                                    Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity.  Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

 

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Section 14.4                              Certificate of Merger .  Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 14.5                              Effect of Merger or Consolidation .

 

(a)                                  At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

 

(i)                                      all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;

 

(ii)                                   the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;

 

(iii)                                all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and

 

(iv)                               all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.

 

ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

Section 15.1                              Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any controlled Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b)  is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its controlled Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b)  is mailed.

 

(b)                                  If the General Partner or any controlled Affiliate of the General Partner elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a) , the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such

 

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Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date.  Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York.  The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner or its controlled Affiliate, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading.  Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice.  On or prior to the Purchase Date the General Partner or its controlled Affiliate, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1 .  If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner or its controlled Affiliate, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the General Partner or its controlled Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests.

 

(c)                                   In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, at any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a) , therefor, without interest thereon.

 

ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.1                              Addresses and Notices; Written Communications .

 

(a)                                  Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means

 

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of written communication to the Partner at the address described below or any method approved by the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed.  Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery.  An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report.  If any notice, payment or report given or made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, payment or report was unable to be delivered, such notice, payment or report and, in the case of notices, payments or reports returned by the United States Postal Service (or other physical mail delivery mail service outside the United States of America), any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) or other delivery if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners.  Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3 .  The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

(b)                                  The terms “in writing,” “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.

 

Section 16.2                              Further Action .  The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 16.3                              Binding Effect .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 16.4                              Integration .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

 

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Section 16.5                              Creditors .  None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

 

Section 16.6                              Waiver .  No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 16.7                              Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.

 

Section 16.8                              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.  Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(a)  without execution hereof.

 

Section 16.9                              Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Partners and each Person holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation):

 

(i)                                      irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;

 

(ii)                                   irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction

 

108


 

thereof, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction) in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;

 

(iii)                                agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;

 

(iv)                               expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding;

 

(v)                                  consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided , nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law;

 

(vi)                               IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH CLAIM, SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING; and

 

(vii)                            agrees that if such Partner or Person does not obtain a judgment on the merits that substantially achieves, in substance and amount, the full remedy sought in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, then such Partner or Person shall be obligated to reimburse the Partnership and its Affiliates for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description, including but not limited to all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses, that the parties may incur in connection with such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

 

Section 16.10                       Invalidity of Provisions .  If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and part thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provision or part reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.

 

Section 16.11                       Consent of Partners .  Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

 

Section 16.12                       Facsimile and Email Signatures .  The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

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[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

110


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement on the date first set forth above.

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name: Charles C. Ward

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

 

 

 

All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to, the General Partner.

 

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC ,

 

as general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name: Charles C. Ward

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

HOLDER OF INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS AND SOLE MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

SP HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By: SP Capital Holdings, LLC, its manager

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Antonio R. Sanchez, III

 

Name: Antonio R. Sanchez, III

 

Title: Manager

 

Signature Page to
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

 


 

EXHIBIT A
to the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

 

No.

Common Units

 

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                            (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of                 Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.  The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement.  Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership, at the principal office of the Partnership located at 1000 Main Street, Suite 3000, Houston, Texas 77002.  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED).  SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT DETERMINES, WITH THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE (i) TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (ii) TO PRESERVE THE ECONOMIC UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF).  THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY

 

A- 1


 

NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such person when any such transfer or admission is reflected on the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound by the terms of the Partnership Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into the Partnership Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in the Partnership Agreement, with or without the execution of the Partnership Agreement by the Holder.

 

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

Dated:

 

 

Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

 

 

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

By:

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,

 

 

 

its General Partner

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

 

As Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

A- 2


 

[Reverse of Certificate]

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

-

as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT

TEN ENT

-

as tenants by the entireties

 

 

Custodian

 

 

JT TEN

-

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

(Cust)

 

(Minor)

 

 

Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State)

 

Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.

 

ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,            hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)

 

(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

 

Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                    as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP.

 

Date:

 

 

NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without alteration, enlargement or change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

A- 3


 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF NOTICE OF CLASS C PREFERRED UNIT REDEMPTION

 

The undersigned hereby gives notice that the number of Class C Preferred Units (“Class C Preferred Units”) of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP indicated below will be redeemed for cash according to the conditions hereof, as of the date set forth below.

 

Redemption calculations:

 

Date to Effect Redemption:

 

Number of Class C Preferred Units to be Redeemed:

 

Amount of Cash to be paid to Holder:

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

By:

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

B- 1


Exhibit 3.2

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC

 

This Amendment No. 3 to Limited Liability Company Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Amendment ”) of Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), is made and entered into as of August 2, 2019, by SP Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“ Holdings ”), as the sole Member of the Company.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , on March 2, 2015, Holdings entered into that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated May 8, 2015 and Amendment No. 2 thereto dated October 14, 2015 (the “ Original LLC Agreement ”); and

 

WHEREAS , Holdings desires to amend the Original LLC Agreement as set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Holdings, as the sole Member of the Company, hereby enters into this Amendment in its entirety as follows:

 

1.                                       Amendments .

 

a.                                       Section 1.1 of the Original LLC Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definitions of “Board Representation Agreement,” “Existing Credit Facility,” “Purchaser Designated Director,” “Second Amendment Effective Date,” and “Special Approval” in their entirety and replacing such definitions with the following in the applicable alphabetical order therein:

 

Board Representation Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among the Partnership, the Company and Stonepeak.

 

Existing Credit Facility ” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2015 among the Partnership, as borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended by (i) that certain Amendment and Waiver of Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2015, (ii) that certain Joinder, Assignment and Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as

 


 

of October 14, 2015, (iii) that certain Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2015, (iv) that certain Fourth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2016, (v) that certain Fifth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2017, (vi) that certain Sixth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2017, (vii) that certain Seventh Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2018 and (viii) that certain Eighth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2018, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, provided that the credit facility provided under the Existing Credit Facility shall be, at all times, a revolving credit facility provided by commercial banks and/or affiliates of commercial banks.

 

Special Approval ” means approval by the Board of the following actions before they are undertaken by the Partnership or the Company:

 

(a)                                  the incurrence by the Partnership of any loan, letter of credit or similar obligation under the Existing Credit Facility or a Refinanced Credit Facility unless, after giving pro forma effect thereto, the ratio of (I) Total Net Debt (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as in effect on the Third Amendment Effective Date) of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as in effect on the Third Amendment Effective Date) to (II) Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as in effect on the Third Amendment Effective Date) for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Partnership most recently ended for which financial statements are available, does not exceed (A) prior to the date that the Partnership has issued the Common Units required pursuant to Section 5.10(f) of the Partnership Agreement, 2.25 to 1.00, and (B) on and after the date that such Common Units have been issued, 3.00 to 1.00;

 

(b)                                  the Partnership entering into or permitting any modification or amendment of, consenting to any deviation from the terms and conditions of or obtaining any consent of the administrative agent or the lenders under the Existing Credit Facility or Refinanced Credit Facility that would (I) have the effect of amending or modifying any covenant limiting dividends or distributions by the Partnership to the holders of the Class C Preferred Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) in any manner that is more restrictive than as set forth in the Existing Credit Facility, (II) result in the interest rate margin under the Existing Credit Facility or any Refinanced Credit Facility (x) with

 

2


 

respect to any interest rate based on the LIBO rate, to be greater than 5.00% per annum or (y) with respect to any other interest rate, to be greater than 4.00% per annum or (III) impose an interest rate floor greater than 0% per annum;

 

(c)                                   the Partnership creating (by reclassification or otherwise) or otherwise incurring any Additional Indebtedness;

 

(d)                                  a Change in Control of the Company or the Partnership; or

 

(e)                                   any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, modification or other change to this Agreement in a manner that would adversely affect the rights or privileges hereunder of any Purchaser Designated Director, including, without limitation, the right to consent to items requiring Special Approval as set forth in this Amendment.

 

Stonepeak Designated Director ” is defined in Section 6.2(a)(i) .

 

Third Amendment Effective Date ” means August 2, 2019.

 

b.                                       The Original LLC Agreement is hereby amended to replace all references to “Purchaser Designated Director” with “Stonepeak Designated Director.”

 

c.                                        Section 1.1 of the Original LLC Agreement is hereby further amended to delete the last sentence at the end of the definition of “Affiliate” therein and replace such sentence with the following:

 

For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, neither the Company nor the Partnership, on the one hand, and the Class C Preferred Unit Holders (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), on the other hand, shall be considered Affiliates solely by virtue of such Class C Preferred Unit Holders holding Class C Preferred Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) or the right to appoint a Purchaser Designated Director or as Affiliates of such Purchaser Designated Director.

