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)
April 14, 2015 (April 8, 2015)

 

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
001-33055
(Commission
File Number)
74-3169953
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800
Los Angeles, CA 90071

(Address of principal executive office)

 

(213) 225-5900
(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:

 

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

 

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

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

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

 

 
 

 

ITEM 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Amended and Restated Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, Breitburn Energy Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”), a Delaware limited partnership, entered into an amended and restated purchase agreement (the “ Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement ”) with EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP (“ EIG Equity ”), ACMO BBEP Corp. (“ACMO”) and the other purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto (together with EIG Equity, the “ Preferred Unit Purchasers ”), pursuant to which the Partnership agreed to sell $350 million in aggregate amount of the Partnership’s Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units (the “ Series B Preferred Units ”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership to the Preferred Unit Purchasers at an issue price to the Preferred Unit Purchasers of $7.50 per unit in a private placement (the “ Preferred Private Placement ”) exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The Series B Preferred Units have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Preferred Private Placement closed on April 8, 2015 (the “ Closing Date ”).

 

In connection with the closing of the Preferred Private Placement, on April 8, 2015, the Partnership entered into the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, which defines the preferences, rights, powers and duties of holders of Series B Preferred Units (the “ Partnership Agreement Amendment ”), a Board Representation and Standstill Agreement with EIG Equity (the “ Board Representation and Standstill Agreement ”), Standstill Agreements with ACMO and the other Preferred Unit Purchasers (the “ Standstill Agreements ”) and a Registration Rights Agreement with EIG Equity, ACMO and the other Preferred Unit Purchasers (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”). In addition, in connection with the closing of the Preferred Private Placement, the Partnership paid EIG Management Company, LLC (“ EIG MC ”) a transaction fee equal to $7 million.

 

The Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership and indemnification and other obligations of the Partnership and the Preferred Unit Purchasers. The foregoing description of the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Partnership Agreement Amendment

 

In connection with the closing of the Preferred Private Placement, on April 8, 2015, the Partnership executed the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership for the purpose of defining the preferences, rights, powers and duties of holders of Series B Preferred Units.

 

The Series B Preferred Units rank senior to the Partnership’s common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“ Common Units ”) with respect to the payment of distributions and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up. The Series B Preferred Units rank on parity with the Partnership’s 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “ Series A Preferred Units ”) with respect to the payment of distributions and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up. The Series B Preferred Units have no stated maturity and are not subject to mandatory redemption (except in limited circumstances in connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the Partnership Agreement Amendment), which mandatory redemption may be satisfied in cash or in Common Units at the Partnership’s election, or any sinking fund and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by the Partnership or converted into Common Units.

 

The Series B Preferred Units will pay monthly distributions at a rate equal to 8% per annum, payable in cash or additional Series B Preferred Units at the Partnership’s option for the first three years, and in cash thereafter. In the event of a Change of Control in which the consideration received by the holders of Common Units is comprised of at least 90% cash (a “ Cash COC Event ”), the Series B Preferred Units will be automatically converted into Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the Cash COC Event. In the event of a Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event), the holders of Series B Preferred Units will be entitled to elect certain other treatment for their Series B Preferred Units.

 

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The Series B Preferred Units have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and will vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Series B Preferred Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Series B Preferred Units are convertible on each matter with respect to which each Common Unit is entitled to vote. In addition, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Series B Preferred Unit, will be necessary for any of the following actions: (1) amendments to the Partnership Agreement Amendment or the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership that are materially adverse to powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Units; (2) other than PIK Units, issuances of senior securities or parity securities to the Series B Preferred Units (other than parity securities to the Series B Preferred Units that are substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Units), including the designation, creation or issuance of additional Series B Preferred Units; (3) entering into any transaction between the Partnership on the one hand, and the General Partner (as defined below) or any of the General Partner’s Affiliates on the other hand, if such transaction (A) is not in existence on the Closing Date ( provided , any amendment to any such transaction will be subject to this clause (3)) or (B) has not been approved pursuant to Section 7.9(a)(i) or (ii) of the Partnership Agreement Amendment, but in any event excluding any transactions between the Partnership and any of its subsidiaries or between or among two or more of the Partnership’s subsidiaries; (4) adopting or changing tax elections, tax accounting methods or tax reporting positions, in each case if such adoption or change would disproportionately and adversely affect the holders of the Series B Preferred Units (relative to the other limited partners) unless the adoption or change is required by applicable law; and (5) making any distribution, other than in accordance with the existing distribution provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 12.4 of the Partnership Agreement Amendment as in effect on the Closing Date.

 

One or more holders of the Series B Preferred Units may elect, each in its own discretion, at any time on or after April 15, 2018, to convert all or any portion of the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing holder(s) in an aggregate amount equaling or exceeding the Series B Minimum Conversion Amount (as defined in the Partnership Agreement Amendment) into Common Units, with each Series B Preferred Unit so converted being converted into one Common Unit, subject to Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments (as defined in the Partnership Agreement Amendment) (as so adjusted, the “ Series B Conversion Ratio ”).

 

At any time on or after April 15, 2018, the Partnership may elect at any time to convert all or part of the Series B Preferred Units then Outstanding into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio; provided that (1) such Common Units shall be registered for public resale under the Securities Act, pursuant to an effective registration statement that is then-available for the resale of such Common Units; and (2) the daily VWAP of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is greater than one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the product of the Series B Issue Price multiplied by the Series B Conversion Ratio for 20 Trading Days in the 30 Trading Day period immediately preceding the date the Partnership furnishes notice to the more holders of the Series B Preferred Units of the conversion.

 

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

 

Board Representation and Standstill Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, the Partnership and Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), entered into the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement with EIG Equity. Pursuant to the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Partnership and the General Partner have agreed to permit EIG Equity to appoint a single representative, in a non-voting observer capacity, to attend all meetings of the full board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”), subject to certain exceptions described in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement (the “ Board Observation Rights ”). Pursuant to the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Partnership and the General Partner have agreed to permit EIG Equity to designate one person to serve as a director on the Board (the “ Designated Director ”).

 

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The Board Observation Rights and the Board Designation Rights terminate on the earlier of (1) the Series B Voting Termination Date (as defined in the Partnership Agreement Amendment) or (2) on or after the initial conversion of Series B Preferred Units held by EIG Equity and its affiliates pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the date on which EIG Equity and its affiliates no longer own (A) Common Units issued in respect of any such conversion or any prior conversion and (B) Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis (based on the Series B Conversion Ratio (as defined in the Partnership Agreement Amendment) then in effect) that, together, are equal in number to seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) or more of the total number of outstanding Common Units (counting for this purpose in the denominator used to calculate such percentage, all outstanding Series B Preferred Units as though they were outstanding Common Units based on the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect) (such earlier date, the “ Board Rights Termination Date ”); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances will the Board Rights Termination Date be deemed to have occurred so long as EIG Equity and its affiliates continue to beneficially own the majority of the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Closing Date plus a majority of the PIK Units, if any, paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Closing Date.

 

During the period from and including the Closing Date through and including the annual meeting of unitholders to elect directors to the Board that is held in 2017 (including any adjournments and postponements thereof), EIG Equity has agreed that, at any meeting of the unitholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the unitholders is sought solely with respect to the matters described below, EIG Equity shall vote (or cause to be voted) or execute (or cause to be executed) consents with respect to, as applicable, all of the units owned by EIG Equity and its affiliates as of the applicable record date (1) in favor of the election of the persons named in the Partnership’s proxy statement as the Board’s nominees for election as directors, and against any other nominees and (2) in favor of the adoption of or amendment to any equity-based compensation plans presented by the Board for unitholder vote that is similar with respect to amount and types of awards for long-term incentive plans of publicly traded upstream oil and gas companies. In addition, during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date, with respect to any proposal to remove the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership, EIG Equity has agreed that it will not, and will cause its affiliates not to, vote (or give consents for) a proportion of their Series B Preferred Units and Common Units in favor of removal that exceeds the proportion of (1) the Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as-converted basis) voted in favor of such proposal by the unitholders other than EIG Equity and its affiliates as compared to (2) all Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as converted basis consistent with the Partnership Agreement) held by the unitholders other than EIG Equity and its affiliates.

 

During the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Standstill Termination Date (as defined below), EIG Equity has agreed that it will not, and will cause its affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, among other things: (1) 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, other than as recommended by the Board); (2) acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis), provided that, the foregoing will not prohibit or apply to the receipt of any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and such PIK Units will not be taken into account for purposes of establishing compliance with the foregoing; (3) acquire or propose to acquire securities of any affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to clause (5) below, any properties of the Partnership or any of its affiliates; (4) call a special meeting of the unitholders; or (5) propose to remove the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership or, other than in accordance with Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, vote to remove the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership. “ Standstill Termination Date ” means the earlier of (1) the first anniversary of the Board Rights Termination Date and (2) the later of (A) the third anniversary of the Closing Date or (B) the first anniversary of the date on which both the Designated Director has resigned from the Board and EIG Equity has permanently waived and renounced the Board Observation Rights and the Board Designation Rights.

 

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 full text of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Other Purchaser Standstill Agreements

 

On April 8, 2015, the Partnership and the General Partner also entered into the Standstill Agreements with ACMO and the other purchasers listed on Schedule A to the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, which contain provisions substantially similar to the standstill provisions in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement. The Standstill Agreements terminate on the earlier of (1) the second anniversary of the Closing Date and (2) the Standstill Termination Date under the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, the Partnership entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with EIG Equity, ACMO and the other Preferred Unit Purchasers relating to the registered resale of (1) the Series B Preferred Units, including PIK Units, and (2) Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units, including PIK Units. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Partnership is required to file or cause to be filed a registration statement for such registered resale within 75 days following the Closing Date and is required to cause the registration statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date.   In certain circumstances, the Preferred Unit Purchasers will have piggyback registration rights and rights to request an underwritten offering as described in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Preferred Unit Purchasers will cease to have registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement on the later of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and the date on which the Preferred Unit Purchaser holds Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) that represent less than $30 million of Registrable Securities.

 

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

 

Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, the Partnership, Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Breitburn Finance ”) and Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Breitburn Operating ” and, together with the Partnership and Breitburn Finance, the “ Issuers ”), and certain subsidiaries of the Partnership, as guarantors (the “ Guarantors ”), entered into an Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”) with EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP (“ EIG Debt, ” and together with EIG Equity, “ EIG ”) and the other purchasers listed on Schedule I thereto (together with EIG Debt, the “ Note Purchasers ”), pursuant to which the Issuers agreed to sell $650 million in aggregate principal amount of their 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “ Notes ”) to the Note Purchasers in a private placement (the “ Notes Private Placement ,” and together with the Preferred Private Placement, the “ Private Placements ”) exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.  The Notes Private Placement closed on April 8, 2015.

 

The Note Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership and indemnification and other obligations of the Partnership and the Note Purchasers. In addition, in connection with the closing of the Notes Private Placement, the Partnership paid EIG MC a transaction fee equal to $13 million. The foregoing description of the Note Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Note Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Indenture

 

The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “ Indenture ”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent. The Notes will mature on May 18, 2020. The interest payment dates for the Notes will be March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. The Notes are guaranteed by the Guarantors (the “ Guarantee ”) and, together with the Guarantee, are secured on a senior second-priority basis by liens on assets of the Issuers and Guarantors that secure the obligations of the Issuers and Guarantors under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated November 19, 2014, among the Partnership, Breitburn Operating, certain subsidiaries, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto, as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of April 8, 2015 (the “ Credit Agreement ”).

 

Prior to the third anniversary of the closing date, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make whole premium at the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. For the twelve month period beginning on the third anniversary of the closing date,  the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 106% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the Notes may be redeemed at par plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

The Indenture contains covenants that restrict the Partnership’s ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to: (i) sell assets including equity interests in our subsidiaries; (ii) pay distributions on, redeem or repurchase our units or redeem or repurchase our existing unsecured notes and our subordinated debt; (iii) make investments; (iv) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred units; (v) create or incur certain liens, including liens incurring additional second lien and other junior lien debt; (vi) enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from our restricted subsidiaries to us; (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; (viii) engage in transactions with affiliates; (ix) create unrestricted subsidiaries; or (x) engage in certain business activities. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. In addition, the Note Purchase Agreement contains representations and warranties and affirmative covenants similar to those included in the Credit Agreement.

 

The events that constitute an event of default under the Indenture include:  payment defaults; material misrepresentations; breaches of covenants; cross payment default and cross-acceleration to certain other indebtedness; adverse judgments against us in excess of a specified amount; certain insolvency events; and events affecting the enforceability of the guarantees or the security interests granted in favor of the noteholders. Under the Note Purchase Agreement, EIG Debt has agreed that it or its affiliates will own and hold at all times at least 50.1% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

 

The foregoing description of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture, which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Security Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, the Issuers, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent under the Indenture (the “ Collateral Agent ”), entered into a security agreement (the “ Security Agreement ”) pursuant to which each Issuer and each Guarantor pledged substantially all of its assets in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure obligations under the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

The foregoing description of the Security Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Security Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

 

On April 8, 2015, the Collateral Agent and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement (the “ Priority Lien Agent ”) entered into an intercreditor agreement (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) to govern the relationship of noteholders and the lenders under the Credit Agreement with respect to the collateral and certain other matters.

 

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The foregoing description of the Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Intercreditor Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

In connection with the closing of the Private Placements on April 8, 2015, the Partnership entered into the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, among the Partnership, Breitburn Operating, certain subsidiaries, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto (the “ Credit Agreement Amendment ”). Among other changes, the Credit Agreement Amendment; (i) establishes a borrowing base of $1.8 billion until the April 1, 2016 scheduled redetermination date subject, starting with the October 1, 2015 scheduled redetermination date, to the Partnership having at least 10% of the borrowing base available; (ii) permits $650 million of second lien indebtedness; (iii) increases the base rate and libor margins by 0.25%; (iv) adds a requirement that the Partnership have at least 10% of the borrowing base available in order to make distributions on its common units or voluntary prepayment of second lien indebtedness; and (v) adds a requirement that the Partnership have at least 5% of the borrowing base available in order to make distributions on its Series B preferred units.  

 

The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.7 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Use of Proceeds

 

The Partnership received net proceeds from the Private Placements of approximately $938 million (after deducting estimated fees and expenses) and used $930 million of the proceeds to reduce outstanding borrowings under its bank credit facility. After the application by the Partnership of the net proceeds from the Private Placements to reduce borrowings under its bank credit facility, the Partnership’s outstanding debt under its bank credit facility was approximately $1.29 billion as of April 8, 2015.

 

ITEM 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Notes Private Placement, the Indenture, the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Credit Agreement Amendment is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

ITEM 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Preferred Private Placement is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference.