 

d.                                       Section 2.2 of the Original LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

The name of the Company is and shall continue to be “Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with Law as the Board of Directors or the Members may select.

 

2.                                       Agreement in Effect .  Except as hereby amended, the Original LLC Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

3


 

3.                                       Applicable Law .  This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

 

4.                                       Severability .  Each provision of this Amendment shall be considered severable and if for any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity, unenforceability or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect those portions of this Amendment that are valid, enforceable and legal.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

4


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Member has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

SP HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By: SP Capital Holdings, LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Antonio R. Sanchez, III

 

Name:

Antonio R. Sanchez, III

 

Title:

Manager

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC

 


Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

AND

STONEPEAK CATARINA HOLDINGS LLC

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of August 2, 2019, by and between Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Stonepeak ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership and Stonepeak are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated January 25, 2017;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the issuance by the Partnership of a Warrant Exercisable for Junior Securities (the “ Warrant ”) to Stonepeak; and

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership desires to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of Stonepeak.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01                              Definitions . The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

 

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. For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Partnership, on the one hand, and Stonepeak, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Amended Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of August 2, 2019.

 


 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal legal holiday or day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or State of Texas are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit Price ” means the volume-weighted average closing price of the Common Units on the principal market on which the Common Units are then traded during the ten (10) Trading Days (as defined in the Amended Partnership Agreement) prior to the date of measurement.

 

Common Units ” has the meaning specified therefor in Article I of the Amended Partnership Agreement.

 

Effectiveness Period ” means the period from the date that the Shelf Registration Statement becomes or is declared effective until the date as of which all Registrable Securities are sold by Stonepeak.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Junior Securities ” means any class or series of Junior Security that, with respect to distributions on such Junior Securities of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gain and losses as provided in the Partnership Agreement), ranks junior to the Class C Preferred Units and senior to the Common Units, the proceeds from the sale of which are used to redeem the Class C Preferred Units.

 

General Partner ” means Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, or other governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

 

Holder ” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with Section 3.05 of this Agreement, for purposes of determining the availability of any rights and applicability of any obligations under this Agreement, including calculating the amount of Registrable Securities held by a Holder, a Holder’s Registrable Securities shall be aggregated together with all Registrable Securities held by other Holders who are Affiliates of such Holder.

 

Holder Underwriter Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(p)  of this Agreement.

 

Included Registrable Securities ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a)  of this Agreement.

 

2


 

Junior Securities ” has the meaning specified therefor in Article I of the Amended Partnership Agreement.

 

Launch ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.04 of this Agreement.

 

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, order, code, governmental restriction, decree, injunction or other requirement of law, or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, of any Governmental Authority.

 

Losses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Managing Underwriter ” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.

 

NYSE American ” means the NYSE American LLC.

 

Opt-Out Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Partnership ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

Post-Launch Withdrawing Selling Holders ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.04 of this Agreement.

 

Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Common Units issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant and (ii) until such time as Stonepeak beneficially owns less than an aggregate of ten percent (10%) of the Common Units, any other Common Unit issued to or acquired by Stonepeak after the date hereof.

 

Registrable Securities Amount ” means the calculation based on the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Registrable Securities.

 

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Selling Expenses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

 

3


 

Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Stonepeak ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Target Effective Date ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Threshold Amount ” means $5,000,000 (calculated based on the Registrable Securities Amount).

 

Underwritten Offering ” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to one or more underwriters on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

 

Underwritten Offering Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.04 of this Agreement.

 

Walled-Off Person ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.07 of this Agreement.

 

Warrant ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.02                              Registrable Securities . Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of (excluding transfers or assignments by a Holder to an Affiliate or to another Holder or any of its Affiliates or to any assignee or transferee to whom the rights under this Agreement have been transferred pursuant to Section 2.11 ) pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) under the Securities Act under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of such Rule (then in effect) are met; (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; provided, however , that neither Stonepeak nor its Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of the Partnership; or (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.

 

4


 

Article II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.01                              Registration .

 

(a)                                  Demand Rights .  A Holder has the option and right, exercisable by providing written notice to the Partnership, to require the Partnership to prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of all Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) under the Securities Act, on the terms and conditions specified in this Section 2.01 (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”).  A Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 shall be on such registration form of the Commission as is permissible under the Securities Act; provided, however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-1 unless a Holder either delivers to the Partnership an Underwritten Offering Notice in an amount not less than the Threshold Amount or an Exercise Agreement (as defined in the Warrant).  The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a)  to become or be declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than 210 calendar days after the notice is provided pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.01(a)  (the “ Target Effective Date ”).  The Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders covered by such Shelf Registration Statement, including by way of an Underwritten Offering.  As soon as practicable following the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within two (2) Business Days of such date, the Partnership will notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement.  During the Effectiveness Period, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a)  to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another registration statement is available for the resale of the Registrable Securities until all Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

 

When effective, a Shelf Registration Statement (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained in such Shelf Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made).  The Partnership shall not include in a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this  Section 2.01(a)  any securities which are not Registrable Securities, other than Common Units that are to be offered and sold for the Partnership’s own account pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, without the prior written consent of Stonepeak, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

Section 2.02                              Piggyback Rights .

 

(a)                                  Participation . If the Partnership proposes to file during the Effectiveness Period (i) a shelf registration statement other than a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) , (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than a Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a)  and Holders may be included in such Underwritten Offering without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto, or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in each case, for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering for its own account or that of another Person, or

 

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both, then as soon as practicable following the selection of the Managing Underwriter for such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by electronic mail) of such Underwritten Offering to each Holder (together with its Affiliates) holding at least the Threshold Amount of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities (the “ Included Registrable Securities ”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however , that (A) the Partnership shall not be required to provide such opportunity to any such Holder that does not offer a minimum of the Threshold Amount of Registrable Securities, and (B) if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then (i) if no Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity to the Holders or (ii) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(b) . Any notice required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  to Holders shall be provided on a Business Day and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by the Holder. Each such Holder shall then have two (2) Business Days (or one (1) Business Day in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after notice has been delivered to request in writing the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities as part of such Underwritten Offering for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at or prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an “ Opt-Out Notice ”) to the Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however , that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing.  Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)  and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) .

 

(b)                                  Priority . Other than situations outlined in Section 2.01 of this Agreement, if the Managing Underwriter of any proposed Underwritten Offering involving Included Registrable Securities advises the Partnership, or the Partnership reasonably determines, that the total amount of Common Units that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such

 

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offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter advises the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Partnership or other party requesting such registration, (ii) second, pro rata among the Selling Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering, based on the percentage derived by dividing (x) the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by all Selling Holders and (iii) third, to any other holder of securities of the Partnership having rights of registration that are neither expressly senior nor subordinated to the Holders in respect of the Registrable Securities, allocated among such holders in such manner as they may agree.

 

(c)                                   Termination of Piggyback Registration Rights . Each Holder’s rights under Section 2.02 shall terminate upon such Holder (together with its Affiliates) ceasing to hold at least the Threshold Amount of Registrable Securities.

 

Section 2.03                              Delay Rights .

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in a Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement but may settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if (i) the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement or (ii) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Partnership, would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however , that in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 60 calendar days in any 180-calendar day period or 105 calendar days in any 365-calendar day period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Selling Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Shelf Registration Statement and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

 

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Section 2.04                              Underwritten Offerings .

 

In the event that one or more Holders elects to include, other than pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Agreement, at least the Threshold Amount of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities under a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall, upon request by such Holders (such request, an “ Underwritten Offering Notice ”), retain underwriters in order to permit such Holders to effect such sale through an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Holders shall have the option and right, to require the Partnership to effect not more than three (3) Underwritten Offerings, pursuant to and subject to the conditions of this Section 2.04 of this Agreement.  Upon delivery of such Underwritten Offering Notice to the Partnership, the Partnership shall as soon as practicable (but in no event later than one (1) calendar day following the date of delivery of the Underwritten Offering Notice to the Partnership) deliver notice of such Underwritten Offering Notice to all other Holders who shall then have two (2) calendar days from the date that such notice is given to them to notify the Partnership in writing of the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder that they want to be included in such Underwritten Offering.  For the avoidance of doubt, any Holders notified about an Underwritten Offering by the Partnership after the Partnership has received the corresponding Underwritten Offering Notice may participate in such Underwritten Offering, but shall not count toward the Threshold Amount of Registrable Securities necessary to request an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Offering Notice. In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being disposed of pursuant to the Underwritten Offering shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters for such Underwritten Offering, subject to the reasonable consent of the Partnership. In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Partnership to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities whose offer and resale will be registered, on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that any such withdrawal must be made no later than the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. If all Selling Holders withdraw from an Underwritten Offering prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering, the events will not be considered an Underwritten Offering and will not decrease the number of available Underwritten Offerings the Selling Holders have the right and option to request under this Section 2.04 .  No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect

 

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the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses; provided, however , that if (i) certain Selling Holders withdraw from an Underwritten Offering after the public announcement at launch (the “ Launch ”) of such Underwritten Offering (such Selling Holders, the “ Post-Launch Withdrawing Selling Holders ”), and (ii) all Selling Holders withdraw from such Underwritten Offering prior to pricing, then the Post-Launch Withdrawing Selling Holders shall pay for all reasonable Registration Expenses incurred by the Partnership during the period from the Launch of such Underwritten Offering until the time all Selling Holders withdraw from such Underwritten Offering.

 

Section 2.05                              Sale Procedures .

 

In connection with its obligations under this Article II , the Partnership will, as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)                                  use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to a Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(b)                                  if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from a Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;

 

(c)                                   furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing a Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement;

 

(d)                                  if applicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such

 

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jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however , that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(e)                                   promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of a Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

 

(f)                                    immediately notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other commercially reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

 

(g)                                   upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

 

(h)                                  in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the

 

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underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “cold comfort” letter shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such underwriters and Selling Holders may reasonably request;

 

(i)                                      otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, covering a period of twelve months beginning within three months after the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

 

(j)                                     make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and Partnership and General Partner personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided , that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;

 

(k)                                  use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which the Common Units issued by the Partnership are then listed;

 

(l)                                      use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(m)                              provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

(n)                                  enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, making appropriate officers of the General Partner available to participate in any “road show” presentations before analysts, and other customary marketing activities (including one-on-one meetings with prospective purchasers of the Registrable Securities)), provided, however , that in the event the Partnership, using commercially reasonable efforts, is unable to make such appropriate officers of the General Partner available to participate in connection with any “road show” presentations and other customary marketing activities (whether in person or otherwise), the Partnership shall make such appropriate officers available to participate via conference call or other means of communication in connection with no more than one (1) “road show” presentation per Underwritten Offering;

 

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(o)                                  if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and

 

(p)                                  If any Holder could reasonably be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereof (a “ Holder Underwriter Registration Statement ”), then the Partnership will reasonably cooperate with such Holder in allowing such Holder to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Partnership and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof.  In addition, at any Holder’s request, the Partnership will furnish to such Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as such Holder may reasonably request (provided that such request shall not be more frequently than on an annual basis unless such Holder is offering Registrable Securities pursuant to a Holder Underwriter Registration Statement), (i) a “cold comfort” letter, dated such date, from the Partnership’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to such Holder, (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Partnership for purposes of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including standard “10b-5” negative assurance for such offering, addressed to such Holder and (iii) a standard officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officers serving such functions, of the general partner of the Partnership addressed to the Holder.  The Partnership will also permit legal counsel to such Holder to review and comment upon any such Holder Underwriter Registration Statement at least five Business Days prior to its filing with the Commission and all amendments and supplements to any such Holder Underwriter Registration Statement with a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the Commission and not file any Holder Underwriter Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which such Holder’s legal counsel reasonably objects.  Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f)  of this Section 2.05 , shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (f)  of this Section 2.05 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.05 , the Partnership will not name a Holder as an underwriter as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act in any Shelf

 

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Registration Statement or Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, without such Holder’s consent. If the staff of the Commission requires the Partnership to name any Holder as an underwriter as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall not be included on such Shelf Registration Statement or the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, the Partnership shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder, unless such Holder has not had an opportunity to conduct customary underwriter’s due diligence as set forth in subsection (p)  of this Section 2.05 with respect to the Partnership at the time such Holder’s consent is sought.

 

Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f)  of this Section 2.05 , shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (f)  of this Section 2.05 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

Section 2.06                              Cooperation by Holders .

 

The Partnership shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Shelf Registration Statement or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02(a)  who has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.07                              Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities .

 

Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees to enter into a customary letter agreement with underwriters providing such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of any Underwritten Offering, provided that (i) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction imposed by the underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Partnership or the General Partner on whom a restriction is imposed and (ii) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder. In addition, this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any Holder that is not entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, whether because such Holder delivered an Opt-Out Notice prior to receiving notice of the Underwritten Offering or because such Holder (together with its Affiliates) holds less than the Threshold Amount of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities or because the Registrable Securities held by such Holder may be disposed of without restriction pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the

 

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Commission then in effect) under the Securities Act.  Subject to such Holder’s compliance with its obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws and its internal policies:  (a) Holder, for purposes hereof, shall not be deemed to include any employees, subsidiaries or Affiliates that are effectively walled off by appropriate “Chinese Wall” information barriers approved by Holder’s legal or compliance department (and thus have not been privy to any information concerning this transaction) (a “ Walled-Off Person ”) and (b) the foregoing covenants in this paragraph shall not apply to any transaction by or on behalf of Holder that was effected by a Walled-Off Person in the ordinary course of trading without the advice or participation of Holder or receipt of confidential or other information regarding this transaction provided by Holder to such entity.

 

Section 2.08                              Expenses .

 

(a)                                            Expenses . The Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, each Selling Holder’s pro rata allocation of Selling Expenses shall be the percentage derived by dividing (i) the number of Registrable Securities sold by such Selling Holder in connection with such sale by (ii) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities sold by all Selling Holders in connection with such sale. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.08 and Section 2.09 hereof, the Partnership shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.

 

(c)                                             Certain Definitions . “ Registration Expenses ” means all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01(a)  or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE American fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, any transfer taxes, the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance.  “ Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel to the Selling Holders.

 

Section 2.09                              Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  By the Partnership . In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, managers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents (collectively, the “ Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or

 

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liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “ Losses ”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however , that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in such Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement, or prospectus supplement, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

 

(b)                                  By Each Selling Holder . Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto; provided, however , that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.

 

(c)                                   Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.09 . In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its

 

15


 

election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.09 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however , that (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and (A) counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or (B) if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then, in each case, the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnified party.

 

(d)                                  Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.09 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however , that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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(e)                                   Other Indemnification . The provisions of this Section 2.09 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

 

Section 2.10                              Rule 144 Reporting.

 

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a)                                  make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

 

(b)                                  file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

 

(c)                                   so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish, unless otherwise available electronically at no additional charge via the Commission’s EDGAR system, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

 

Section 2.11                              Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights.

 

The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by Stonepeak to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities, subject to the transfer restrictions provided in Section 4.7 of the Amended Partnership Agreement, provided, however , that (a) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each of the transferee or assignee and identifying the Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned and (b) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of Stonepeak under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.12                              Subsequent Registration Rights.

 

(a)                                  From and after the date hereof, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Partnership that would allow such current or future holder to require the Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Partnership on a basis that is superior or pari passu to the rights of the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

(b)                                  The Partnership agrees that it will promptly upon issuance of any Junior Securities (other than Common Units or Excluded Junior Securities) enter into a separate

 

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registration rights agreement substantially similar to this Agreement with respect to any other Junior Securities that are issuable to Stonepeak upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

Article III
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.01          Communications .

 

All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

 

(a)           if to Stonepeak:

 

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
55 Hudson Yards, 550 W. 34th St., 48th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Attention: Adrienne Saunders, General Counsel
Email: saunders@stonepeakpartners.com

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston TX 77002

Attention: Tim Chandler
Email: tim.chandler@sidley.com

 

(b)           if to a transferee of Stonepeak, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.11 above; and

 

(c)           if to the Partnership:

 

Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

1000 Main Street, Suite 3000

Houston, TX 7702

Attention: Charles C. Ward

Email: cward@sanchezmidstream.com

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

600 Travis, Suite 4200

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Philip Haines

Email: phaines@huntonak.com

 

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All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile or sent via Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service.

 

Section 3.02          Successor and Assigns .

 

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

 

Section 3.03          Assignment of Rights .

 

All or any portion of the rights and obligations of Stonepeak under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by Stonepeak only in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

 

Section 3.04          Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Units .

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.05          Aggregation of Registrable Securities .

 

All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights and applicability of any obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.06          Specific Performance .

 

Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.

 

Section 3.07          Counterparts .

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, including facsimile or .pdf counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

 

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Section 3.08          Headings .

 

The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

Section 3.09          Governing Law .

 

THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING ITS APPLICATION, CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT, SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.10          Severability of Provisions .

 

Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 3.11          Entire Agreement .

 

This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

Section 3.12          Amendment .

 

This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and Stonepeak; provided, however , that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 3.13          No Presumption .

 

If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

 

Section 3.14          Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement .

 

Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than Stonepeak (and their permitted transferees and assignees) and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder. Notwithstanding that Stonepeak is a limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent,

 

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general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of Stonepeak or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of Stonepeak or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate thereof, as such, for any obligations of Stonepeak under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in each case for any transferee or assignee of Stonepeak hereunder.

 

Section 3.15          Interpretation .

 

Article, Section and Schedule references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” or words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by Stonepeak under this Agreement, such action shall be in Stonepeak’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified. Unless expressly set forth or qualified otherwise (e.g., by “Business” or “trading”), all references herein to a “day” are deemed to be a reference to a calendar day.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

 

By:

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

 

Name: Charles C. Ward

 

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 


 

 

STONEPEAK CATARINA HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (ORION AIV) LP, its managing member

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK ASSOCIATES LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP HOLDINGS LP, its sole member

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS MANAGER LLC, its managing member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jack Howell

 

Name:Jack Howell

 

Title:Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of August  2, 2019 (the “ Effective Date ”), is entered into by and among Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Sanchez Entities ”), and Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC (“ Stonepeak ”).  The Sanchez Entities and Stonepeak are herein referred to as the “ Parties .”  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (as amended, the “ Partnership Agreement ”).

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS , the Sanchez Entities and Stonepeak are parties to that certain Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “ Existing Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , on August 2, 2019 (the “ Partnership Agreement Effective Date ”), the General Partner executed and delivered the Partnership Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , the General Partner, in its individual capacity and in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, has determined it to be in the best interests of Partnership to provide Stonepeak with (i) ongoing designation rights and obligations in respect of the board of directors of the General Partner (or such other governing body thereof) (the “ Board ”), and (ii) certain approval rights in respect of actions of the Sanchez Entities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS , Stonepeak is willing to provide the Sanchez Entities with certain standstill rights, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties hereto, the Parties hereby agree to amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Agreement and hereto agree as follows:

 

Agreement

 

Section 1.                                            Board Designation Rights .

 

(a)                                  Each of the Sanchez Entities shall take all actions necessary or advisable to cause (i) two (2) directors serving on the Board to be designated by Stonepeak, in its sole discretion, at all times from the Effective Date until the occurrence of (A) the First Designation Right Termination Event (as defined below), at which time the right of Stonepeak under this Agreement to designate one (1) director serving on the Board shall terminate and (B) the Second Designation Right Termination Event (as defined below), at which time the right of Stonepeak

 


 

under this Agreement to designate one (1) director serving on the Board shall terminate and (ii) three (3) independent directors serving on the Board to be designated by Stonepeak, in its sole discretion (each director designated by Stonepeak pursuant to this Section 1(a) , a “ Stonepeak Designated Director ”), at all times during the Redemption Designation Period (as defined below); provided, however , that each such Stonepeak Designated Director shall (1) in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner, have the requisite skill and experience to serve as a director of a public company, (2) not be prohibited or disqualified from serving as a director of the General Partner by any rule or regulation of the Commission, the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or applicable law and (3) otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the General Partner.  Prior to a Designation Right Termination Event (as defined below) or during the Redemption Designation Period, any Stonepeak Designated Director may be removed by Stonepeak at any time and may be removed by a majority of the other directors then serving on the Board for “ cause ” (as defined below); and any vacancy in such positions shall be filled solely by Stonepeak.  As used herein, “ cause ” means that a Stonepeak Designated Director (w) is prohibited from serving as a director of the General Partner under any rule or regulation of the Commission or the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed; (x) has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (y) has engaged in acts or omissions against the General Partner or the Partnership constituting dishonesty, breach of fiduciary obligation, or intentional wrongdoing or misfeasance; or (z) has acted intentionally or in bad faith in a manner that results in a material detriment to the assets, business or prospects of the General Partner or the Partnership.  None of the Sanchez Entities shall take any action which would, or would be reasonably likely to, adversely affect Stonepeak’s right to appoint the Stonepeak Designated Directors; provided, however , that the Sanchez Entities shall not be prohibited from taking such action that the Board determines is necessary to comply with any rule or regulation of the Commission or the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or applicable law.

 

(b)                                  Prior to the occurrence of a Designation Right Termination Event, the General Partner shall invite the Stonepeak Designated Directors to attend all meetings of each committee of the Board (other than the Audit Committee, the Conflicts Committee, any pricing committee established for an offering of securities by the Partnership and any committee established to deal with conflicts with Stonepeak or its Affiliates) in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give the Stonepeak Designated Directors copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other materials that it provides to the other members of such committee; provided , however , that during the Redemption Designation Period, the Stonepeak Designated Directors designated pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 1(a)  shall serve on all committees of the Board in a voting capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, no Stonepeak Designated Director shall be permitted to serve on any committees of the Board in a voting capacity prior to the Redemption Designation Period.

 

(c)                                   The Stonepeak Designated Directors are Jack Howell and Luke Taylor.

 

(d)                                  Any action by Stonepeak to designate, remove or replace a Stonepeak Designated Director shall be evidenced in writing and furnished to the General Partner no later than one (1) Business Day after the taking of such action, shall include a statement that the action has been approved by the requisite vote of Stonepeak and shall be executed by or on behalf of Stonepeak.  Stonepeak agrees to cause each Stonepeak Designated Director to timely provide the

 

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Partnership with accurate and complete information relating to Stonepeak and such Stonepeak Designated Director that may be required to be disclosed by the Partnership under the Exchange Act.  In addition, at the Partnership’s reasonable request, Stonepeak shall cause each Stonepeak Designated Director to complete and execute the Partnership’s standard director and officer questionnaire prior to being admitted to the Board.

 

(e)                                   Upon the occurrence of a Designation Right Termination Event or the end of the Redemption Designation Period, as applicable, the right of Stonepeak to designate a Stonepeak Designated Director shall terminate and the Stonepeak Designated Director then serving as such a member of the Board, promptly upon (and in any event within two (2) Business Days following) receipt of a request from a majority of the other director(s) then serving on the Board or the owner(s) of a majority of the equity interests of the General Partner, shall resign as a member of the Board.  If the Stonepeak Designated Director does not resign upon such request, then a majority of the other director(s) then serving on the Board or the owner(s) of a majority of the equity interests of the General Partner, may remove the Stonepeak Designated Director as a member of the Board.

 

(f)                                    For the purposes of this Agreement, the “ First Designation Right Termination Event ” shall occur on the date on which Stonepeak and its Affiliates hold fewer than 25% of the number of Class C Preferred Units initially issued to Stonepeak in exchange for all issued and outstanding Class B Preferred Units, as adjusted for any subdivisions, splits, reverse unit splits, reclassification, reorganization or other similar transaction by the Partnership affecting the Class C Preferred Units.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the “ Second Designation Right Termination Event ” shall occur on the date on which Stonepeak and its Affiliates no longer hold any Class C Preferred Units.  Each of the First Designation Right Termination Event and the Second Designation Right Termination Event are referred to herein as a “ Designation Right Termination Event .” For the purposes of this Agreement, the “ Redemption Designation Period ” shall commence on January 1, 2022 if any Class C Preferred Units remain outstanding on such date and shall continue until the date on which all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed pursuant to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                            Limitation of Liability; Indemnification; Business Opportunities .

 

(a)                                  At all times while each Stonepeak Designated Director is serving as a member of the Board, and following any such Stonepeak Designated Director’s death, resignation, removal or other cessation as a director in such former Stonepeak Designated Director’s capacity as a former director, such Stonepeak Designated Director shall be entitled to (i) the same modification and restriction of traditional fiduciary duties, (ii) the same safe harbors for resolving conflicts of interest transactions and (iii) all rights to indemnification and exculpation, in each case, as are then made available to any other member of the Board.

 

(b)                                  At all times while each Stonepeak Designated Director is serving as a member of the Board, such Stonepeak Designated Director, Stonepeak and their respective Affiliates may engage in, possess an interest in, or trade in the securities of, other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Sanchez Entities, and the Sanchez Entities, the Board and their Affiliates shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise in and to such independent ventures or the income or

 

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profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Sanchez Entities, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.  None of the Stonepeak Designated Directors, Stonepeak or their respective Affiliates shall be obligated to present any investment opportunity to the Sanchez Entities even if such opportunity is of a character that the Sanchez Entities or any of their respective Affiliates might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each of the Stonepeak Designated Directors, Stonepeak and their respective Affiliates shall have the right to take for such Person’s own account (individually or as a partner, fiduciary or otherwise) or to recommend to others any such investment opportunity.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stonepeak shall cause each Stonepeak Designated Director to maintain the confidentiality of all information and proceedings of the Board.