 

ITEM 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

In connection with the closing of the Preferred Private Placement, the Partnership entered into the Partnership Agreement Amendment, the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Standstill Agreements and the Registration Rights Agreement. The disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Partnership Agreement Amendment, the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Standstill Agreements and the Registration Rights Agreement is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.

 

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

 

Effective upon the closing of the Preferred Private Placement and pursuant to the terms of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, on April 8, 2015, the size of the Board was increased by one from seven members to eight members and Kurt A. Talbot was appointed to the Board as a Class III director to fill the resulting vacancy for a term that will expire at the annual meeting to be held in 2017. Upon the expiration of his term, he may be reelected for a three year term. Mr. Talbot is entitled to compensation commensurate with that of a non-employee member of the Board and will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses consistent with the General Partner’s policies applicable to other non-employee directors. Mr. Talbot is the Vice Chairman and Co-Head of the Investment Committee of EIG Global Energy Partners, which is affiliated with EIG and EIG MC. The disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to EIG and EIG MC, the Private Placements and the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. An amendment to this Current Report will be filed with additional information required under Item 5.02.

 

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

 

In connection with the closing of the Preferred Private Placement, the Partnership entered into the Partnership Agreement Amendment. The disclosure under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Partnership Agreement Amendment is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

ITEM 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On April 8, 2015, the Partnership announced that that it had closed the Private Placements. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information in this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

3.1   Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP.
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto.
10.1   Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP,  EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, ACMO BBEP Corp. and the other purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto.
10.2   Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn GP LLC, Breitburn Energy Partners LP and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP.

10.3

  Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and the purchasers listed on Schedule I thereto.
10.4   Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. National Bank Association.
10.5   Security Agreement, dated as of April 8. 2015, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, each of the subsidiary entities named therein and U.S. Bank National Association.
10.6   Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, U.S. Bank National Association, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Operating LP and each of the subsidiary entities named therein.
10.7   First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 8. 2015, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, as borrower, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as parent guarantor, Breitburn GP LLC, Breitburn Operating GP LLC, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, each lender signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
99.1   Press Release of Breitburn Energy Partners LP dated April 8, 2015.

  

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
     
  By: BREITBURN GP LLC,
    its general partner
     
     
Dated:  April 14, 2015 By: /s/ James G. Jackson
    James G. Jackson
    Chief Financial Officer

 

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exhibit index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

3.1   Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP.
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto.
10.1   Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP,  EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, ACMO BBEP Corp. and the other purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto.
10.2   Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn GP LLC, Breitburn Energy Partners LP and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP.

10.3

  Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and the purchasers listed on Schedule I thereto.
10.4   Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. National Bank Association.
10.5   Security Agreement, dated as of April 8. 2015, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, each of the subsidiary entities named therein and U.S. Bank National Association.
10.6   Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, U.S. Bank National Association, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Operating LP and each of the subsidiary entities named therein.
10.7   First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 8. 2015, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, as borrower, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as parent guarantor, Breitburn GP LLC, Breitburn Operating GP LLC, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, each lender signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
99.1   Press Release of Breitburn Energy Partners LP dated April 8, 2015.

 

10

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

 
 

 

Table of Contents

 

      Page
       
Article I
DEFINITIONS
       
Section 1.1 Definitions   1
Section 1.2 Construction   23
       
Article II
ORGANIZATION
       
Section 2.1 Formation   23
Section 2.2 Name   23
Section 2.3 Principal Office; Other Offices   23
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business   24
Section 2.5 Powers   24
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney   24
Section 2.7 Term   25
Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets   25
Section 2.9 Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership   26
       
Article III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
       
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability   27
Section 3.2 Management of Business   27
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners   27
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners   28
       
Article IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
       
Section 4.1 Certificates   29
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates   29
Section 4.3 Record Holders   30
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally   30
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests   31
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest   31
Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers   32
Section 4.8 Eligible Holder Certifications; Non-Eligible Holders   33
Section 4.9 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-Eligible Holders   34

 

i
 

 

Table of Contents (cont'd)

 

      Page
       
Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
       
Section 5.1 Interest and Withdrawal   36
Section 5.2 Capital Accounts   36
Section 5.3 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities   39
Section 5.4 Limited Preemptive Right   40
Section 5.5 Splits and Combinations   40
Section 5.6 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests   41
       
Article VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
       
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes   41
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes   47
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders   50
       
Article VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
       
Section 7.1 Management   50
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership   52
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority   53
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner   53
Section 7.5 Outside Activities   54
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members   55
Section 7.7 Indemnification   56
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees   57
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties   58
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner   60
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities   60
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates   61
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties   63
       
Article VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
       
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting   63
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year   64
Section 8.3 Reports   64

 

ii
 

 

Table of Contents (cont'd)

 

      Page
       
Article IX
TAX MATTERS
       
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information   64
Section 9.2 Tax Elections   64
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies   65
Section 9.4 Withholding   65
       
Article X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
       
Section 10.1 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners   65
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner   66
Section 10.3 Admission of Additional Limited Partners   66
Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership   66
       
Article XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
       
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner   67
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner   68
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner   69
Section 11.4 Withdrawal of Limited Partners   70
       
Article XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
       
Section 12.1 Dissolution   70
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution   71
Section 12.3 Liquidator   72
Section 12.4 Liquidation   72
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership   73
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions   73
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition   73
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration   73
       
Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
       
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner   73
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures   75
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements   75
Section 13.4 Special Meetings   76
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting   82
Section 13.6 Record Date   82
Section 13.7 Adjournment   82
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes   82

 

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Table of Contents (cont'd)

 

      Page
       
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting   83
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting   83
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting   84
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters   84
       
Article XIV
MERGER OR CONVERSION
       
Section 14.1 Authority   85
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion   85
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners   86
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger or Conversion   87
Section 14.5 Amendment of Partnership Agreement   87
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger or Conversion   88
       
Article XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
       
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests   89
       
Article XVI
SERIES A CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS
       
Section 16.1 Designation   90
Section 16.2 Units   90
Section 16.3 Distributions   91
Section 16.4 Change of Control   92
Section 16.5 Voting Rights   93
Section 16.6 Optional Redemption   94
Section 16.7 No Sinking Fund   96
Section 16.8 Record Holders   96
Section 16.9 Notices   96
Section 16.10 Other Rights   96
       
Article XVII
SERIES B PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS
       
Section 17.1 Designation   96
Section 17.2 Units   96
Section 17.3 Distributions   97
Section 17.4 Change of Control   100
Section 17.5 Voting Rights   102
Section 17.6 Conversion of Series B Preferred Units   104
Section 17.7 No Sinking Fund   106
Section 17.8 Record Holders   106
Section 17.9 Notices   106

 

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Table of Contents (cont'd)

 

      Page
       
Section 17.10 Other Rights   106
       
Article XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
       
Section 18.1 Addresses and Notices   107
Section 18.2 Further Action   107
Section 18.3 Binding Effect   107
Section 18.4 Integration   107
Section 18.5 Creditors   108
Section 18.6 Waiver   108
Section 18.7 Counterparts   108
Section 18.8 Applicable Law   108
Section 18.9 Invalidity of Provisions   108
Section 18.10 Consent of Partners   108
Section 18.11 Facsimile Signatures   108
Section 18.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries   108

 

v
 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP dated as of April 8, 2015, is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner and as the lawful agent and attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

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 (an “ Additional Book Basis Reduction ”) and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event (a “ Carrying Value Increase ”), then any such Carrying Value Increase shall be treated as Additional Book Basis in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount of such Carrying Value Increase and (b) the amount determined by proportionately allocating to the Carrying Value Increases resulting from such Book-Down Event the lesser of (i) the aggregate Additional Book Basis Reductions resulting from such Book Down-Event and (ii) 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 (ii) 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.

 

 
 

 

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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 amounts that such Partner is (x) obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or (y) 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 the General Partner Interest, a Common Unit, a Series A Preferred Unit, a Series B Preferred Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(i) or 5.2(d)(ii).

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, no Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner under this Agreement solely by virtue of such Person’s ownership of Partnership Securities. Without conceding that any Person that acquired Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date is otherwise deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner under this Agreement, in no event shall any Person that acquired Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner for purposes of Sections 4.5(f), 7.5(d), 7.11, 7.12 and 15.1 of this Agreement.

 

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.

 

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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 as described in Section 5.2(d), in each case 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 Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Arrears ” means, with respect to (i) Series A Distributions for any Month (or, with respect to the initial Series A Distribution, for the initial Series A Distribution Period), that the full cumulative Series A Distributions to the most recent Series A Distribution Date (or, with respect to the initial Series A Distribution, to July 15, 2014) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or (ii) Series B Distributions for any Month (or, with respect to the initial Series B Distribution, for the initial Series B Distribution Period), that the full cumulative Series B Distributions to the most recent Series B Distribution Date (or, with respect to the initial Series B Distribution, to May 15, 2015) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units.

 

Assignee ” means a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who has executed and delivered a Transfer Application, including a Eligible Holder Certification, as required by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.

 

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner 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)          all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, less

 

3
 

 

(b)          the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject, (iii) provide funds for Series A Payments, (iv) provide funds for Series B Distributions or (v) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.3 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided , however , 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.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal law for the relief of debtors.

 

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, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner.

 

Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain, loss, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, Simulated Depletion, or gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated 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 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 5.2 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

Book-Up Event ” means 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 California or New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.2. The “ Capital Account ” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Interest, a Common Unit, a Series A Preferred Unit, a Series B Preferred Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

4
 

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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 federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. In the case of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), adjusted basis shall be determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.613A–3(e)(3)(iii)(C). The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.2(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.

 

Cash COC Conversion Premium ” means (i) prior to the first anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 115%, (ii) during the period commencing on the first anniversary and ending on the date immediately preceding the second anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 110%, (iii) during the period commencing on the second anniversary and ending on the date immediately preceding the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 105%, and (iv) thereafter, 101%.

 

Cash COC Event ” means any Change of Control in which the consideration received by the holders of Common Units, including holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units upon conversion into Common Units in accordance with this Agreement, is comprised of at least 90% cash.

 

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

 

Certificate ” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement with respect to the Common Units, Exhibit B to this Agreement with respect to Series A Preferred Units, or Exhibit C to this Agreement with respect to Series B Preferred Units, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

5
 

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of either the following:

 

(a)          the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Partnership and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)); or

 

(b)          the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the Partnership’s voting interest, measured by voting power rather than number of Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units or the like.

 

Change of Control Conversion Date ” shall be the date fixed by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, as the date the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, are to be converted to Conversion Common Units. Such Change of Control Conversion Date shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days from the date on which the Partnership provides the notice to Series A Holders or Series B Holders, as applicable, of the Series A Change of Control Offer or the Series B Change of Control Offer, as applicable.

 

claim ” (as used in Section 7.12(c)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).

 

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, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the NASDAQ Global Select Market) 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 (other than the NASDAQ Global Select Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

 

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

 

6
 

 

Combined Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).

 

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means a 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 Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unit Price ” means (i) the amount of cash consideration per Common Unit, if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of the Common Units is solely cash; and (ii) the average of the closing price for the Common Units on the NASDAQ (or other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then trading) for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding, but not including the Change of Control Conversion Date, if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of the Common Units is other than solely cash.

 

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are 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 5.2(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

 

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2006, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Conversion Common Units ” means Common Units issued upon conversion of (i) the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.4(a) or (ii) the Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.6.

 

Conversion Price ” means the product of the Series B Issue Price multiplied by the Series B Conversion Ratio.

 

“Converting Unitholder” means a Person entitled to receive Common Units upon conversion of Series B Preferred Units.

 

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

 

7
 

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Directors ” shall mean the members of the Board of Directors.

 

Economic Risk of Loss ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

 

Eligible Holder ” means a person or entity qualified to hold an interest in oil and gas leases on federal lands. As of the date hereof, Eligible Holder means: (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof; (3) a public body, including a municipality; or (4) an association of United States citizens, such as a partnership or limited liability company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, but only if such association does not have any direct or indirect foreign ownership, other than foreign ownership of stock in a parent corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, onshore mineral leases or any direct or indirect interest therein may be acquired and held by aliens only through stock ownership, holding or control in a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof.

 

Eligible Holder Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Holder.

 

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.

 

Event of Noncompliance ” means the failure of the Partnership to make any Series B Distribution which it is required to make pursuant to Section 17.3.

 

8
 

 

Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).

 

Excess Additional Book Basis ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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

 

General Partner Interest ” means the management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership in its capacity as a general partner. The General Partner Interest does not have any rights to ownership, profit or any rights to receive distributions from operations or the liquidation of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby confirmed that Breitburn GP LLC continues as the general partner of the Partnership without holding any economic interest in the Partnership and the business of the Partnership is continued without dissolution.

 

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 a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, 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 with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.

 

Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

 

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

 

Holder ” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).

 

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).

 

9
 

 

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective 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.

 

Issued Preferred Units ” means the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units, having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVI and Article XVII, respectively.

 

Junior Securities ” means (a) the Common Units and (b) any other class or series of Partnership Securities, the terms of which class do not expressly provide that it is made senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions.

 

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) each limited partner of the Partnership at the effective time of this Agreement, each Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII, IX and XII, each Assignee.

 

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

 

10
 

 

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.

 

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

Month ” means with respect to (i) the Series A Preferred Units, each calendar month beginning on July 15, 2014 and continuing through the end of the month in which no Series A Preferred Unit remains Outstanding or (ii) the Series B Preferred Units, each calendar month beginning on May 15, 2015 and continuing through the end of the month in which no Series B Preferred Unit remains Outstanding.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute.

 

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 or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code.

 

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xii).

 

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and shall include Simulated Gains (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss or any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

 

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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 5.2) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) 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 5.2(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided, however , the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

 

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 5.2) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) 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 5.2(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided , however , items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

 

Noncompensatory Option ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(f).

 

Non-Eligible Holder ” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Holder and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.8.

 

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

 

Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Liability.

 

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Non-Recourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).

 

Omnibus Agreement ” means the Omnibus Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, among the General Partner, the Partnership, BreitBurn Energy Company LP, BreitBurn Energy Holdings LLC, BEC (GP) LLC and BreitBurn Management Company, LLC, as amended.

 

Operating Partnership ” means BreitBurn Operating L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

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 Securities, all Partnership Securities 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 Securities of any class then Outstanding, all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided , further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner (if the payment of Series B Distributions in PIK Units pursuant to this Agreement causes any Person or Group to acquire 20% or more of such Partnership Securities, such acquisition shall be deemed to be with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner pursuant to this clause (iii)), including any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Series A Preferred Units on May 21, 2014, or (iv) any Person or Group who acquires 20% or more of the Series B Preferred Units, including as a result of the payment of PIK Units on the Series B Preferred Units (subject to the foregoing clause (iii)), if and only if such Person does not, at or after such acquisition, beneficially own or acquire 20% or more of the voting power of the Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis pursuant to Section 17.5(a)). For the avoidance of doubt, no Series B Purchaser shall be considered an Affiliate of the General Partner for purposes of this definition of “Outstanding.”

 

13
 

 

Parity Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Securities the terms of which class are not expressly subordinated or senior to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions. The Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units are Parity Securities with each other.

 

Partner Non-Recourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Partner Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partner Non-Recourse 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(i), are attributable to a Partner Non-Recourse Debt.

 

Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

Partnership ” means Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

Partnership Interest ” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.

 

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

 

Partnership Security ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units.

 

Paying Agent ” means the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, and its successors and assigns or any other payment agent appointed by the General Partner; provided, however, that if no Paying Agent is specifically designated for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

 

14
 

 

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to any Unitholder or Assignee with respect to Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units), the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units) held by such Unitholder or Assignee by (B) the total number of outstanding Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units), and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.3, the percentage established as part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest, a Series A Preferred Unit and a Series B Preferred Unit shall at all times be zero.

 

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.

 

PIK Payment Date ” is defined in Section 17.3(c).

 

PIK Unit ” means an additional Series B Preferred Unit issued pursuant to a Series B Distribution in accordance with Section 17.3.

 

Plan of Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

Preferred Units ” means a Partnership Security, designated as a “Preferred Unit,” which entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of nonliquidating distributions over Common Units, including the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units.

 

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 Issued Preferred Units) or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units) in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (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 their relative Percentage Interests and (b) when used with respect to Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, apportioned among all Series A Holders or Series B Holders, as applicable, in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, held by each such holder.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

15
 

 

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) the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, (b) the Person in whose name a Preferred Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent, unless otherwise as set forth in Article XVI or Article XVII, as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day or (c) with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

 

Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9.

 

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-134049) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

 

Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means as of the end of any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders (other than holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of those Unitholders’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Interest for each prior taxable period.

 

Required Allocations ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction, and any Capital Account decreases attributable to Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i), 6.1(d)(ii), 6.1(d)(iii), 6.1(d)(iv), 6.1(d)(v), 6.1(d)(vi), 6.1(d)(viii) or Section 6.1(e).

 

Revaluation Event ” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.2(d).

 

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.

 

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Senior Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Securities the terms of which class expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions.

 

Series A Change of Control Offer ” is defined in Section 16.4(a).

 

Series A Conversion Ratio ” is defined in Section 16.4(b).

 

Series A Distribution Payment Date ” means the 15th of each Month, commencing July 15, 2014; provided, however , that if any Series A Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Series A Distribution Payment Date shall instead be on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions.

 

Series A Distribution Period ” means any Month from and including the preceding Series A Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series A Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series A Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution Period.

 

Series A Distribution Rate ” means a rate equal to 8.25% per annum of the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Series A Distribution Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.3(b).

 

Series A Distributions ” means distributions with respect to Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.3.

 

Series A Holder ” means a Record Holder of the Series A Preferred Units.

 

Series A Liquidation Preference ” means a liquidation preference for each Series A Preferred Unit initially equal to the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series A Preferred Unit amount of any accumulated and unpaid Series A Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared).

 

Series A Original Issue Date ” means May 21, 2014.

 

Series A Payments ” means, collectively, Series A Distributions and Series A Redemption Payments.

 

Series A Preferred Unit ” means a 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Unit having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVI.

 

Series A Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6.

 

Series A Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6(b).

 

17
 

 

Series A Redemption Payments ” means payments to be made to the holders of Series A Preferred Units to redeem Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.6.

 

Series A Redemption Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6(a).

 

Series B Change of Control Offer ” is defined in Section 17.4(c).

 

Series B Conversion Ratio ” is defined in Section 17.6(a).

 

“Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments ” is defined in Section 17.6(j).

 

Series B Distribution Payment Date ” means the 15th of each Month, commencing May 15, 2015; provided, however , that if any Series B Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Series B Distribution Payment Date shall instead be on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions.

 

Series B Distribution Period ” means any Month from and including the preceding Series B Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series B Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series B Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Series B Distribution Payment Date for such Series B Distribution Period.

 

Series B Distribution Rate ” means (i) until and including April 15, 2018, a rate equal to 8.00% per annum of the Series B Issue Price and (ii) after April 15, 2018, a rate equal to the greater of (a) 8.00% per annum of the Series B Issue Price and (b) the amount equal to the distributions that would be payable on the Partnership’s Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid in that month under Section 6.3, if such Series B Preferred Unit was converted into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio on the Record Date selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.3; provided , however , that if the General Partner makes a distribution with respect to the Common Units in that month as a quarterly distribution under Section 6.3(a)(i) instead of a monthly distribution under Section 6.3(a)(ii) and if the difference between (A) the amount of the quarterly distribution that would be payable on the Partnership’s Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid for that Quarter under Section 6.3(a)(i), if such Series B Preferred Unit was converted into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio on the Record Date selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.3, minus (B) three times the amount of the monthly distribution on one Series B Preferred Unit calculated at a rate equal to 8% per annum of the Series B Issue Price is positive, the amount in the preceding clause (b) for the month of the quarterly distribution shall be equal to the result of (x) the distributions that would be payable on the Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid for that Quarter under Section 6.3 minus (y) (2) two times the amount of the monthly distribution on one Series B Preferred Unit calculated at a rate equal to 8% per annum of the Series B Issue Price; provided further that , in the event there is an Event of Noncompliance, the Series B Distribution Rate shall increase by 2.00%, effective as of the date of the first Event of Noncompliance until the first Series B Distribution Payment Date on which no Event of Noncompliance exists and provided further that, if an Event of Noncompliance exists on the seventh Series B Distribution Payment Date following the occurrence of the Event of Noncompliance, the Series B Distribution Rate shall increase by an additional 2.00% until the next Series B Distribution Payment Date on which no Event of Noncompliance exists. Until and including April 15, 2018, such Series B Distributions shall be paid, in the sole discretion of the Partnership, in cash, in PIK Units, or in a combination of cash and PIK Units. The number of PIK Units, per Series B Preferred Unit, to be issued in connection with a Series B Distribution until and including April 15, 2018 shall be the quotient of (A) the applicable Series B Distribution Rate divided by (B) the Series B Issue Price; provided that instead of issuing any fractional PIK Unit, each fractional PIK Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole PIK Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall pay cash in lieu of any fractional PIK Unit not issued because of rounding based on the then-applicable Series B Issue Price. The original issue price of each PIK Unit will be equal to the Series B Issue Price in effect as of the date of such distribution. Each Series B Distribution paid after April 15, 2018 shall be paid in cash.

 

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Series B Distribution Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(b).

 

Series B Distributions ” means distributions with respect to Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.3.

 

Series B Eligible Holder ” means a Series B Holder, or a beneficial owner who holds directly or indirectly through the nominee of the Depositary, that holds the Series B Minimum Election Amount.

 

Series B Floor Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.4(a).

 

Series B Holder ” means a Record Holder of the Series B Preferred Units.

 

Series B Issue Price ” means $7.50 per Series B Preferred Unit, as adjusted for splits, combinations and other similar transactions, if applicable.

 

Series B Liquidation Preference ” means a liquidation preference for each Series B Preferred Unit initially equal to the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series B Preferred Unit amount of any accumulated and unpaid Series B Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared).

 

Series B Minimum Conversion Amount ” means (i) a number of Series B Preferred Units having an aggregate value of $10 million, which value is calculated by multiplying the number of Series B Preferred Units to be converted by the Series B Issue Price or (ii) if the value of the Series B Preferred Units (calculated in accordance with clause (i) above) to be converted by the Series B Holder requesting conversion does not equal or exceed $10 million, then all of the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder.

 

Series B Minimum Election Amount ” means, with respect to a Series B Holder, a number of Series B Preferred Units having an aggregate value of $5 million, which value is calculated by multiplying the number of Series B Preferred Units held by that Series B Holder by the Series B Issue Price.

 

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Series B Original Issue Date ” means April 8, 2015.

 

Series B Preferred Unit ” means a Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Unit having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVII and including PIK Units. A Series B Preferred Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

 

Series B Purchasers ” means EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP and its Affiliates.

 

Series B Voting Termination Date ” means the first date when the Series B Purchasers cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, solely among the Series B Purchasers, the majority of the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date plus a majority of the PIK Units, if any, paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date.

 

Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Limited Partner Interests, 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 period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, and (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment 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 set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.611-2(a)(1) (as if the Simulated Basis of the property was its adjusted tax basis) and in the manner specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2), applying the cost depletion method. 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. If the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d) during a taxable period, following such adjustment Simulated Depletion shall thereafter be calculated under the foregoing provisions based upon such adjusted Carrying Value.

 

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).

 

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Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.

 

Stated Series A Liquidation Preference ” means an amount equal to $25.00 per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Stated Series B Liquidation Preference ” means an amount equal to $7.50 per Series B Preferred Unit.

 

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) or limited liability company in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership or member of such limited liability company, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership or membership interests of such limited liability company (considering all of the partnership interests or membership interests as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation, a partnership or a limited liability company) 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.

 

“Substantially Equivalent Unit” is defined in Section 17.4(b)(ii).

 

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.1 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b)(ii).

 

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 is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).

 

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

 

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Transfer Application ” means an application and agreement for transfer of Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.

 

2020 Indenture ” means the indenture governing the 2020 Notes.

 

2022 Indenture ” means the indenture governing the 2022 Notes.

 

2020 Notes ” means any of the 8.625% Senior Notes due 2020 of the Partnership issued under the 2020 Indenture.

 

2022 Notes ” means any of the 7.875% Senior Notes due 2022 of the Partnership issued under the 2022 Indenture.

 

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 3, 2006, among the Underwriters, the Partnership and the General Partner, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

 

Unit ” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, but shall not include the General Partner Interest.

 

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

Unit Cap ” is defined in Section 16.4(b).

 

Unit Majority ” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

 

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 5.2(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.2(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 5.2(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.2(d)).

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

VWAP ” as of a particular date means the volume-weighted average trading price of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed or admitted to trading.

 

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).

 

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Section 1.2            Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “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 Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Article II
ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1            Formation . The General Partner and the original Limited Partners of the Partnership previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner hereby amends and restates the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended prior to the date hereof, in its entirety, pursuant to Section 13.1 thereof (including Sections 13.1(d) and 13.1(g) thereof). This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

 

Section 2.2            Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Breitburn Energy Partners LP” 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,” “LP,” “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            Principal Office; Other Offices . The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071 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 shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

 

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Section 2.4            Purpose and Business . The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however , that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or appropriate 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            Power of Attorney .

 

(a)          Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

 

(i)          execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.3; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

 

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(ii)         execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided , that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

 

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(b)          The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.7            Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 2.8            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 or Assignee, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided , further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to 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.

 

Section 2.9            Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership .

 

(a)           Separateness Generally . The Partnership shall conduct its business and operations separate and apart from those of any other Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with this Section 2.9.

 

(b)           Separate Records . The Partnership shall maintain (i) its books and records, (ii) its accounts, and (iii) its financial statements, separate from those of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

(c)           Separate Assets . The Partnership shall not commingle or pool its funds or other assets with those of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries, and shall maintain its assets in a manner that is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify as separate from those of any other Person.

 

(d)           Separate Name . The Partnership shall (i) conduct its business in its own name, (ii) use separate stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity, and (iv) generally hold itself out as a separate entity.

 

(e)           Separate Credit . The Partnership shall not (i) pay its own liabilities from a source other than its own funds, (ii) guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries, (iii) hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries, (iv) acquire obligations or debt securities of the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership or its Subsidiaries), or (v) pledge its assets for the benefit of any Person or make loans or advances to any Person, except its Subsidiaries; provided that the Partnership may engage in any transaction described in clauses (ii)–(v) of this Section 2.9(e) if prior Special Approval has been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Conflicts Committee has determined, or has obtained reasonable written assurance from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking or valuation firm, that the borrower or recipient of the credit extension is not then insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in clause (iv), such transaction is completed through a public auction or a National Securities Exchange.

 

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(f)           Separate Formalities . The Partnership shall (i) observe all partnership formalities and other formalities required by its organizational documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or other laws, rules, regulations and orders of governmental authorities exercising jurisdiction over it, (ii) engage in transactions with the General Partner and its Affiliates (other than another Group Member) in conformity with the requirements of Section 7.9, and (iii) promptly pay, from its own funds, and on a current basis, its allocable share of general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, and costs for shared services performed by Affiliates of the General Partner (other than another Group Member). Each material contract between the Partnership or another Group Member, on the one hand, and the Affiliates of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), on the other hand, shall be in writing.

 

(g)           No Effect . Failure by the General Partner or the Partnership to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Partnership as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities.

 

Article III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1            Limitation of Liability . The Limited Partners and the Assignees 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 or Assignee, 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. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3            Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners or Assignees, any Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.

 

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Section 3.4            Rights of Limited Partners .

 

(a)          In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

 

(i)          to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;

 

(ii)         promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;

 

(iii)        to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

 

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

 

(v)         to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and

 

(vi)        to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

 

(b)          The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or 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).

 

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

 

Section 4.1            Certificates . Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Units to any Person and subject to Section 16.2(b) with respect to Series A Preferred Units and Section 17.2(b) with respect to Series B Preferred Units, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Interest and (b) upon the request of any Person owning any other Partnership Securities other than Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such other Partnership Securities other than Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the General Partner elects to issue Units in global form, the Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

 

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 Securities 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.

 

If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee 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.

 

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Section 4.3            Record Holders . The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must execute and deliver a Transfer Application and (c) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.

 

Section 4.4            Transfer Generally .

 

(a)          The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person, 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 or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

(b)          No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be 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 the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.

 

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Section 4.5            Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and transfers of such Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

 

(b)          Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8, the General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer and such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application properly completed and duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate 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. No distributions or allocations will be made in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer Application has been delivered.

 

(c)          Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

(d)          Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1, the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

 

(e)          A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who has completed and delivered a Transfer Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this Agreement.

 

(f)          The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.

 

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

 

(a)          Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2016, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

 

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(b)          Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2016, the General Partner may at its option transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner 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)          Except as provided in Section 4.7(c) below, but 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

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

 

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

 

(d)          Each Certificate evidencing any Series A Preferred Units or any Series B Preferred Units shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the form set forth in the penultimate paragraph of the form of Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B or Exhibit C, respectively, and each Certificate evidencing any other Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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). BREITBURN GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

Section 4.8            Eligible Holder Certifications; Non-Eligible Holders .

 

(a)          If a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish a properly completed Eligible Holder Certification in a Transfer Application or if, upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or otherwise, the General Partner determines that such transferee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such transferee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9.