 

(c)                                   The Sanchez Entities shall purchase and maintain (or reimburse each Stonepeak Designated Director for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of such Stonepeak Designated Director, in an amount and scope of coverage commensurate with that provided to an independent member of the Board, with respect to liabilities that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Stonepeak Designated Director in connection with the Sanchez Entities’ activities or such Stonepeak Designated Director’s activities on behalf of the Sanchez Entities, regardless of whether the Sanchez Entities would have the power to indemnify such Stonepeak Designated Director against such liability under the provisions of the Partnership Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner, as amended (the “ GP LLC Agreement ”).

 

(d)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, each Stonepeak Designated Director shall constitute an “Indemnitee,” as such term is defined under the Partnership Agreement and the GP LLC Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Standstill .

 

(a)                                  During the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of (x) the occurrence of a material breach of the Partnership Agreement by the Partnership or the General Partner and (y) the date on which all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed, without the prior written consent of the Board (provided that such consent shall not be required in the event of fraud or gross negligence on the part of the Partnership or the General Partner), Stonepeak shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly (whether with respect to the General Partner, the Partnership or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof):

 

(i)                                      acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Class C Preferred Units or other Partnership Interests (as defined in the Partnership Agreement);

 

(ii)                                   acquire any debt or assets of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries;

 

(iii)                                engage in any hostile or takeover activities with respect to the Partnership or the General Partner (including by means of a tender offer or soliciting proxies or written consents for purposes of any hostile or takeover

 

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activities, other than as recommended by the Board), including any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Partnership or the General Partner or any of their Affiliates or their properties (excluding Sanchez Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries and its and their properties);

 

(iv)                               enter into any transaction the effect of which would be to “short” any securities of the Partnership;

 

(v)                                  form, join or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates in respect of any action otherwise prohibited pursuant to this Section 3(a) ;

 

(vi)                               call (or participate in a group calling of) a meeting of the limited partners of the Partnership for the purpose of removing (or approving the removal of) the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership and/or electing a successor general partner of the Partnership;

 

(vii)                            “solicit” any “proxies” (as such terms are used in the rules and regulations of the Commission) or votes for or in support of (A) the removal of the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership or (B) the election of any successor general partner of the Partnership, or take any action the direct effect or purpose of which would be to induce limited partners of the Partnership to vote or provide proxies that may be voted in favor of any action contemplated by either of sub-clauses (A) or (B) of this Section 3(a)(vii) ;

 

(viii)                         seek to advise or influence any person (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the voting of any Partnership Interest in connection with the removal (or approving the removal) of the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership and/or the election of a successor general partner of the Partnership;

 

(ix)                               issue, induce or assist in the publication of any press release, media report or other publication in connection with the potential or proposed removal of the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership and/or the election of a successor general partner of the Partnership;

 

(x)                                  propose to remove Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or vote to remove Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

(xi)                               advise, assist or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing; or

 

(xii)                            if the General Partner is removed as the general partner of the Partnership in violation of this Agreement, participate in any way in the management, ownership and/or control of the successor general partner or the

 

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successor general partner’s operation of the Partnership, other than participation by any Stonepeak Designated Director, as described in Section 1 of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the foregoing shall not in any way limit the right of Stonepeak or its Affiliates to:

 

(i)                                      privately communicate with, including making any offer or proposal to, the Board, directly or through any Stonepeak Designated Director;

 

(ii)                                   to the extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement, vote Partnership Interests in the Partnership at any meeting of limited partners of the Partnership so long as there has been no breach of Section 3(a)  of this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                restrict the manner in which any Stonepeak Designated Director (A) may vote on any matter submitted to the Board, (B) participate in deliberations or discussions of the Board (including making suggestions or raising issues to the Board) in his or her capacity as a member of the Board, or (C) may take actions required by his or her exercise of legal duties and obligations as a member of the Board or refrain from taking any action prohibited by his or her legal duties and obligations as a member of the Board;

 

(iv)                               sell or transfer any of their respective Partnership Interests, subject to any restrictions relating thereto contained in the Partnership Agreement;

 

(v)                                  receive any (A) Class C Preferred PIK Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) as distributions on Class C Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement or (B) Partnership Interests pursuant to a unit split, reverse unit split, reclassification, reorganization or other transaction by the Partnership affecting any class of Partnership Interests generally or a dividend of units or other pro rata distribution by the Partnership to holders of Partnership Interests; or

 

(vi)                               (A) exercise the Warrant issued by the Partnership to Stonepeak on August 2, 2019 in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof, and (B) receive the Junior Securities issuable upon such exercise.

 

(c)                                   For the purposes of Section 3(a) , Stonepeak’s Affiliates shall not include (i) any portfolio company of Stonepeak that is not controlled (as defined in the definition of “Affiliate” contained in the Partnership Agreement) by Stonepeak, unless such portfolio company is a holder of Class C Preferred Units, or (ii) any employee, officer or director of a portfolio company that is not an employee, officer or director of Stonepeak.

 

Section 4.                                            Certain Approval and Access Rights .

 

(a)                                  During the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date on which all Class C Preferred Units have been redeemed (the “ Approval Term ”), the prior written consent of Stonepeak shall be required in order for the Sanchez Entities, SP Holdings, LLC, or

 

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their respective Affiliates or the Board, as applicable, to take or approve any of the following actions:

 

(i)                                      approval of any proposed Maintenance Capital Expenditures, Expansion Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures (collectively, “ Capital Expenditures ”); provided , however , that the prior written consent of Stonepeak shall not be required with respect to (i) up to $5.0 million in Capital Expenditures per year, (ii) up to $20.0 million in Capital Expenditures specifically related to an interconnection with the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline project and the Whistler Pipeline project, and (iii) any ordinary course Capital Expenditures, including capital calls, required by Carnero G&P, LLC;

 

(ii)                                   approval of, or amendment, waiver or other modification to (including assignment or termination of), any transaction or agreement with any member of the Partnership Group on the one hand and the General Partner, SP Holdings, LLC, or any of their respective Affiliates on the other hand (including, but not limited to, commercial contracts containing acreage dedication terms);

 

(iii)                                approval of, or amendment, waiver or other modification to, any gathering agreement with any member of the Partnership Group on the one hand and Sanchez Energy Corporation, or its successor(s) in interest to its business or assets, or any of its or their Affiliates on the other hand that, directly or indirectly, results in gathering rates lower than the gathering rates currently in effect as of the Effective Date;

 

(iv)                               approval of any increases to the total compensation of any officer, independent contractors performing officer functions or independent director of the General Partner, any member of the Partnership Group or SP Holdings, LLC in amounts greater than ten percent (10%) in the aggregate of the salary approved in 2019 (as approved prior to the Partnership Agreement Effective Date) and the bonus approved for 2018 performance;

 

(v)                                  approval of any increases to the total compensation of any non-independent director of the General Partner or any member of the Partnership Group beyond the salary approved in 2019 (as approved prior to the Partnership Agreement Effective Date) and the bonus approved for 2018 performance;

 

(vi)                               approval of any increases to the general and administrative expenses of the General Partner, SP Holdings, LLC and the Partnership Group taken as a whole (or any other expenses of the General Partner, SP Holdings, LLC or any member of the Partnership Group that have in the historical practices of the General Partner, SP Holdings, LLC or such member of the Partnership Group been classified as general and administrative expenses), excluding any unplanned third party specialist expenses, such as the expenses of legal, accounting and consulting specialists, to be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership Group in amounts greater than ten percent (10%) in the aggregate of the general and administrative expenses approved by the Board in January 2019; and

 

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(vii)                            any member of the Partnership Group having cash or cash equivalents in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time other than to pay dividends or distributions with respect to such Partnership Group member’s equityholders within the following 90 calendar days.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the prior written consent of Stonepeak shall not be required with respect to any change of control or termination special compensation payments made pursuant to that certain Executive Services Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and between Gerald F. Willinger and the General Partner, or that certain Executive Services Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and between Charles C. Ward and the General Partner.

 

(b)                                  During the Approval Term, in connection with any determination of Available Cash or Adjusted Available Cash, the General Partner shall make such determination in good faith and shall consult with the Stonepeak Designated Director(s) and the independent directors of the Board in making such determination.

 

Section 5.                                            Chief Executive Officer .

 

(a)                                  From and after the Effective Date, the General Partner agrees not to materially diminish the duties or responsibilities of the chief executive officer of the General Partner without the consent of the Stonepeak Designated Directors.