 

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(b)          The General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Eligible Holder Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person (other than any Person who directly or indirectly owns equity interests in a corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or any State or territory thereof, so long as that corporation (i) is qualified to hold federal leases under 30 U.S.C. 181 and 43 C.F.R. 3102.2 or its successor stature or rule and (ii) is the direct and indirect owner of such Limited Partner or Assignee), the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Eligible Holder Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-Eligible Holder and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-Eligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-Eligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-Eligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-Eligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

 

(d)          Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-Eligible 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 Non-Eligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-Eligible Holder of its Limited Partner Interest (representing its right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).

 

(e)          At any time after a Non-Eligible Holder can and does certify that it has become an Eligible Holder, a Non-Eligible Holder may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-Eligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, and upon admission of such Non-Eligible Holder pursuant to Section 10.1, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-Eligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

Section 4.9            Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-Eligible Holders .

 

(a)          If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish an Eligible Holder Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Holder or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligible Holder Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:

 

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(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 or Assignee, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon 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 or Assignee would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

 

(ii)         The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 10% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

(iii)        Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Assignee, 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, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.

 

(iv)        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 or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible 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 in a Transfer Application that he is an Eligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

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Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1            Interest and Withdrawal . No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.2            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 by the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest; provided that the initial Capital Account of the initial holder of a Series A Preferred Unit or a Series B Preferred Unit with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit or such Series B Preferred Unit, respectively, shall equal the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, irrespective of the amount paid by such holder for such Series A Preferred Unit or such Series B Preferred Unit, respectively, (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and (iii) the portion of any amount realized from the disposition of an oil and gas property that constitutes Simulated Gain allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with Section 6.1(e)(ii) and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement; provided that the Capital Account of a holder of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units shall not be reduced by the amount of Series A Distributions or Series B Distributions, respectively, it receives, (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 and (z) Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss in accordance with Section 6.1(e)(ii).

 

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

 

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(i)          Solely for purposes of this Section 5.2, 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 any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

(iv)        To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(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.

 

(v)         In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(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

 

(vi)        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 Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(vii)       Any deductions for depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery 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. Simulated Depletion will be computed in accordance with the provisions of the definition of Simulated Depletion.

 

(viii)      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).

 

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(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.

 

(d)          (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance, exercise or conversion of a Noncompensatory Option (including the issuance or the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.4, Section 17.3(c), and Section 17.6, respectively), the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; 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, however , 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. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (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 such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may 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 and the amount of Partnership liabilities. The General Partner may 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 cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account attributable to each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Common Unit issued in connection with the conversion of the Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6 shall have the same Capital Account as each other Common Unit.

 

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(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. 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 one made pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.2(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 5.3            Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities .

 

(a)          Subject to any approvals required by Series A Holders pursuant to Section 16.5(b)(ii) or Series B Holders pursuant to Section 17.5, the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

(b)          Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(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 Securities), 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 Security (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.3, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner 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 Securities are listed or admitted to trading.

 

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(d)          The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Units. If a distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.3(d), except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Series B Distribution Rate” in Section 1.1 and except as otherwise provided in Section 17.6(c), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

Section 5.4            Limited Preemptive Right . No Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.

 

Section 5.5            Splits and Combinations .

 

(a)          Subject to Section 5.3(d), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities of any class to all Record Holders of Partnership Securities of such class of Partnership Securities or may effect a subdivision or combination of the same class of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner holding such class of Partnership Securities shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including those based on the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference and the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

 

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

 

(c)          Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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.

 

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Section 5.6            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, Article XVI or Article XVII shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

 

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, amount realized and Simulated Gain (computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners, and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted for Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss, in each taxable period (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

 

(a)           Net Income . After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), and Capital Account adjustments pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(ii), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and, to the extent provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii), Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

(i)          First, Pro Rata to the Unitholders holding Common Units until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then outstanding is equal to zero; provided that that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account), and provided, further , that to the extent a pro rata allocation of Net Losses pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) does not cause the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of all Common Units then outstanding to equal zero at the same time, any remaining Net Losses will be allocated to the Unitholders holding such Common Units to the extent of, and in proportion to, the excess of (x) the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each such Common Unit (as determined after giving effect to the previous provisions of this Section 6.1(b)(i)), over (y) zero; and

 

(ii)         Second, to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit and each Series B Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero.

 

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(c)           Net Termination Gains and Losses . After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.3 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)          If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.2(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):

 

(A)         First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account; and

 

(B)         Second, 100% to all Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

 

(ii)         If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.2(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:

 

(A)         First, 100% to all Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

 

(B)         Second, to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit and each Series B Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero; and

 

(C)         Third, 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 such taxable period:

 

(i)           Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income, 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 Sections 6.1(d)(v) and 6.1(d)(vi)). 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.

 

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(ii)          Chargeback of Partner Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Non-Recourse 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 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), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(v) and 6.1(d)(vi), 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)         Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income, gain and Simulated 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 unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii).

 

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

 

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(v)          Non-Recourse Deductions . Non-Recourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Non-Recourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

(vi)         Partner Non-Recourse Deductions . Partner Non-Recourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Non-Recourse Debt to which such Partner Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Debt, such Partner Non-Recourse 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.

 

(vii)        Non-Recourse Liabilities . For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Non-Recourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Non-Recourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(viii)       Code Section 754 Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(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 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), 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.

 

(ix)          Series A Preferred Unit and Series B Preferred Unit Allocations .

 

(A)         Income of the Partnership attributable to the issuance by the Partnership of a Series A Preferred Unit or a Series B Preferred Unit for an amount in excess of the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, shall be allocated to the holders of Common Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(B)         Net Termination Gain, if any, for the taxable period (or, to the extent necessary, items of income or gain for the taxable period) shall be allocated to each holder of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, in proportion to, and to the extent of, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference with respect to such holder’s Series A Preferred Units and the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference with respect to such holder’s Series B Preferred Units, over (y) such holder’s existing Capital Account balance in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or its Series B Preferred Units, respectively, until the Capital Account balance of each such holder in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units is equal to the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, in respect of such Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units.

 

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(C)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Series B Preferred Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Capital Account balance of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units does not equal the greater of (x) the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference for such Series B Preferred Units and (y) the Capital Account balance such holder would have in respect of its Series B Preferred Units if such Series B Preferred Units were fully converted into Common Units (the greater of the amounts described in clauses (x) and (y) being the “ Series B Liquidation Amount ”), then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be reallocated among the holders of Common Units and Series B Preferred Units in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Account of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units to equal the Series B Liquidation Amount. In the event that (1) 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 (2) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(ix)(C) fails to achieve the Capital Account balances 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 the holders of Common Units and Series B Preferred Units 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)(ix)(C), cause the Capital Account of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units to equal the Series B Liquidation Amount.

 

(x)           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 income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated 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. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Non-Recourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Non-Recourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

 

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(B)         The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(x)(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)(x)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(xi)          Equalization of Capital Accounts With Respect to Privately Placed Units . Unrealized Gain or Unrealized 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 (other than Privately Place 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.

 

(xii)         Corrective 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)         In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.

 

(B)         In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).

 

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(e)           Simulated Basis; Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss; Simulated Gain; Amount Realized .

 

(i)           Simulated Basis . For purposes of determining and maintaining the Partners’ Capital Accounts, (i) the initial Simulated Basis of each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners, Pro Rata and (ii) if the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d), the Simulated Basis of such property (as adjusted to reflect the adjustment to the Carrying Value of such property), shall be allocated to the Partners, Pro Rata.

 

(ii)          Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss . For purposes of applying clause (z) of the second sentence of Section 5.2(a), Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss with respect to each oil and gas property of the Partnership shall reduce each Partner’s Capital Account in proportion to the manner in which the Simulated Basis of such property is allocated among the Partners pursuant to of Section 6.1(e)(i).

 

(iii)         Simulated Gain . For purposes of applying clause (iii) of the second sentence of Section 5.2(a), Simulated Gain for any taxable period will be treated as included in Net Income or Net Loss and allocated pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b), as applicable.

 

(iv)         Amount Realized . For purposes of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(iii), the amount realized on the disposition of any oil and gas property of the Partnership shall be allocated (i) first to the Partners in an amount equal to the remaining Simulated Basis of such property in the same proportions as the Simulated Basis of such property was allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i), and (ii) any remaining amount realized shall be allocated to the Partners in the same ratio as Simulated Gain from the disposition of such oil and gas property is allocated pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b), as applicable.

 

Section 6.2            Allocations for Tax Purposes .

 

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

 

(b)          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 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), 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) that is (i) a Contributed Property shall initially be allocated among the non-contributing Partners, Pro Rata, but not in excess of any such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i), and (ii) not a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property shall initially be allocated to the Partners in proportion to each such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i). If there is an event described in Section 5.2(d), the General Partner shall reallocate the adjusted tax basis of each oil and gas property in a manner (i) consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and (ii) that maintains the federal income tax fungibility of the Units.

 

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Each Partner shall separately keep records of his share of the adjusted tax basis in each oil and gas property, allocated 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)          In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for 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; provided that in all events the General Partner shall apply the “remedial allocation method” in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d). For purposes of applying the “remedial allocation method” to oil and gas properties (i) the amount by which any Partner’s Capital Account is adjusted for Simulated Depletion shall be treated as an amount of book depletion allocated to such Partner and (ii) the amount of cost depletion computed by such Partner under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code shall be treated as an amount of tax depletion allocated to such Partner.

 

(d)          For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; 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 6.2(d) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.

 

(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 Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), the legislative history of Section 743 of the Code 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.

 

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(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 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, for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the NASDAQ Global Select Market 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 or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

 

(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 shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

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

 

(a)          Except as described in Section 6.3(b) and subject to Section 16.3 and Section 17.3 of this Agreement, following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. Such distribution with respect to any Quarter may be made, at the discretion of the General Partner, (i) within 45 days following the end of each Quarter or (ii) in three equal installments within 17, 45 and 75 days following the end of each Quarter. All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

 

(b)          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.

 

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

 

Article VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1            Management .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

 

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

 

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(iii)        the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

 

(iv)        the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;

 

(v)         the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);

 

(vi)        the distribution of Partnership cash;

 

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

 

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

 

(ix)         the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;

 

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

 

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

 

(xii)        the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.7);

 

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(xiii)       the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities;

 

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

 

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

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is (or was) authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

Section 7.2            Certificate of Limited Partnership . The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

 

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Section 7.3            Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority .

 

(a)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the General Partner may not, without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided , however , that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

Section 7.4            Reimbursement of the General Partner .

 

(a)          Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

 

(b)          The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or 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 the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.

 

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(c)          The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, or any Group Member or its Affiliates, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

 

Section 7.5            Outside Activities .

 

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

 

(b)          Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) and the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners and (ii) it shall be deemed not to be breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership.

 

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(c)          Subject to the terms of Sections 7.5(a) and 7.5(b) and the Omnibus Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner) and no Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership.

 

(d)          The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Section 7.5 purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting, eliminating or otherwise modifying the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such fiduciary duty, such provisions in this Section 7.5 shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partners.

 

Section 7.6            Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members .

 

(a)          The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided , however , that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

 

(b)          The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

 

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Section 7.7            Indemnification .

 

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

 

(b)          To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.

 

(c)          The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the 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 the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(i)          No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.8            Liability of Indemnitees .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

 

(b)          Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

 

(c)          To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Section 7.9            Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

 

(a)          Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) 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 of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is not sought and 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 acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. 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.

 

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(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 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, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership or the holders of the Common Units (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) as the case may be.

 

(c)          Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, 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. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units or General Partner Interest, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units or General Partner Interest, as appropriate, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.

 

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

 

(e)          Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall owe any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to Series A Holders or Series B Holders.

 

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(f)          The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.

 

Section 7.10          Other Matters Concerning the General Partner .

 

(a)          The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(b)          The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

 

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

 

Section 7.11          Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities 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 Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

 

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

 

(a)          If (i) any holder of Partnership Securities (the “ Holder ”), including 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 Securities 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 the Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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 Securities specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12; and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any registration pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.12(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities 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 Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

(b)          If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take an action to so include the securities 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 securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

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(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 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 Securities 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 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 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 Sections 7.12(a) and 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 Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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 Securities, 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 Securities 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.

 

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(f)          Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.

 

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 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 and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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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 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

 

(b)          As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Article IX
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1            Tax Returns and Information . The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined in good faith by the General Partner. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.2            Tax Elections .

 

(a)          The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General 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.

 

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(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 the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

Section 9.4            Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (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.

 

Article X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1          Admission of Substituted Limited Partners . By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited Partner Interest shall, however, only have the authority to convey to a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a Transfer Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the transferred Limited Partner Interests. No transferor of a Limited Partner Interest or other Person shall have any obligation or responsibility to provide a Transfer Application to a transferee or assist or participate in any way with respect to the completion or delivery thereof. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes and delivers a properly completed Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be an Assignee. Such Assignee shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of the Partnership, and until so recorded, such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests with respect to which a properly completed, duly executed Transfer Application has been received to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.

 

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

 

Section 10.3          Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

 

(a)          A Person (other than the General Partner or a Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner:

 

(i)          evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6, and

 

(ii)         such other documents or instruments as may be required by the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.3, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

Section 10.4          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, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.

 

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Article XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1          Withdrawal of the General Partner .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(b)          Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on October 10, 2006 and ending at 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2016, 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 of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2016, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, 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. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

 

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

 

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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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members (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 departure. 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 Sections 11.1 or 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 departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

 

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

 

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(b)          If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

 

(c)          If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 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, 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 Substituted Limited Partners or 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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

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(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 an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 12.3          Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of 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 holders of 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 holders of a 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 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

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

 

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

 

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(c)          All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence); provided that any accumulated and unpaid Series A Distributions or Series B Distributions shall be treated as liabilities of the Partnership and paid (and, for purposes of determining balances in Capital Accounts, shall not be treated as distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) prior to the making of any distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c).

 

Section 12.5          Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership . Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1          Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner . Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, 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 advisable to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;

 

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(d)          Subject to Section 16.5 and Section 17.5, to the extent applicable, 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, classes or series of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes or series 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 advisable in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e)          a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions (other than Series A Distributions and Series B 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 the terms of Section 16.5 and Section 17.5, an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.3;

 

(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 or Plan of Conversion 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;

 

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

 

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

 

Section 13.2          Amendment Procedures . Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, that the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, 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 such proposed amendments.

 

Section 13.3          Amendment Requirements .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting 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.

 

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

 

(c)          Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

 

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

 

(e)          Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

 

Section 13.4          Special Meetings .

 

(a)          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 mailing of notice of the meeting. 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.

 

(b)          (i) An annual meeting of the Limited Partners holding Common Units for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors and such other matters as the General Partner shall submit to a vote of the Limited Partners holding Common Units shall be held in June of each year or at such other date and time as may be fixed from time to time by the General Partner at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the General Partner and all as stated in the notice of the meeting. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given in accordance with Section 13.5 not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date of such meeting.

 

(ii)          The Limited Partners holding Common Units shall vote together as a single class for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors. The Limited Partners entitled to vote shall elect by a plurality of the votes cast at such meeting persons to serve on the Board of Directors of the General Partner who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.4(b). The exercise by a Limited Partner of the right to elect the Directors and any other rights afforded to such Limited Partner under this Section 13.4(b) shall be in such Limited Partner’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership and shall not cause a Limited Partner to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize such Limited Partner’s limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

 

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(iii)         Solely with respect to the election of Directors to the Board of Directors: (A) the General Partner and the Partnership shall not be entitled to vote Units that are otherwise entitled to vote at any meeting of the Unitholders; (B) if at any time any Person or Group beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, then all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group in excess of 20% of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of the applicable class shall not be voted, and in each case, the foregoing Units shall not be counted when calculating the required votes for such matter and shall not be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of determining a quorum for such meeting pursuant to Section 13.9 (but such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement), provided , however , that this clause (B) shall not apply to any Person or Group who acquires 20% or more of the Series B Preferred Units, including as a result of the payment of PIK Units on the Series B Preferred Units, if and only if such Person does not, at or after such acquisition, beneficially own or acquire 20% or more of the voting power of the Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis pursuant to Section 17.5(a)); and (C) holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to vote in the election of Directors to the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Board of Directors of the General Partner may, by action specifically referencing votes for the election of Directors under this Section 13.4(b), determine that the limitation set forth in clause (B) of the preceding sentence shall not apply to a specific Person or Group.

 

(iv)        The number of Directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors of the General Partner shall not be less than five and not more than nine as shall be established from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II, and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be the whole number contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the authorized number of Directors by three, and if a fraction is also contained in such quotient, then if such fraction is one-third, the extra director shall be a member of Class I and if the fraction is two-thirds, one of the extra directors shall be a member of Class I and the other shall be a member of Class II. Each Director shall serve for a term ending as provided herein; provided, however, that the Directors designated in accordance with the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner (the “ General Partner Agreement ”) to Class I shall serve for a term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2015, the Directors designated in accordance with the General Partner Agreement to Class II shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2016, and the Directors designated in accordance with the General Partner Agreement to Class III shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2014. At each succeeding annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units beginning with the annual meeting held in 2014, successors to the class of Directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term.

 

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(v)        Each Director shall hold office for the term for which such Director is elected and thereafter until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of Directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of Directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional Director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director. A Director shall hold office until the annual meeting of the Limited Partners of the year in which his term expires and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to death, resignation or removal from office. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors (including any vacancy caused by an increase in the number of Directors on the Board of Directors) may only be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director. Any Director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of Directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor. A Director may be removed only for cause and only upon a vote of the majority of the remaining Directors then in office.

 

(vi)         (A)         (1)         Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the General Partner may be made at an annual meeting of the Limited Partners only (a) pursuant to the General Partner’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (c) by any Limited Partner who was a Record Holder at the time the notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the General Partner, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi).

 

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(2)          For any nominations brought before an annual meeting by a Limited Partner pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), the Limited Partner must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the General Partner. To be timely, a Limited Partner’s notice shall be delivered to the General Partner not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the Limited Partner must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Partnership or the General Partner). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Limited Partner’s notice as described above. Such Limited Partner’s notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the Limited Partner proposes to nominate for election as a Director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; and (b) as to the Limited Partner giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (i) the name and address of such Limited Partner, as they appear on the Partnership’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of Units which are owned beneficially and of record by such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination between or among such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, any of their respective Affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned Units) that has been entered into as of the date of the Limited Partner’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Limited Partner and such beneficial owners, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of Unit price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, with respect to Units, (v) a representation that the Limited Partner is a Record Holder entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (vi) a representation whether the Limited Partner or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Partnership’s Outstanding Units required to elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from Limited Partners in support of such nomination. The General Partner may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the General Partner.

 

(3)          Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the General Partner is increased effective at the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Partnership or the General Partner naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Limited Partner’s notice required by this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the General Partner not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Partnership or the General Partner.

 

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(B)         Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of Limited Partners at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the General Partner’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors or the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 13.4(a) hereof has determined that Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Limited Partner who is a Record Holder at the time the notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the General Partner, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi). In the event the General Partner calls a special meeting of Limited Partners for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board of Directors, any such Limited Partner entitled to vote in such election of Directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the General Partner’s notice of meeting, if the Limited Partner’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be delivered to the General Partner not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Limited Partner’s notice as described above.

 

(C)         (1)         Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to serve as Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman designated by the General Partner pursuant to Section 13.10 shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) (including whether the Limited Partner or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such Limited Partner’s nominee in compliance with such Limited Partner’s representation as required by clause (A)(2)(b)(vi) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi)) and (b) if any proposed nomination was not made in compliance with this Section 13.4(b)(vi), to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), unless otherwise required by law, if the Limited Partner (or a qualified representative of the Limited Partner) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the General Partner or the Partnership. For purposes of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), to be considered a qualified representative of the Limited Partner, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Limited Partner or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Limited Partner or an electronic transmission delivered by such Limited Partner to act for such Limited Partner as proxy at the meeting of Limited Partners and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Limited Partners.

 

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(2)          For purposes of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Partnership or the General Partner with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act.

 

(3)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), a Limited Partner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi); provided however, that any references in this Agreement to the Securities Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations pursuant to this Section 13.4(b)(vi) (including paragraphs A(1)(c) and B hereof), and compliance with paragraphs A(1)(c) and B of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be the exclusive means for a Limited Partner to make nominations.

 

(vii)        This Section 13.4(b) shall not be deemed in any way to limit or impair the ability of the Board of Directors to adopt a “poison pill” or unitholder or other similar rights plan with respect to the Partnership, whether such poison pill or plan contains “dead hand” provisions, “no hand” provisions or other provisions relating to the redemption of the poison pill or plan, in each case as such terms are used under Delaware common law.

 

(viii)       The Partnership and the General Partner shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to take such action as shall be necessary or appropriate to give effect to and implement the provisions of this Section 13.4(b), including amending the organizational documents of the General Partner such that at all times the organizational documents of the General Partner shall provide (i) that the Directors shall be elected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) terms consistent with this Section 13.4(b).

 

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(ix)      If the General Partner delegates to an existing or newly formed wholly owned Subsidiary the power and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b) shall be applicable with respect to the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Subsidiary.

 

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 Sections 16.9, 17.9 or 18.1, as applicable. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.

 

Section 13.6          Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day 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 . When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

 

Section 13.8          Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes . The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

 

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Section 13.9          Quorum and Voting . Subject to Section 13.4(b), the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class, classes, or series for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class, classes or series unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.

 

Section 13.10          Conduct of a Meeting . The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.

 

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Section 13.11          Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner; provided , however , that, if and only if any Series B Purchaser at the time beneficially owns the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and has (and solely controls) the right to vote those Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, where required in this Agreement, may be obtained by written consent without any minimum time period before such consent may be delivered or be effective (including with respect to the rights set forth in Section 17.5). If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

 

Section 13.12          Right to Vote and Related Matters .

 

(a)          Only those Record Holders of the Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding” and the limitations set forth in Section 13.4(b)) 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, voting together as a single class as provided in Section 17.5(a). All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units), voting together as a single class as provided in Section 17.5(a).

 

(b)          Only those Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding” and the limitations set forth in Sections 13.4(b), 16.5 and 17.5) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners holding Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, respectively, or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, respectively, 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 Series A Preferred Units or Outstanding Series B Preferred Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or such Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, respectively.

 

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(c)          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(c) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

 

Article XIV
MERGER OR CONVERSION

 

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

 

Section 14.2          Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(iv)        the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner 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 securities 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 or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner may approve and adopt a Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 14.3          Approval by Limited Partners .

 

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

 

(b)          Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.

 

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

 

(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 which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

(e)          Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (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 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership 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 Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

 

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

 

Section 14.5          Amendment of Partnership Agreement . 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 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

 

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Section 14.6          Effect of Merger or Conversion .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)          At the effective time of the certificate of conversion:

 

(i)          the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;

 

(ii)         all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;

 

(iii)        all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;

 

(iv)        all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;

 

(v)         a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior partners without any need for substitution of parties; and

 

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(vi)        the Partnership Securities that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion.

 

(c)          A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.

 

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

 

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

 

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(c)          At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate 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
SERIES A CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS

 

Section 16.1          Designation . A series of Preferred Units to be known as “8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units,” is hereby designated and created. Article XVI of this Agreement fixes the preferences, rights, powers and duties of the Series A Holders and the Series A Preferred Units. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series A Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series A Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which Series A Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates may differ. Each Series A Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and shall not give rise to a claim by the holder thereof for redemption at any particular date.

 

Section 16.2          Units .

 

(a)          The authorized number of Series A Preferred Units shall be unlimited. The Partnership shall issue 7,000,000 Series A Preferred Units on the Series A Original Issue Date, and it may issue up to 1,000,000 additional Series A Preferred Units on or after such date pursuant to the option granted to the underwriters by the Partnership. Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled.

 

(b)          The Series A Preferred Units shall be initially represented by a single Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series A Holder shall be entitled to receive a Certificate evidencing Series A Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such and the Partnership shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series A Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.

 

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Section 16.3          Distributions .

 

(a)          Distributions on each Series A Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accrue at the Series A Distribution Rate from the Series A Original Issue Date (or, for any subsequently issued and newly Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, from the Series A Distribution Payment Date immediately preceding the issuance date of such Units) until such time as the Partnership pays the Series A Distribution or redeems the Series A Preferred Units in full in accordance with Section 16.6 below, whether or not such Series A Distributions shall have been declared, and distributions shall accrue on the amount of Series A Distributions in Arrears at the Series A Distribution Rate. Subject to the Delaware Act, Series A Holders shall be entitled to receive Series A Distributions from time to time at the Series A Distribution Rate per Series A Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner. Distributions, to the extent declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 16.3, shall be paid monthly (except in the case of the initial payment) on each Series A Distribution Payment Date. If any Series A Distribution Payment Date otherwise would occur on a date that is not a Business Day, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. Series A Distributions shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All Series A Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 16.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

(b)          Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series A Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series A Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series A Holders on the Record Date for the applicable Series A Distribution. The Record Date (the “ Series A Distribution Record Date ”) for any Series A Distribution payment shall be as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Series A Preferred Units are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each Month immediately preceding the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date, except that in the case of payments of Series A Distributions in Arrears, the Series A Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series A Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with this Article XVI. No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities through the most recent respective distribution payment dates. Accumulated Series A Distributions in Arrears for any past Series A Distribution Period may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series A Distribution Payment Date, to Series A Holders on the record date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all accumulated distributions in Arrears on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of accumulated distributions in Arrears on the Series A Preferred Units and any such Parity Securities shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate distribution amounts remaining due in respect of such Series A Preferred Units and Parity Securities at such time. Subject to Sections 12.4 and 16.6, Series A Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or equity interests, in excess of full cumulative Series A Distributions. Except insofar as distributions accrue on the amount of any Series A Distributions in Arrears as described in Section 16.3(a), no interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment which may be in Arrears on the Series A Preferred Units. So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series A Distribution Payment Date or other interest payment date in the case of payments for Series A Distributions in Arrears.

 

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Section 16.4          Change of Control .

 

(a)          In connection with any Change of Control after the Series A Original Issue Date, if the Partnership does not elect to redeem all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date through the redemption provision contained in Section 16.6 of this Agreement, the Partnership will give notice to the Series A Holders and make an irrevocable written offer (a “ Series A Change of Control Offer ”) to each Series A Holder to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Holder on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Units per Series A Preferred Units that is an amount equal to the Series A Conversion Ratio.

 

(b)          Subject to Section 5.5, the Series A Conversion Ratio shall be calculated as the lesser of either: (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Series A Liquidation Preference as of the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Series A Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, in which case any accrued and unpaid distribution will be excluded from this amount) by (y) the Common Unit Price, or (ii) 2.46548 (the “ Unit Cap ”). The General Partner shall make such adjustments to the Common Unit Price and the Unit Cap as it determines to be equitable in view of any splits, combinations or distributions in the form of equity issuances or the payment of any alternative consideration to the holders of the Common Units in connection with the Change of Control.

 

(c)          Each Series A Holder electing to participate in the Series A Change of Control Offer will be required prior to the close of business on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted in the Series A Change of Control Offer and otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the conversion.

 

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(d)          Upon conversion, the rights of such participating Series A Holder as a holder of the Series A Preferred Units shall cease with respect to such converted Series A Preferred Units, and such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall, upon its Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Conversion Common Unit.

 

(e)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series A Holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series A Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties which will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(f)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

(g)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series A Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion.

 

Section 16.5          Voting Rights .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Units shall have no voting rights except as set forth in this Section 16.5 or as otherwise required by the Delaware Act.

 

(b)          (i) Unless the Partnership shall have received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class, no amendment to this Agreement shall be adopted that would have a material adverse effect on the existing terms of the Series A Preferred Units.

 

(i)          Unless the Partnership shall have received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class together with holders of any other Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Partnership shall not (x) create or issue any Parity Securities if the cumulative distributions payable on Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are in Arrears or (y) create or issue any Senior Securities.

 

(c)          For any matter described in this Section 16.5 in which the Series A Holders are entitled to vote as a class (whether separately or together with the holders of any Parity Securities), such Series A Holders shall be entitled to one vote per Series A Preferred Unit. Any Series A Preferred Units held by any of the Partnership’s subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be entitled to vote.

 

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Section 16.6          Optional Redemption . The General Partner shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 15, 2019 or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, to cause the Partnership to redeem the Series A Preferred Units, in whole or in part, from any source of funds legally available for such purpose; provided, however, that any cash payment upon a Change of Control shall not be made unless (i) the Partnership has completed any required change of control offers for its outstanding 2020 Notes pursuant to the 2020 Notes Indenture and its outstanding 2022 Notes pursuant to the 2022 Notes Indenture, and (ii) such payment would be permitted under the restricted payments covenant contained in each such indenture. Additionally, any cash payment to Series A Holders shall be subject to the limitations contained in the indentures governing any future issuances of senior notes by the Partnership, in its bank credit facility and in any other agreements governing its indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the General Partner (the “ Series A Redemption Date ”).

 

(a)          Subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall effect any such redemption by paying cash for each Series A Preferred Unit to be redeemed equal to the Series A Liquidation Preference for such Series A Preferred Unit on such Series A Redemption Date (the “ Series A Redemption Price ”). So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the Depositary, the Series A Redemption Price shall be paid by the Paying Agent to the Depositary on the Series A Redemption Date.