 

(b)                                  If, as of any time after the third anniversary of the Effective Date, the ratio of (i) the sum of (A) Total Net Debt (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as of the Partnership Agreement Effective Date) of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as of the Partnership Agreement Effective Date), (B) the outstanding principal amount of the Class C Preferred Units, (C) the outstanding principal amount of Parity Securities and (D) the outstanding principal amount of Senior Securities to (ii) Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Existing Credit Facility as of the Partnership Agreement Effective Date) (the “ Leverage Ratio ”) for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Partnership most recently ended for which financial statements are available is greater than 5.50 to 1.00, then the General Partner shall promptly appoint and retain as the General Partner’s chief executive officer a nominee designated by Stonepeak (the “ Stonepeak CEO ”) until such time as the Leverage Ratio for any fiscal quarter of the Partnership subsequent to the appointment of the Stonepeak CEO is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00.  The Stonepeak CEO shall have such rights at least equal to the greater of (i) the rights of the General Partner’s chief executive officer immediately prior to the appointment of the Stonepeak CEO and (ii) the rights customarily held by a chief executive officer of a company similarly situated to the Partnership.  The Stonepeak CEO shall be entitled to a compensation package substantially similar to that of the immediately prior chief executive officer of the General Partner. Upon appointment of the Stonepeak CEO, the chief executive officer of the General Partner immediately prior to the appointment of the Stonepeak CEO (the “ Pre-Leverage CEO ”) shall become the chief operating officer of the General Partner and shall, if desired by the General Partner, retain a compensation package substantially similar to the compensation package he or she held as chief executive officer.  Stonepeak’s rights under this Section 5(b)  shall terminate on the date on which Stonepeak and its Affiliates no longer hold any Class C Preferred Units (the “ CEO Designation Right Termination Event ”). Following the CEO

 

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Designation Right Termination Event, the General Partner shall promptly remove the Stonepeak CEO as the chief executive officer of the General Partner and reinstate the Pre-Leverage CEO. If the Pre-Leverage CEO is unwilling or unable to accept the position of chief executive officer of the General Partner, then a replacement chief executive officer shall be appointed in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 6.                                            Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Entire Agreement .  This Agreement is intended by the Parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Sanchez Entities or any of their Affiliates or Stonepeak or any of its Affiliates set forth herein.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(b)                                  Notices .  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, electronic mail (with written confirmation of receipt), air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or personal delivery to the following addresses:

 

If to the General Partner or the Partnership:

 

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC
1000 Main Street, Suite 3000
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Charles C. Ward
Email: cward@sanchezmidstream.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis Street, Suite 4200
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Philip Haines
Email: phaines@huntonak.com

 

If to Stonepeak:

 

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners

55 Hudson Yards, 550 W. 34th St., 48th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Adrienne Saunders, General Counsel

Email: saunders@stonepeakpartners.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice):

 

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Sidley Austin LLP
1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Tim Chandler
Email: tim.chandler@sidley.com

 

(c)                                   Interpretation .  Section references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Section to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.  All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified.  The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it.  Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Party, such action shall be in such Party’s sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.  If any provision in this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable, (i) such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and (ii) the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.  When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded, and if the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.  Any words imparting the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa.  The words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires.  The division of this Agreement into Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .  This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.  Any action against any Party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action.  Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute.  Each of the Parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

 

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(e)                                   Waiver of Jury Trial .  EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES TO CAUSE ITS AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (i) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (ii) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.  EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(f)                                    No Waiver; Modifications in Writing .

 

(i)                                      Delay .  No failure or delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.  The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a Party at law or in equity or otherwise.

 

(ii)                                   Specific Waiver .  Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification or termination of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless signed by each of the Parties hereto affected by such amendment, waiver, consent, modification or termination.  Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement and any consent to any departure by a Party from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given.  Except where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on a Party in any case shall entitle such Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.  Any investigation by or on behalf of any Party shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein.

 

(g)                                   Execution in Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)                                  Binding Effect; Assignment .  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but will not be assignable or delegable by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of each of the other Parties.

 

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(i)                                      Independent Counsel .  Each of the Parties acknowledges that it has been represented by independent counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement and that it has executed the same with consent and upon the advice of said independent counsel.  Each Party and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto will be deemed the work product of the Parties and may not be construed against any Party by reason of its preparation.  Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived.

 

(j)                                     Specific Enforcement .  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that monetary damages would not adequately compensate an injured Party for the breach of this Agreement by any Party, that this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable and that any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement shall be the proper subject of a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order without a requirement of posting bond.  Furthermore, each Party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

 

(k)                                  Transfer of Board Rights; Aggregation . The right to appoint a Stonepeak Designated Director granted to Stonepeak under Section 1 of this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by Stonepeak to one or more of its Affiliates, subject to the transfer restrictions provided in Section 4.7(e) of the Partnership Agreement; provided, however , that (i) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each of the transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred or assigned, (ii) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of Stonepeak under this Agreement and (iii) to the extent such right is transferred or assigned to more than one Person, such right shall be exercised by those Persons holding a majority of the Class C Preferred Units, acting collectively.

 

(l)                                      Further Assurances .  Each of the Parties hereto shall, from time to time and without further consideration, execute such further instruments and take such other actions as any other Party hereto shall reasonably request in order to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement.

 

(m)                              Expenses .  Promptly following receipt of an invoice therefore, the Partnership shall reimburse Stonepeak in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for the reasonable documented fees and expenses of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel to Stonepeak, incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Warrant and the Partnership Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name:

Charles C. Ward

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

By: Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name:

Charles C. Ward

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement

 


 

 

STONEPEAK:

 

 

 

STONEPEAK CATARINA HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (ORION AIV) LP, its managing member

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK ASSOCIATES LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP HOLDINGS LP, its sole member

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS MANAGER LLC, its managing member

 

 

By:

/s/ Jack Howell

 

Name:Jack Howell

 

Title:Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

WARRANT EXERCISABLE FOR JUNIOR SECURITIES

 

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION.  THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IF THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

Original Issue Date:  August 2, 2019 Warrant Certificate No.: 01

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership ), hereby certifies that Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its permitted assigns (the Holder ) is entitled to receive from the Partnership a number of each class of Junior Securities (including Common Units but excluding Excluded Junior Securities) representing ten percent (10%) of the Junior Securities Deemed Outstanding of such class as of the Exercise Date, all subject to the terms and conditions set forth below in this Warrant.  Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 hereof. Any capitalized terms that are used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of August 2, 2019 (the “ Partnership Agreement ”).

 

1.                                       Definitions .  As used in this Warrant, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adjustment Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) .

 

Convertible Securities ” means any securities of the Partnership directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Junior Securities other than Excluded Junior Securities, but excluding Options.

 

Delaware LP Act means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

 


 

Excluded Junior Securities means any class or series of Junior Security that, with respect to distributions on such Junior Securities of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks junior to the Class C Preferred Units and senior to the Common Units, the proceeds from the sale of which are used to redeem the Class C Preferred Units.

 

Exercise Date means the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section 3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Partnership of the Exercise Agreement and the Warrant.

 

Exercise Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) .

 

Exercise Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2 .

 

GP LLC Agreement ” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner, dated as of March 2, 2015, as amended by Amendments No.1 and No. 2.

 

Holder has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Junior Securities Deemed Outstanding ” means, for each class of Junior Securities (including Common Units), at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of such class of Junior Securities actually Outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of such class of Junior Securities reserved for issuance at such time under the stock option or other equity incentive plans approved by the Board of Directors, regardless of whether such Junior Securities are actually subject to outstanding Options at such time or whether any outstanding Options are actually exercisable at such time, plus (c) the number of such class of Junior Securities issuable upon exercise of any other Options (other than Options described in clause (b) above) actually outstanding at such time, plus (d) the number of such class of Junior Securities issuable upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities actually outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time, less (e) the number of each class of Excluded Junior Securities.

 

Original Issue Date means the date hereof.

 

Options means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Junior Securities (excluding Excluded Junior Securities) or Convertible Securities.

 

Partnership Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Warrant means this Warrant and all warrants issued upon division or combination of, or in substitution for, this Warrant.

 

Warrant Units has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) .

 

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2.                                       Term of Warrant .  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Holder of this Warrant may exercise this Warrant in whole, but not in part, for the Warrant Units issuable hereunder as provided in Section 3 at any time or from time to time during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later to occur of: (a) 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the seventh (7th) anniversary of the date hereof, or (b) 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on the thirtieth (30th) calendar day following the date on which all of the Outstanding Class C Preferred Units are redeemed by the Partnership (the Exercise Period ).  The Holder may not exercise this Warrant except during the Exercise Period.

 

3.                                       Exercise of Warrant .

 

(a)                                  Exercise Procedure .  The Holder may cause the Partnership to issue all of the Warrant Units issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant during the Exercise Period.  The Holder may exercise this Warrant only upon the surrender of this Warrant to the Partnership at its then principal executive offices (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction), together with an Exercise Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Exercise Agreement ) , duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Units to be issued) and executed.  No purchase price shall be payable in connection with the exercise of this Warrant.