 

(b)          The Partnership shall give notice of any redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the scheduled Series A Redemption Date, to the Series A Holders (as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of any Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as such Series A Holders’ names appear on the books of the Transfer Agent and at the address of such Series A Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “ Series A Redemption Notice ”) shall state: (i) the Series A Redemption Date, (ii) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the number (and, in the case of Units in certificated form, the identification) of Units to be redeemed from such Series A Holder, (iii) the Series A Redemption Price, (iv) the place where any Series A Preferred Units in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Series A Redemption Price therefor and (v) that distributions on the Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate from and after such Series A Redemption Date.

 

(c)          If the Partnership elects to redeem less than all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be determined by the General Partner, and such Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed by such method of selection as the Depositary shall determine either Pro Rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional Series A Preferred Units. The aggregate Series A Redemption Price for any such partial redemption of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be allocated correspondingly among the redeemed Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units not redeemed shall remain Outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided in this Article XVI.

 

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(d)          If the Partnership gives or causes to be given a Series A Redemption Notice, the Partnership shall deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series A Preferred Units as to which such Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, no later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Series A Redemption Date, and shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Series A Redemption Price to the Series A Holders to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is issued in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) of the Certificates therefor as set forth in the Series A Redemption Notice. If the Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, from and after the Series A Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Series A Redemption Notice, all Series A Distributions on such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate and all rights of holders of such Series A Preferred Units with respect to such Series A Preferred Units shall cease, except the right to receive the Series A Redemption Price, including any amount equal to accumulated and unpaid distributions to the Series A Redemption Date (whether or not declared), and such Series A Preferred Units shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Transfer Agent or be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The Partnership shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent (to the extent that such interest income is not required to pay the Series A Redemption Price of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed), and the holders of any Series A Preferred Units so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest income. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including redemption of Series A Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after two years after the applicable Series A Redemption Date or other payment date, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment the Series A Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Series A Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Series A Redemption Price of such Series A Preferred Units shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Paying Agent.

 

(e)          Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be canceled. If only a portion of the Series A Preferred Units represented by a Certificate shall have been called for redemption, upon surrender of the Certificate to the Paying Agent (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee), the Partnership shall issue and the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Series A Holders a new Certificate (or adjust the applicable book-entry account) representing the number of Series A Preferred Units represented by the surrendered Certificate that have not been called for redemption.

 

(f)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XVI, unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities to the most recent respective distribution payment dates, neither the Partnership nor any Affiliate of the Partnership shall be permitted to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series A Preferred Units or Parity Securities except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all holders of Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities. Neither the Partnership, nor any Affiliate of the Partnership shall be permitted to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any Common Units or any other Junior Securities unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities to the most recent respective distribution payment dates.

 

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Section 16.7          No Sinking Fund . The Series A Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Section 16.8          Record Holders . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series A Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series A Preferred Units for all purposes, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Partnership, the Transfer Agent nor the Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 16.9          Notices . All notices or other communications in respect of the Series A Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVI, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series A Preferred Unit in book-entry form shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.

 

Section 16.10          Other Rights . The Series A Preferred Units shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in this Article XVI or as required by applicable law.

 

Article XVII
SERIES B PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS

 

Section 17.1          Designation . A series of Preferred Units to be known as “Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units,” including any PIK Units issued pursuant to Section 17.3, is hereby designated and created. Article XVII of this Agreement fixes the preferences, rights, powers and duties of the Series B Holders and the Series B Preferred Units. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series B Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series B Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which Series B Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates may differ. Each Series B Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and shall not give rise to a claim by the holder thereof for redemption or conversion at any particular date, unless converted by any Series B Holder or the Partnership pursuant to Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6.

 

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Section 17.2          Units .

 

(a)          The authorized number of Series B Preferred Units shall be unlimited. The Partnership shall issue 46,666,666 Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date. Any Series B Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled. Other than with respect to PIK Units, the class of Series B Preferred Units shall be closed immediately following the Series B Original Issue Date and thereafter no additional Series B Preferred Units shall be designated, created or issued without the affirmative vote required in Section 17.5(b).

 

(b)          The Series B Preferred Units shall be initially represented by direct registration with the Partnership’s transfer agent. When the Series B Preferred Units are subsequently deposited with the Depository, they shall be represented by a single Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series B Holder shall be entitled to receive a Certificate evidencing Series B Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such and the Partnership shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series B Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.

 

Section 17.3          Distributions .

 

(a)          Distributions on each Series B Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accrue at the Series B Distribution Rate from the Series B Original Issue Date (or, (a) for any PIK Units, from the Series B Distribution Payment Date immediately preceding the issuance date of such Units and (b) for any Series B Preferred Units issued after the Series B Original Issue Date (other than PIK Units), from the date of issuance of such Series B Preferred Units) until such time as the Partnership pays the Series B Distributions or the Series B Preferred Units are converted to Common Units in full in accordance with Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6, whether or not such Series B Distributions shall have been declared, and distributions shall accrue on the amount of Series B Distributions in Arrears at the Series B Distribution Rate. Subject to the Delaware Act, Series B Holders shall be entitled to receive Series B Distributions from time to time at the Series B Distribution Rate per Series B Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner. Distributions, when, as and if declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 17.3, shall be paid monthly (except in the case of the initial payment) on each Series B Distribution Payment Date. Series B Distributions shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All Series B Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 17.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

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(b)          Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series B Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series B Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series B Holders on the Record Date for the applicable Series B Distribution. The Record Date (the “ Series B Distribution Record Date ”) for any Series B Distribution payment shall be as of the closing of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the last Business Day of each month immediately preceding the applicable Series B Distribution Payment Date, except that in the case of payments of Series B Distributions in Arrears, the Series B Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series B Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with this Article XVII. No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Junior Securities or cash in lieu of fractional Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) through the most recent respective distribution payment dates. Accumulated Series B Distributions in Arrears for any past Series B Distribution Period may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series B Distribution Payment Date, to Series B Holders on the Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all accumulated distributions in Arrears on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of accumulated distributions in Arrears on the Series B Preferred Units and any such Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate distribution amounts remaining due in respect of such Series B Preferred Units and Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) at such time. Subject to Sections 12.4 and 17.6, Series B Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or equity interests, in excess of full cumulative Series B Distributions. Except insofar as distributions accrue on the amount of any Series B Distributions in Arrears as described in Section 17.3(a), no interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment which may be in Arrears on the Series B Preferred Units. If and for so long as the Series B Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, declared Series B Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series B Distribution Payment Date or other interest payment date in the case of payments for Series B Distributions in Arrears.

 

(c)          If the Partnership elects to pay some or all of a Series B Distribution in PIK Units as permitted in this Agreement, it shall publicly announce that election on or before the Series B Distribution Record Date for which such election has been made and shall state in the announcement the amount of PIK Units or combination of cash and PIK Units to be paid per Series B Preferred Unit in connection with the Series B Distribution. Except as set forth in Section 17.3(c)(i) through (iii), when any PIK Units are payable to a Series B Holder pursuant to this Section 17.3, the Partnership shall issue the PIK Units to such holder as a distribution in accordance with Section 17.3(a) (the date of issuance of such PIK Units, the “ PIK Payment Date ”). On the PIK Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to such Series B Holder a certificate or certificates for the number of PIK Units to which such Series B Holder shall be entitled, or, at the request of the holder, a notation in book entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent, and all such 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 17-303,17-607 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 the Partnership Agreement.

 

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(i)          In addition to the conversion rights provided in Section 17.6, a Series B Eligible Holder shall have the right to elect to receive on the PIK Payment Date, instead of the PIK Units payable to the Series B Eligible Holder (but not instead of any cash payment that is declared), the number of Common Units into which all the PIK Units payable to that Series B Eligible Holder on that PIK Payment Date are then convertible. This right must be exercised by delivery of signed, written notice from the Series B Eligible Holder to the Partnership (or, if the Series B Preferred Units of the Series B Eligible Holder are held of record by the nominee of the Depository, by complying with the applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the election), received no later than 10 days before the PIK Payment Date setting forth the number of Series B Preferred Units that the Series B Holder holds, certifying that the Series B Holder is a Series B Eligible Holder, and stating that it elects to receive Common Units instead of the PIK Units payable on that PIK Payment Date. Such a notice may also specify that it remains in effect for such Series B Eligible Holder with respect to all future PIK Payment Dates until it is revoked in writing by the Series B Eligible Holder no less than 10 days before the first PIK Payment Date for which such revocation is to be effective.

 

(ii)         If such an election is made pursuant to Section 17.3(c)(i), on the applicable PIK Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to each validly electing Series B Holder a certificate or certificates for the number of Common Units to which such Series B Holder shall be entitled instead of PIK Units, or, at the request of the holder, a notation in book entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent, and all such Common 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 17-303,17-607 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 the Partnership Agreement. Instead of issuing any fractional Common Unit in lieu of a PIK Unit, all Common Units to be issued to the Series B Holder shall be aggregated, and the resulting fractional Common Unit (if any) shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall pay cash in lieu of any fractional Common Unit not issued because of rounding based on the value of a Common Unit as a portion of then-applicable Series B Issue Price, taking into account the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect.

 

(iii)        The payment of the Common Units in lieu of the PIK units shall be treated as the simultaneous receipt and conversion of the PIK Units into Common Units and subject to the provisions of Section 17.6(d), (e) and (f), but (for avoidance of doubt) not Section 17.6(c). Immediately upon any issuance of the Common Units in lieu of PIK Units, all rights of the electing Series B Holder in respect the PIK Units payable on that PIK Payment Date shall cease, and such electing Series B Holder shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units.

 

(d)          For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, if the Partnership issues one or more PIK Units (or Common Units in lieu of PIK Units) with respect to a Series B Preferred Unit, (i) the Partnership shall be treated as distributing cash with respect to such Series B Preferred Unit in an amount equal to the Series B Distribution Rate and (ii) the holder of such Series B Preferred Unit shall be treated as having contributed to the Partnership in exchange for such newly issued PIK Units (or such newly issued Common Units) an amount of cash equal to the Series B Distribution Rate less the amount of any cash paid by the Partnership in lieu of fractional PIK Units or fractional Common Units.

 

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Section 17.4          Change of Control .

 

(a)          In the event of a Cash COC Event, the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units shall be automatically converted, without requirement of any action of the Series B Holders, into Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the Cash COC Event at a conversion ratio equal to the greater of (A) the then applicable Series B Conversion Ratio and (B) the quotient of (i) the product of (a) the Series B Issue Price, multiplied by (b) the Cash COC Conversion Premium, divided by (ii) the greater of (x) the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of closing of the Cash COC Event and (y) $0.33, adjusted appropriately for any subdivisions, splits, combinations, reclassifications or other similar transactions (the “ Series B Floor Price ”).

 

(b)          If a Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event) occurs, then each Series B Holder may, at its sole election:

 

(i)          convert all, but not less than all, Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder into Common Units, at the then-applicable Series B Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 17.6(c);

 

(ii)         if the Partnership is not the surviving entity of such Change of Control, then the Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Series B Holders, in exchange for their Series B Preferred Units upon such Change of Control, a security in the surviving entity that has substantially similar powers, preferences and special rights as the Series B Preferred Units, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right to distributions equal in amount and timing to those provided in Section 17.3 (a “ Substantially Equivalent Unit ”); provided , however , that, if such Change of Control occurs and the Partnership is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered a Substantially Equivalent Unit to any such electing Series B Holder in connection with such Change of Control, each such Series B Holder shall be entitled to (x) take any action otherwise permitted by clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 17.4(b), or (y) convert the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder immediately prior to such Change of Control (other than (in the case of clauses (A) and (B) below) any PIK Units, which, solely with respect to a Change of Control contemplated by this Section 17.4(b)(ii), shall be extinguished for no consideration upon the closing of such Change of Control) into the number of Common Units that would be issued at the then-applicable Series B Conversion Ratio multiplied by:

 

(A)         prior to the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, the quotient of (a) (i) 160% of the then-applicable Conversion Price less (ii) the sum of all cash distributions paid as of the effective date of the conversion with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder on or prior to the date of the Change of Control, divided by (b) the greater of (i) 0.97 multiplied by the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (ii) the Series B Floor Price, or

 

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(B)         after the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, the quotient of (a) (i) 160% multiplied by the then-applicable Conversion Price plus (ii) accrued and unpaid distributions as of the effective date of the conversion with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder less (iii) the sum of all cash distributions paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder during the first twelve full quarters following the Series B Original Issue Date, divided by (b) the greater of (i) 0.97 multiplied by the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (ii) the Series B Floor Price.

 

(iii)        if the Partnership is the surviving entity of such Change of Control, continue to hold Series B Preferred Units; or

 

(iv)        require the Partnership to redeem the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder at a price per Series B Preferred Unit equal to 101% of the Series B Issue Price plus accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of such redemption with respect to each of the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder. Any redemption pursuant to this sub-clause (iv) shall, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be paid in either cash or a number of Common Units equal to the quotient of (a) the product of (1) 101% of the Series B Issue Price, multiplied by (2) the number of Series B Preferred Units owned by such Series B Holder that the Partnership has elected to redeem by payment of Common Units, divided by (b) the product of (x) 0.92 multiplied by (y) the greater of (1) the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (2) the Series B Floor Price.

 

(c)          In connection with any Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event) after the Series B Original Issue Date, the Partnership will give notice to the Series B Holders and make an irrevocable written offer (a “ Series B Change of Control Offer ”) to convert, receive a Substantially Equivalent Security, continue to hold, or redeem its Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 17.4(b). Each Series B Holder electing to participate in the Series B Change of Control Offer will be required, prior to the close of business on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series B Preferred Units to be converted, exchanged for a Substantially Equivalent Security, continued to be held, or redeemed in the Series B Change of Control Offer and, if the Series B Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depository, otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the conversion, exchange for a Substantially Equivalent Security or redemption. Each Series B Holder who fails to timely deliver an election with respect to the Series B Change of Control Offer will be deemed to have elected to convert all the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder into Common Units as provided in Section 17.4(b)(i).

 

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(d)          Upon conversion, the rights of such participating Series B Holder as a holder of the Series B Preferred Units shall cease with respect to such converted Series B Preferred Units, and such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall, upon its Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Conversion Common Unit.

 

(e)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series B Holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series B Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties which will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(f)          All Common Units delivered upon any conversion or redemption of the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 17.4 shall be (1) newly issued and (2) 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 17-303,17-607 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.

 

(g)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

(h)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series B Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion.

 

Section 17.5          Voting Rights .

 

(a)          In addition to the voting rights provided in Section 17.5(b) through (c), the Series B Preferred Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Series B Preferred Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Series B Preferred Units are convertible on each matter with respect to which each Common Unit is entitled to vote.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by the Delaware Act, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Series B Preferred Unit, shall be necessary for any of the following actions:

 

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(i)          amendments to this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership that are materially adverse to powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Units;

 

(ii)         other than PIK Units, issuances of Senior Securities or Parity Securities to the Series B Preferred Units (other than Parity Securities to the Series B Preferred Units that are substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Units), including the designation, creation or issuance of additional Series B Preferred Units after the Series B Original Issue Date;

 

(iii)        entering into any transaction between the Partnership on the one hand, and the General Partner or any of the General Partner’s Affiliates on the other hand, if such transaction (A) is not in existence on the Series B Original Issue Date ( provided , for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment to any such transaction shall be subject to the terms of this Section 17.5(b)(iii)) or (B) has not been approved pursuant to Section 7.9(a)(i) or (ii), but in any event excluding any transactions between the Partnership and any of its Subsidiaries or between or among two or more of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries;

 

(iv)         adopting or changing tax elections, tax accounting methods or tax reporting positions, in each case if such adoption or change would disproportionately and adversely affect the Series B Holders (relative to the other Limited Partners) unless the adoption or change is required by applicable law; and

 

(v)         making any distribution, other than in accordance with the existing distribution provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 12.4 as in effect on the Series B Original Issue Date.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by the Delaware Act, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, until the Series B Voting Termination Date, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Series B Preferred Unit, shall be necessary for the Partnership’s repurchase of Parity Securities or Junior Securities to the Series B Preferred (other than (i) Parity Securities or Junior Securities transferred to the Partnership to satisfy some or all of the exercise price or tax withholding obligations on equity-based awards under the Partnership’s employee benefit plans, (ii) repurchases of Parity Securities when a similar proportion of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units are also repurchased or subject to a comparable repurchase offer, and (iii) the conversion of any Parity Securities or Junior Securities in accordance with their terms into Parity Securities or Junior Securities).

 

(d)          Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Series B Holders may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Series B Holders owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which the requisite minimum percentage of Series B Preferred Units were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or the Series B Preferred Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern).

 

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Section 17.6          Conversion of Series B Preferred Units .

 

(a)          One or more Series B Holders may elect, each in its own discretion, at any time on or after April 15, 2018, to convert all or any portion of the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder(s) in an aggregate amount equaling or exceeding the Series B Minimum Conversion Amount into Common Units, with each Series B Preferred Unit so converted being converted into one Common Unit, subject to Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments (as so adjusted, the “ Series B Conversion Ratio ”), by delivery of: (A) written notice to the Partnership, in the form set forth as Exhibit D hereto, setting forth the number of Series B Preferred Units it holds and the number of Series B Preferred Units it is electing to convert, and (B) if such Series B Preferred Units are Certificated, a Series B Preferred Unit Certificate to the Transfer Agent representing an amount of Series B Preferred Units at least equal to the amount such Series B Holder is electing to convert (or an instruction letter to the Transfer Agent if the Series B Preferred Units are in book-entry form). Immediately upon any conversion of the Series B Preferred Units, all rights of the Converting Unitholder in respect thereof shall cease, including any accrual of distributions, and such Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units.

 

(b)          At any time on or after April 15, 2018, the Partnership shall have the option at any time to convert all or part of the Series B Preferred Units then Outstanding into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio; provided that (i) with respect to Common Units delivered upon a conversion in accordance with this Section 17.6(b), such Common Units shall be registered for public resale under the Securities Act, pursuant to an effective registration statement that is then-available for the resale of such Common Units; and (ii) the daily VWAP of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is greater than one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the Conversion Price for 20 Trading Days in the 30 Trading Day period immediately preceding the date the Partnership furnishes notice to the Series B Holders of the conversion.

 

(c)          The Partnership shall make a cash payment to any Series B Holder with respect to any Series B Preferred Units converted pursuant to Sections 17.4(b)(i), 17.6(a) and (b) to account for any accrued but unpaid distributions on such Series B Preferred Units up to, but excluding, the date of such conversion. Instead of issuing any fractional Common Units, the Partnership shall, after aggregating all Common Units to be issued to such Series B Holder at that time, round down the number of Common Units issued to each Series B Holder to the next lower whole Common Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, pay cash in lieu of any such fractional unit based on the then-applicable Series B Issue Price.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything in this Section 17.6 to the contrary, with respect to Series B Preferred Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a Series B Distribution and a Common Unit distribution with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date, together with all accrued but unpaid distributions on the converted Series B Preferred Units.

 

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(e)          Upon conversion, the rights of a holder of converted Series B Preferred Units as a Series B Holder shall cease with respect to such converted Series B Preferred Units, including any rights under this Agreement with respect to Series B Holders, and such Person shall continue to be a Limited Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall, upon its Conversion Date be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Common Units(s) into which such Series B Preferred Unit is converted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a result of a conversion, a holder shall not lose or relinquish any claims or rights of action such holder may then or thereafter have as a result of such holder’s previous ownership of Series B Preferred Units.

 

(f)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Common Units upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units. However, the holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Common Units in a name other than the holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to deliver the Certificate representing Common Units (or notation of book entry) being issued in a name other than the holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties due because the Units are to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(g)          The Partnership shall keep free from preemptive rights a sufficient number of Common Units to permit the conversion of all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units into Common Units to the extent provided in, and in accordance with this Section 17.6.

 

(h)          All Common Units delivered upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 17.6 shall be (1) newly issued or (2) 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 17-303, 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.

 

(i)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Common Units upon conversion of Series B Preferred Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other National Securities Exchange or other market shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

105
 

 

(j)          If, after the Series B Original Issue Date, the Partnership (A) makes a distribution on its Common Units in Common Units, (B) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (C) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a smaller number of Common Units or (D) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), then the Series B Conversion Ratio in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted (such adjustments referred to as, the “Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments” ) so that the conversion of the Series B Preferred Units after such time shall entitle the holder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or shares of any Partnership Interests into which such shares of Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified pursuant to clauses (C) and (D) above) that such holder would have been entitled to receive if the Series B Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, and in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 17.6 relating to the Series B Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Series B Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Series B Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 17.6(j) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur. No Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments shall be made upon cash distributions by the Partnership on its Common Units.

 

Section 17.7          No Sinking Fund . The Series B Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Section 17.8          Record Holders . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series B Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series B Preferred Units for all purposes, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Partnership, the Transfer Agent nor the Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 17.9          Notices . All notices or other communications in respect of the Series B Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVII, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series B Preferred Unit in book-entry form by the nominee of the Depository shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.

 

Section 17.10          Other Rights . The Series B Preferred Units shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in this Article XVII or as required by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Partnership shall have no obligation to redeem any Series B Preferred Units in whole or in part in cash unless such redemption complies with the Delaware Act and the covenants in the Partnership’s debt instruments, including any restricted payment covenant in its indentures, until such time as the Partnership is no longer restricted from making such payment under any such debt instrument. Distributions shall continue to accrue on the Series B Preferred Units at the Series B Distribution Rate until such payment is made.

 

106
 

 

Article XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 18.1          Addresses and Notices . Except as otherwise provided in Section 16.9 in relation to the Series A Preferred Units and Section 17.9 in relation to the Series B Preferred Units, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee 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 Securities 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 Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 18.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees. 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, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

Section 18.2          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 18.3          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 18.4          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.

 

107
 

 

Section 18.5          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 18.6          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 18.7          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 Unit, upon accepting the Certificate evidencing such Unit or executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described, independently of the signature of any other party.

 

Section 18.8          Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

Section 18.9          Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 18.10          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 18.11          Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent of the Partnership on Certificates representing either Common Units, Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

Section 18.12          Third-Party Beneficiaries . Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.

 

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

108
 

 

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

 

  GENERAL PARTNER:
   
  Breitburn GP LLC
     
  By: /s/ Halbert S. Washburn
    Halbert S. Washburn
    Chief Executive Officer
     
  LIMITED PARTNERS:
   
  All Limited Partners previously admitted to the Partnership that continue to be Limited Partners on the date hereof:
     
  By: Breitburn GP LLC, as attorney-in-fact pursuant to the power of attorney granted under Section 2.6 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP
     
  By: /s/ Halbert S. Washburn
    Halbert S. Washburn
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

Exhibit A
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Common Units

 

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy 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 and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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). BREITBURN GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

A- 1
 

 

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

 

Dated:       Breitburn Energy Partners LP
       
Countersigned and Registered by:   By: Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
       
    By:  
as Transfer Agent and Registrar   Name:  
       
By:     By:  
  Authorized Signature     Secretary

 

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 MIN ACT    
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties     Custodian     
    (Cust)   (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to    
  survivorship and not as Minors Act                                                     
  tenants in common   (State)  

 

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

 

ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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 Breitburn Energy 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 17A(d)-15    
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
   
       

 

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer application in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.

 

A- 3
 

 

APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS

 

Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Breitburn Energy Partners LP, c/o Breitburn GP LLC, 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071; Attn: Chief Financial Officer, to be admitted as limited partners to Breitburn Energy Partners LP.

 

The undersigned (“ Assignee ”) hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby and hereby certifies to Breitburn Energy Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”) that the Assignee (including to the best of Assignee’s knowledge, any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units) is an Eligible Holder. 1

 

The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee’s attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Date:      
     
     
Social Security or other identifying number  
of Assignee
  Signature of Assignee
     
     
Purchase Price including commissions, if any   Name and Address of Assignee

 

 

(1)         The term Eligible Holder means a person or entity qualified to hold an interest in oil and gas leases on federal lands. As of the date hereof, Eligible Holder means: (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof; (3) a public body, including a municipality; or (4) an association of United States citizens, such as a partnership or limited liability company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, but only if such association does not have any direct or indirect foreign ownership, other than foreign ownership of stock in a parent corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, onshore mineral leases or any direct or indirect interest therein may be acquired and held by aliens only through stock ownership, holding or control in a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof.

 

A- 4
 

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨           Individual ¨         Partnership ¨         Corporation
     
¨           Trust ¨         Other (specify)  

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨           U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
     
¨           Foreign Corporation ¨         Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A.          Individual Interestholder

 

1.           I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.

 

2.           My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is                      .

 

3.           My home address is                                          .

 

B.            Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder

 

1.                                 is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations).

 

2.           The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                      .

 

3.           The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                      .

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within ten (10) days of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

A- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

     
  Name of Interestholder  
     
     
  Signature and Date  
     
     
  Title (if applicable)  

 

Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee’s knowledge.

 

A- 6
 

 

Exhibit B
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing
8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Series A Preferred Units

 

In accordance with Section 16.2(b) of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                      (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of                      8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Series A Preferred Units ”), transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Series A Preferred Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Series A Preferred Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

B- 1
 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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) OR (D) VIOLATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP DATED APRIL 8, 2015, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. BREITBURN GP LLC MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

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

 

Dated:    

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, LLC
as Transfer Agent

 

By:     Breitburn Energy Partners LP
  Authorized Signature    
      By:  Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
         
      By:  
        Name:  
        Title:  
        By:  
          Secretary

 

B- 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/TRANFERS MIN ACT  
       
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties Custodian
    (Cust)   (Minor)
         
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of      
  survivorship and not as under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD
  tenants in common Minors Act (State)

 

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

 

B- 3
 

 

ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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)

 

Series A Preferred 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 Breitburn Energy 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.
       
SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE(S)    
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
   
GUARANTEED:      

 

No transfer of the Series A Preferred Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Series A Preferred Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.

 

B- 4
 

 

ASSIGNEE CERTIFICATION

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨           Individual ¨         Partnership ¨         Corporation
     
¨           Trust ¨         Other (specify)  

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨           U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
     
¨           Foreign Corporation ¨         Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned Interestholder’s Interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the Interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A.           Individual Interestholder

 

1.           I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation;

 

2.           My U.S. taxpayer identification number (social security number) is:                    

 

3.           My home address is                                         

 

B.            Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder

 

1.                                 is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations)

 

2.           The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                      

 

3.           The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                     

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the Interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this Certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

B- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

     
  Name of Interest holder  
     
     
  Signature and Date  
     
     
  Title (if applicable)  

 

Note: If the assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the assignee will hold the Series A Preferred Units shall be made to the best of Assignee’s knowledge.

 

B- 6
 

 

Exhibit C
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing
Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Series B Preferred Units

 

In accordance with Section 17.2(b) of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                      (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of                      Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Series B Preferred Units ”), transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Series B Preferred Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Series B Preferred Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

C- 1
 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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) OR (D) VIOLATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP DATED APRIL 8, 2015, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. BREITBURN GP LLC MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

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

 

Dated:    

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, LLC
as Transfer Agent

 

By:     Breitburn Energy Partners LP
  Authorized Signature    
      By:  Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
         
      By:  
        Name:  
        Title:  
        By:  
          Secretary

 

C- 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/TRANFERS MIN ACT  
       
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties Custodian
    (Cust)   (Minor)
         
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of      
  survivorship and not as under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD
  tenants in common Minors Act (State)

 

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

 

C- 3
 

 

ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES B PREFERRED UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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)

 

Series B Preferred 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 Breitburn Energy 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.
       
SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE(S)    
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
   
GUARANTEED:      

 

No transfer of the Series B Preferred Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Series B Preferred Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.

 

C- 4
 

 

ASSIGNEE CERTIFICATION

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨           Individual ¨         Partnership ¨         Corporation
     
¨           Trust ¨         Other (specify)  

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨           U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
     
¨           Foreign Corporation ¨         Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned Interestholder’s Interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the Interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A.           Individual Interestholder

 

1.           I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation;

 

2.           My U.S. taxpayer identification number (social security number) is:                    

 

3.           My home address is                                         

 

B.            Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder

 

1.                                 is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations)

 

2.           The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                     

 

3.           The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                     

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the Interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this Certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

C- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

     
  Name of Interest holder  
     
     
  Signature and Date  
     
     
  Title (if applicable)  

 

Note: If the assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the assignee will hold the Series B Preferred Units shall be made to the best of Assignee’s knowledge.

 

C- 6
 

 

Exhibit D
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Form of Notice of Conversion

 

Series B Preferred Unit Conversion Notice

(To be Executed by the [Series B Holder][Partnership] in Order to Convert Series B Preferred Units)

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units (“ Series B Preferred Units ”) of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), indicated below into common units (“ Common Units ”) of the Partnership, according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If Common Units are to be issued in the name of a person other than the holder of such Series B Preferred Units, such holder will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and will deliver such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Partnership or its transfer agent. No fee will be charged to the holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.