 

(b)                                  Settlement of Warrant Units .  Upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant, the Partnership shall deliver to the Holder, subject to Section 3(c) , a Certificate or Certificates representing a number of each class of Junior Securities (including Common Units but excluding Excluded Junior Securities) equal to ten percent (10%) of the Junior Securities Deemed Outstanding for such class as of the Exercise Date (collectively, the “ Warrant Units ”).

 

(c)                                   Delivery of Certificates .  Upon receipt by the Partnership of the Exercise Agreement and surrender of this Warrant (in accordance with Section 3(a) ) the Partnership shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, execute (or cause to be executed) and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a Certificate or Certificates representing the Warrant Units, as adjusted for fractional units, if any, pursuant to Section 3(d) .  Certificates shall be transmitted by the Partnership’s transfer agent by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit / Withdrawal at Custodian system if the Partnership is a participant in such system, and otherwise by physical delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the Exercise Agreement.  The Certificate or Certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as the exercising Holder shall reasonably request in the Exercise Agreement and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section 6 below, such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Agreement.  This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such Certificate or Certificates of Warrant Units shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Units for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

 

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(d)                                  Fractional Units .  The Partnership shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Unit upon exercise of any Warrant.  If the exercise of this Warrant would result in the issuance of fractional Warrant Units, then such fractional Warrant Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Warrant Unit (with a fractional Warrant Unit equal to or greater than 0.5 Warrant Unit rounded to the next higher Warrant Unit).

 

(e)                                   Valid Issuance of Warrant and Warrant Units; Payment of Taxes .  With respect to the exercise of this Warrant, the Partnership hereby represents, covenants and agrees:

 

(i)                                      This Warrant is, and shall be upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

 

(ii)                                   All Warrant Units issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof shall be, upon issuance, and the Partnership shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that such Warrant Units are, when issued, validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under applicable law and the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act), issued free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges (other than restrictions on transfer in the Partnership Agreement or arising under applicable securities laws).

 

(iii)                                The Partnership shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Units are, when issued, issued without violation by the Partnership of any applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which Common Units may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Partnership upon each such issuance).

 

(iv)                               The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Warrant Units, when issued upon such exercise, to be listed or admitted to trading on any domestic securities exchange upon which Common Units are listed at the time of such exercise.

 

(v)                                  The Partnership shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Units upon exercise of this Warrant; provided , that the Partnership shall not be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Units to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Partnership the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Partnership that such tax has been paid.

 

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(f)                                    Conditional Exercise .  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if an exercise of this Warrant is to be made in connection with a sale of the Partnership (pursuant to a merger, sale of units, or otherwise), such exercise may at the election of the Holder be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or registered offering.

 

4.                                       Effect of Certain Events on Warrant Units .

 

(a)                                  Adjustment to Warrant Units Upon Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation or Merger . In the event of any (i) capital reorganization of the Partnership, (ii) reclassification of Partnership Interests (other than a change as a result of a unit dividend or subdivision, split-up or combination of units), (iii) consolidation or merger of the Partnership with or into another Person, (iv) sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets to another Person or (v) other similar transaction, in each case which entitles the holders of any class of Junior Securities other than Excluded Junior Securities to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) units, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for such class of Junior Securities (each such transaction, an “ Adjustment Transaction ”), this Warrant shall, immediately after such Adjustment Transaction, remain outstanding and shall thereafter, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the number of Warrant Units then exercisable under this Warrant, be exercisable for the kind and number of units or other securities or assets of the Partnership or of the successor Person resulting from such transaction to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such Adjustment Transaction if the Holder had exercised this Warrant in full immediately prior to the time of such Adjustment Transaction and acquired the applicable number of Warrant Units then issuable hereunder as a result of such exercise (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this Warrant); and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder) shall be made with respect to the Holder’s rights under this Warrant to insure that the provisions of this Warrant shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as possible, to any units, securities or assets thereafter acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant. The provisions of this Section 4(a)  shall similarly apply to successive Adjustment Transactions. The Partnership shall not effect any such Adjustment Transaction unless, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor Person (if other than the Partnership) resulting from such Adjustment Transaction, shall assume, by written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant and satisfactory to the Holder, the obligation to deliver to the Holder such units, securities or assets which, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Holder shall be entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any Adjustment Transaction contemplated by the provisions of this Section 4(a) , the Holder shall have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such Adjustment Transaction, to give effect to the exercise rights contained in Section 3 instead of giving effect to the provisions contained in this Section 4(a)  with respect to this Warrant.

 

(b)                                  Notices .  In the event:

 

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(i)                                      the Partnership shall authorize the issuance to all holders of Common Units of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Units or of any other subscription rights or warrants;

 

(ii)                                   the Partnership shall authorize the distribution to all holders of Common Units of evidences of its indebtedness or assets;

 

(iii)                                of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Units by the Partnership;

 

(iv)                               of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Partnership; or

 

(v)                                  the Partnership proposes to consummate any Adjustment Transaction.

 

then, and in each such case, the Partnership shall send or cause to be sent to the Holder at least ten (10) days prior to the applicable expected effective date for the event, or promptly in the case of events for which there is no record date, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a written notice stating (x) the date as of which the holders of record of Common Units to be entitled to receive any such rights, options, warrants or distribution are to be determined, (y) the initial expiration date set forth in any tender offer or exchange offer for Common Units and the amount per unit and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrant and the Warrant Units, or (z) the date on which any such Adjustment Transaction, tender offer, exchange offer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective or consummated, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of record of Common Units shall be entitled to exchange such units for securities or other property, if any, deliverable upon such Adjustment Transaction, tender offer, exchange offer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. The failure to give the notice required by this Section 4(b)  or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of any distribution, right, option, warrant, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or the vote upon any action..

 

5.                                       Transfer of Warrant .  Subject to the transfer conditions referred to in the legend endorsed hereon, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, by the Holder without charge to the Holder, upon surrender of this Warrant to the Partnership at its then principal executive offices with a properly completed and duly executed Assignment in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , together with funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes described in Section 3(e)(v)  in connection with the making of such transfer. Upon such compliance, surrender and delivery and, if required, such payment, the Partnership shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant, if any, not so assigned and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled.

 

6.                                       Holder Not Deemed a Unitholder; Limitations on Liability .  Except as described in the Partnership Agreement or the GP LLC Agreement, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Units to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise

 

6


 

of this Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or distributions or be deemed the holder of any Limited Partner Interest for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a unitholder of the Partnership or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any partnership action (whether any reorganization, issue of limited partner interests, reclassification of limited partner interests, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends, distributions or subscription rights, or otherwise.  In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a unitholder of the Partnership, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Partnership or by creditors of the Partnership.  Notwithstanding this Section 6 , (i) the Partnership shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the unitholders of the Partnership generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the unitholders and (ii) the Partnership shall not amend or modify its Partnership Agreement in a manner adverse to any rights or benefits applicable to the Warrant Units thereunder.

 

7.                                       Replacement on Loss; Division and Combination .

 

(a)                                  Replacement of Warrant on Loss .  Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and upon delivery of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (it being understood that a written indemnification agreement with an affidavit of loss of the Holder shall be a sufficient indemnity) and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender of such Warrant for cancellation to the Partnership, the Partnership, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver to the Holder, in lieu hereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and exercisable for an equivalent number of Warrant Units as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed; provided , that, in the case of mutilation, no indemnity shall be required if this Warrant in identifiable form is surrendered to the Partnership for cancellation.

 

(b)                                  Division and Combination of Warrant .  Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or other assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, this Warrant may be divided or, following any such division of this Warrant, subsequently combined with other Warrants, upon the surrender of this Warrant or Warrants to the Partnership at its then principal executive offices, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the respective Holders or their agents or attorneys.  Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, the Partnership shall at its own expense execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice.  Such new Warrant or Warrants shall be of like tenor to the surrendered Warrant or Warrants and shall be exercisable in the aggregate for an equivalent number of Warrant Units as the Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice.

 

8.                                       No Impairment .  The Partnership shall not, by amendment of its Certificate of Limited Partnership or Partnership Agreement, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid

 

7


 

or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed by it hereunder, but shall at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by the Holder in order to protect the exercise rights of the Holder consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Warrant.

 

9.                                       Agreement to Comply with the Securities Act; Legend .  The Holder, by acceptance of this Warrant, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 9 and the restrictive legend requirements set forth on the face of this Warrant and further agrees that such Holder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Units to be issued upon exercise hereof except under circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act.  All Warrant Units issued upon exercise of this Warrant (unless registered under the Securities Act, any applicable conditions for the removal of the legend are otherwise satisfied or the legend is no longer necessary) shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction.  These securities may not be sold or offered for sale, pledged or hypothecated except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration thereunder, in each case in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states or other jurisdictions, and in the case of a transaction exempt from registration, such securities may only be transferred if the transfer agent for such securities has received documentation satisfactory to it that such transaction does not require registration under the Securities Act.”

 

10.                                Opinion of Counsel .  The Partnership shall provide an Opinion of Counsel prior to the issuance of this Warrant, which shall state that (i) the issuance of this Warrant solely in the manner contemplated herein and the issuance of the Warrant Units upon exercise solely in the manner contemplated herein and the applicable Warrant, as applicable, are registered under the Securities Act or are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided, however, that such counsel shall express no opinion as to any subsequent sale or resale and (ii)  the Junior Securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant will, upon such issuance, be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under applicable law and the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable.

 

11.                                Covenants of the Partnership .

 

(a)                                  Warrant Register .  The Partnership shall keep and properly maintain at its principal executive offices books for the registration of the Warrant and any transfers thereof.  The Partnership may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Warrant is registered on such register as the Holder thereof for all purposes, and the Partnership shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any assignment, division, combination or other transfer of the Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.

 

8


 

(b)                                  Rule 144A(d)(4) Information For so long as the Warrant or Warrant Units remain outstanding and constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144, the Partnership will make available upon request to any prospective transferee of the Warrant or Warrant Units or beneficial owner of Warrant or Warrants Units in connection with any transfer thereof the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act; provided that such information shall be deemed conclusively to be made available pursuant to this Section 11(c) if the Partnership has filed such information with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System and such information is publicly available on such system.

 

(c)                                   Tax Treatment .

 

(i)                                      Solely for U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes, including maintaining Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Partnership Agreement and allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 of the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership shall treat the Warrant as exercised and the Holder as the holder of the Warrant Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (x) on the Original Issue Date, and (y) at each time during the Exercise Period ending on the Exercise Date if an actual exercise pursuant to Section 3 at such time would result in additional Warrant Units being issued in excess of Warrant Units deemed issued pursuant to (x).

 

(ii)                                   Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Partnership Agreement and in connection with the issuance of the Warrant, the Partnership will make an adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partnership’s partners and the Carrying Values of the Partnership’s properties in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(v).

 

(iii)                                Each Warrant Unit deemed issued pursuant to this Section 11(c)  shall have  an initial Capital Account balance equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Junior Security of the same class or series of Partnership Interests (other than a Warrant Unit) then Outstanding.

 

12.                                Notices .  All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third (3rd) day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.  Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 12 ).

 

9


 

If to the Partnership:

 

Sanchez Midstream Partners LP

1000 Main Street, Suite 3000

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Email: cward@sanchezmidstream.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 4200

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Philip Haines

Email: phaines@huntonak.com

 

If to the Holder:

 

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners

55 Hudson Yards, 550 W. 34th St., 48th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Adrienne Saunders, General Counsel

Email: saunders@stonepeakpartners.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Tim Chandler

Email: tim.chandler@sidley.com

 

13.                                Cumulative Remedies .  Except to the extent expressly provided in Section 6 to the contrary, the rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

14.                                Equitable Relief .  Each of the Partnership and the Holder acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Warrant would give rise to irreparable harm to the other party hereto for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, the other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to seek equitable relief, including a restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

15.                                Entire Agreement .  This Warrant, together with the Partnership Agreement, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Warrant with respect to the subject

 

10


 

matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.  In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Warrant and the Partnership Agreement, the statements in the body of this Warrant shall control.

 

16.                                Successor and Assigns .  This Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors of the Partnership and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder.  Such successors and/or permitted assigns of the Holder shall be deemed to be a Holder for all purposes hereunder.

 

17.                                No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Warrant is for the sole benefit of the Partnership and the Holder and their respective successors and, in the case of the Holder, permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Warrant.

 

18.                                Headings .  The headings in this Warrant are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Warrant.

 

19.                                Amendment and Modification; Waiver .  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Warrant may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto.  No waiver by the Partnership or the Holder of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving.  No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver.  No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Warrant shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

 

20.                                Severability .  If any term or provision of this Warrant is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Warrant or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

21.                                Governing Law .  This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware. Any action against any party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any

 

11


 

such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

 

22.                                Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Warrant is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues and, therefore, each such party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

23.                                Counterparts .  This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.  A signed copy of this Warrant delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Warrant.

 

24.                                No Strict Construction .  This Warrant shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has duly executed this Warrant on the Original Issue Date.

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

By:

Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,
its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

 

Charles C. Ward

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Warrant Exercisable for Junior Securities

 


 

 

Accepted and agreed,

 

 

 

STONEPEAK CATARINA HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (ORION AIV) LP, its managing member

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK ASSOCIATES LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP HOLDINGS LP, its sole member

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS MANAGER LLC, its managing member

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jack Howell

 

Name:Jack Howell

 

Title:Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Warrant Exercisable for Junior Securities

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
EXERCISE AGREEMENT

 

To [Name] :

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right represented by the within Warrant (“ Warrant ) for, and to receive thereunder by the surrender of this Warrant, Junior Securities ( Warrant Units ) provided for therein, and requests that certificates for the Warrant Units be issued as follows:

 

Name:                   

 

Address:                   

 

Federal Tax or Social Security No.:                   

 

and delivered by

(certified mail to the above address, or

 

 

 

(electronically (provide DWAC

 

Instructions:               ), or

 

 

 

(other                ) (specify):.

 

Dated:                 ,

 

Note: The signature must correspond with the name of the Holder as written on the first page of this Warrant in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever, unless this Warrant has been assigned.

 

Signature:

 

Name (please print)

 

 

 

 

 

Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Identification or Social Security No.

 

 

 

 

A- 1


 

EXHIBIT B

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
ASSIGNMENT

 

For value received [•] hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto [•] the within Warrant, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint attorney, to transfer said Warrant on the books of the within-named Partnership, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 

Note: The above signature must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Warrant in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

B- 1


Exhibit 99.1

 

Execution Version

 

Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC
55 Hudson Yards, 550 W. 34th St., 48th Floor
New York, NY 10001

 

August 2, 2019

 

Sanchez Midstream Partners LP
Attention:  Charles C. Ward
1000 Main Street, Suite 3000
Houston, Texas 77002

 

Re:  Certain Agreements Relating to Board Representation Rights

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Board Representation and Standstill Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of August 2, 2019, among Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Stonepeak ”), Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner ”), and sole general partner of Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Partnership ”, and together with Stonepeak and the General Partner, the “ Parties ”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.

 

For and in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Agreement, the Parties hereby acknowledge and agree as follows:

 

From the date of this letter agreement until the earlier of (i) the Second Designation Right Termination Event and (ii) the transfer of any of the Class C Preferred Units to any Person who is not an Affiliate of Stonepeak, the Parties agree that, in the event that the number of Directors comprising the Board increases to more than nine (9) Directors, for each additional Director added, the Sanchez Entities shall take all actions necessary or advisable to cause an additional Director to be added to the Board, to be designated by Stonepeak in its sole discretion (and which shall not be deemed to be an independent Director for the purposes hereof or the Agreement), subject only to the qualification restrictions on Stonepeak Designated Directors as set forth in the Agreement. Following the Second Designation Right Termination Event, the General Partner shall promptly remove all Directors serving on the Board that have been designated by Stonepeak (including the Stonepeak Designated Directors appointed pursuant to Section 1(a) of the Agreement or Directors appointed pursuant to this letter agreement) and shall fill all resulting vacancies in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement.

 

This letter agreement modifies the Agreement to the extent set forth herein, is hereby incorporated by reference into the Agreement and is made a part thereof.  Except as expressly modified hereby, the Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and remains in full force and effect.  The execution, delivery and performance of this letter agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any provision of, or operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Parties under the Agreement.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the undersigned has executed this letter agreement on the date first set forth above.

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS GP LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name:

Charles C. Ward

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

SANCHEZ MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

 

By: Sanchez Midstream Partners GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Charles C. Ward

 

Name:

Charles C. Ward

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Letter Agreement (Board Size)

 


 

 

STONEPEAK:

 

 

 

 

STONEPEAK CATARINA HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (ORION AIV) LP, its managing member

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK ASSOCIATES LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP HOLDINGS LP, its sole member

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

STONEPEAK GP INVESTORS MANAGER LLC, its managing member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jack Howell

 

Name:

Jack Howell

 

Title:

Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Letter Agreement (Board Size)