 

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion:  

 

Number of Series B Preferred Units to be Converted:  

 

Total Amount of Accrued, Accumulated and Unpaid Distributions on the Series B Preferred  Units:  

 

Applicable Series B Conversion Ratio:  

 

Number of Common Units to be Issued:  

 

Name in which Certificate for Common Units to be Issued:  

 

Address for Delivery:  

 

  [SERIES B HOLDER] [Breitburn GP LLC]
     
  By:  
    Authorized Officer:
    Title:

 

D- 1

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

AND

 

THE PURCHASERS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO

 

 
 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of April 8, 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (collectively, the “ Purchasers ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the closing of the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015 (the date of such closing, the “ Closing Date ”), by and among the Partnership and the Purchasers (the “ Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers pursuant to the Preferred Unit Purchase 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 are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01    Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, except that the terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

 

Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.

 

Anchorage ” means ACMO BBEP Corp.

 

Anchorage Holder ” means Anchorage and its Affiliates, when such Person is a holder or owner of any Registrable Securities, and any other holder of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned by an Anchorage Holder to such holder in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement and subject to the transfer restrictions provided in Section 4.7 of the Partnership Agreement, provided, however, that such transferee or assignee (together with such transferee or assignee’s Affiliates) holds Registrable Securities that represent at least $30.0 million of Registrable Securities (calculated based on the Registrable Securities Amount).

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means a registration statement that shall become effective upon filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the SEC then in effect) under the Securities Act.

 

Common Units ” has the meaning specified therefor in the Partnership Agreement.

 

 
 

 

Common Unit Price ” means the volume weighted average closing price of Common Units (as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market) for the ten trading days immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made but not to exceed the Purchase Price.

 

Common Unit Registrable Securities ” means the Common Units issued or issuable upon the conversion (including deemed conversion pursuant to Section 17.3(c) of the Partnership Agreement) of the Preferred Units (including PIK Units) acquired by the Purchasers pursuant to the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement or, in the case of PIK Units, issued or issuable on such Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and includes any type of interest issued to the Holder as a result of Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

 

Delay Liquidated Damages ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(c)(ii) of this Agreement.

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

 

Effectiveness Deadline ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

 

Effectiveness Period ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

 

EIG ” means EIG Management Company, LLC.

 

EIG Holder ” means EIG and its Affiliates, when such Person is a holder or owner of any Registrable Securities, and any other holder of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned by an EIG Holder to such holder in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement and subject to the transfer restrictions provided in Section 4.7 of the Partnership Agreement, provided, however, that such transferee or assignee (together with such transferee or assignee’s Affiliates) holds Registrable Securities that represent at least $30.0 million of Registrable Securities (calculated based on the Registrable Securities Amount).“ Filing Date ” means, with respect to a particular Shelf Registration Statement, the date on which such Shelf Registration Statement is filed with the SEC.

 

Guggenheim ” means Midland National Life Insurance Company, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, SEI Institutional Managed Trust – Multi-Asset Income Fund, Guggenheim Funds Trust – Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, Maverick Enterprises, Inc., Carey Credit Income Fund and NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC.

 

Guggenheim Holder ” means Guggenheim and any Person that is administered, advised or managed by Guggenheim Management, when such Person is a holder or owner of any Registrable Securities, and any other holder of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned by a Guggenheim Holder to such holder in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement and subject to the transfer restrictions provided in Section 4.7 of the  Partnership Agreement, provided, however, that such transferee or assignee (together with such transferee or assignee’s Affiliates) is administered, advised or managed by Guggenheim Management.

 

- 2 -
 

 

Guggenheim Management ” means Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC.

 

Holder ” means an Anchorage Holder, an EIG Holder or a Guggenheim Holder.

 

Included Registrable Securities ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

 

Launch Date ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

 

Liquidated Damages ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(c)(i) of this Agreement.

 

Liquidated Damages Multiplier ” means (i) for Common Unit Registrable Securities, the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Common Units (which in the case of Common Units subject to issuance upon conversion (or upon deemed conversion) of the Preferred Units shall be the number of Common Units issuable upon conversion (or upon deemed conversion) of the Preferred Units at the date of determination) held by such Holder and (ii) for Preferred Unit Registrable Securities, the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Unit Registrable Securities held by such Holder at the date of determination.

 

Losses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(a) of this Agreement.

 

Managing Underwriter ” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering.

 

Opt-Out Notice ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

 

Overnight Underwritten Offering ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

 

Partnership ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.04(n) of this Agreement.

 

Parity Holders ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement.

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended as of the Closing Date.

 

Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

 

- 3 -
 

 

Piggyback Offering ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

 

PIK Units ” has the meaning specified therefor in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Preferred Units ” means Series B Preferred Units (including PIK Units), as defined in the Partnership Agreement and issued pursuant to the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, or, in the case of the PIK Units, issued or issuable pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.

 

Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Preferred Unit Registrable Securities ” means Preferred Units outstanding and held by a Holder, and includes any type of interest issued to the Holder as a result of Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

 

Pricing Date ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

 

Purchase Price ” has the meaning specified therefor in the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Purchasers ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Registrable Securities ” means the Common Unit Registrable Securities and the Preferred Unit Registrable Securities until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02 hereof.

 

Registrable Securities Amount ” means, (i) for the Common Unit Registrable Securities, the calculation based on the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Common Unit Registrable Securities; and (ii) for the Preferred Unit Registrable Securities, the calculation based on the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Unit Registrable Securities.

 

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.07(a) of this Agreement.

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting 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, other than those fees and disbursements of counsel required to be paid by the Partnership pursuant to Section 2.07(a) of this Agreement.

 

Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

 

- 4 -
 

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

 

Underwritten Offering ” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Common Units or Preferred Units, as the case may be, are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” or a “broker-facilitated” transaction with one or more investment banks. As used in this Agreement, a “broker-facilitated transaction” is a transaction in which the broker requests an opinion of counsel, comfort letter and/or due diligence information because of such broker’s internal policies and procedures related to such transaction and such broker having potential liability as an “underwriter” under Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.

 

Underwritten Offering Filing ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.02     Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Security is becomes or has been declared effective by the SEC and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of such Rule (then in effect) are met; or (c) such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries. In addition, a Holder will cease to have rights to require registration of any Securities held by that Holder under this Agreement on the later of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and the date on which the Holder holds Registrable Securities that represent less than $30 million of Registrable Securities (calculated based on the Registrable Securities Amount).

 

- 5 -
 

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.01    Shelf Registration.

 

(a)         Shelf Registration . The Partnership shall (i) prepare and file by 75 days after the Closing Date a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time, including as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force) with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) and (ii) cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date (the “ Effectiveness Deadline ,” and, such date that the Shelf Registration Statement is declared or becomes effective, the “ Effective Date ”). The Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) shall be on Form S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Partnership, on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities, covering the Registrable Securities, which shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 (or any successor or similar rule adopted by the SEC then in effect) under the Securities Act at any time beginning on the effective date thereof; provided , however , that if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering from the Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify any Purchaser in writing that, in the reasonable 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 or Overnight Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to include such information in such a prospectus supplement. Subject to Section 2.01(b) , the Partnership will cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) to be continuously effective under the Securities Act from and after the date it is first declared or becomes effective until all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been distributed in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) shall comply as to form with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall 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. As soon as practicable following the Effective Date, but in any event within three (3) Business Days of such date, the Partnership will notify the Selling Holders of the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(b)         Delay Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to (x) all Holders, delay the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or (y) any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement but such Selling Holder may settle any contracted sales of Registrable Securities) if the Partnership (i) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Board of Directors of 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Partnership would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided , however , in no event shall (A) such filing of the Shelf Registration Statement be delayed under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(b) for a period that exceeds 90 days or (B) such Selling Holders be suspended under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.01(b) from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 30 days in any 90-day period or 90 days in any 365-day period. 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 the Shelf Registration Statement and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

 

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(c)           Failure To Become Effective or Excessive Delay; Liquidated Damages .

 

(i)          If a Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2.01(a) is not effective before the Effectiveness Deadline, then each Holder shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to each Registrable Security held by the Holder), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for the first 60-day period immediately following the Effectiveness Deadline, with such payment amount increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for each subsequent 60-day period (i.e., 0.50% for 61-120 days, 0.75% for 121-180 days and 1.00% thereafter), up to a maximum of 1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “ Liquidated Damages ”), until such time as such Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or is declared effective or the Registrable Securities, as applicable, covered by such Shelf Registration Statement cease to Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02.

 

(ii)         If (A) the Holders shall be prohibited from selling their Registrable Securities, under the Shelf Registration Statement as a result of a suspension pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement in excess of the periods permitted therein or (B) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and becomes or is declared effective but, during the Effectiveness Period, shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within 30 days by a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement that becomes or is declared effective, a supplement to the prospectus or a report filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or l5(d) of the Exchange Act, then, until the suspension is lifted or such amendment, supplement or report is filed with the SEC and becomes or is declared effective, but not including any day on which a suspension is lifted, if applicable, then each Holder shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to each Registrable Security) from the Partnership, as Liquidated Damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for the first 60-day period immediately following the earlier of (x) the date on which the suspension period exceeded the permitted period and (y) the thirty-first (31st) day after such Shelf Registration Statement ceased to be effective or failed to be usable for its intended purposes, with such payment amount increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for each subsequent 60-day period (i.e., 0.50% for 61-120 days, 0.75% for 121-180 days and 1.00% thereafter), up to a maximum of 1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “ Delay Liquidated Damages ”). For purposes of this Section 2.01(c)(ii) , a suspension shall be deemed lifted on the date that either (A) notice that the suspension has been lifted or (B) a post-effective amendment or supplement to the prospectus or report is filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, as applicable, has been declared or has become effective, in each case is delivered to the Holders pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Agreement.

 

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(iii)        The Liquidated Damages and Delay Liquidated Damages shall be paid to each Holder in cash within ten (10) Business Days of the end of each such 30-day period as applicable. Any payments made pursuant to this Section 2.01(c) shall constitute the Holders’ exclusive remedy for such events. Any Liquidated Damages and Delay Liquidated Damages due under this Section 2.01(c) shall be paid to the Holders in immediately available funds.

 

Section 2.02         Piggyback Rights.

 

(a)           Participation . Except as provided in Section 2.02(b) , if at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Partnership proposes to file (i) a shelf registration statement (in which shelf registration statement the Partnership covenants and agrees to include thereon a description of the transaction under which the Purchasers acquired the Registrable Securities) other than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement and other than an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement and other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership’s shelf registration statement filed on January 8, 2015, and Holders could be included without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto (other than a post-effective amendment that is immediately effective), or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or another Person, then as soon as practicable but not less than ten Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) prior to the filing of (A) any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (B) the prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (C) such registration statement (other than a Shelf Registration Statement), as the case may be (an “ Underwritten Offering Filing ”), then the Partnership shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by electronic mail) of such proposed Underwritten Offering (a “ Piggyback Offering ”) to the Holders and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of the Common Unit Registrable Securities (the “ Included Registrable Securities ”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided , however , that if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter, and the Partnership has advised the Selling Holders in writing, that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Selling Holders will have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. The notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to each Holder (the “ Piggyback Notice ”) shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof. Each Holder shall then have five Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of an Overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received the Piggyback Notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, 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 Board of Directors of 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 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 offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal up to and including the time of pricing of such offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.

 

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(b)           Overnight Underwritten Offering Piggyback Rights . If, at any time during any Effectiveness Period, the Partnership proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing and such Underwritten Offering is expected to be launched (the “ Launch Date ”) after the close of trading on one trading day and priced (the “ Pricing Date ”) before the open of trading on the next succeeding trading day (such execution format, an “ Overnight Underwritten Offering ”), then no later than one Business Day after the Partnership engages a Managing Underwriter for the proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall notify (including, but not limited to, notice by electronic mail) the Holders of the pendency of the Overnight Underwritten Offering and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Overnight Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing within two Business Days after the Holder receives such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of the Selling Holders is likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in the Overnight Underwritten Offering for the accounts of Selling Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(c) of this Agreement. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to execute an Overnight Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Partnership determines for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (i) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Overnight Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders in connection with such abandoned or delayed Overnight Underwritten Offering, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such Overnight Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Registrable Securities held by the Selling Holders for the same period as the delay of the Overnight 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 Overnight Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at least one Business Day prior to the expected Launch Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may deliver an Opt-Out Notice to the Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Overnight Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing.

 

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(c)           Priority of Rights . In connection with an Underwritten Offering and Overnight Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02(a) and Section 2.02(b) , respectively, if the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, advises the Partnership, and the Partnership advises the Selling Holders in writing, that the total amount of Common Units that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering without being likely to have a material 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 or Overnight Underwritten Offering shall include the number of the Common Unit Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Partnership, and (ii) second, pro rata among all Selling Holders and holders of any other securities of the Partnership having rights of registration on parity with the Registrable Securities (“ Parity Holders ”) who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. The pro rata allocations for each such Selling Holder shall be the product of (A) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by all Selling Holders and Parity Holders participating in the Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering (for the avoidance of doubt, after giving effect to the allocation to the Partnership pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence) multiplied by (B) the fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of the Common Unit Registrable Securities owned at such time by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Common Unit Registrable Securities owned at such time by all Selling Holders and Parity Holders participating in the Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering. All participating Selling Holders and Parity Holders shall have the opportunity to share pro rata that portion of such priority allocable to any Selling Holder(s) or Parity Holders to the extent not so participating.

 

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(d)          Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.02 to the contrary, no Holder shall have any right to include any Common Units in any offering by the Partnership of Common Units executed pursuant to any “at the market” program that the Partnership may have in effect from time to time on or after the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.03         Underwritten Offering. In the event that the Selling Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities elect to dispose of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Partnership will retain Underwriters (which Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers) subject to such sale through an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, including entering into an underwriting agreement with the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities, which shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 2.08, and will take all reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of the Registrable Securities. The Partnership management shall participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort on behalf of any such Holder or Holders if gross proceeds from such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering are reasonably expected to exceed $50 million; provided, however, that the Partnership management shall not be required to participate in more than two roadshows or similar marketing efforts on a yearly basis. In no event may the Selling Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities request more than two Underwritten Offerings or Overnight Underwritten Offerings in the aggregate in any year. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering or Overnight 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 and customarily required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. 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 and its ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf and its intended method of distribution and any other representations 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 such notice of withdrawal must be made at a time up to and including the time of pricing of such offering in order to be effective. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.

 

Section 2.04         Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, the Partnership or the applicable Selling Holder, as the case may be, will, as expeditiously as possible:

 

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(a)          prepare and file with the SEC, and cause to be declared or become effective as soon as practicable, the Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all Registrable Securities as provided herein, make all required filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and use reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective during the period such Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus contained therein to contain a material misstatement or omission, the Partnership shall file an appropriate amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, a supplement to the Prospectus, or a report filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, correcting any such misstatement or omission, and the Partnership shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared or become effective and the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus to become usable for their intended purposes as soon as practicable thereafter;

 

(b)          prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be effective and to keep the 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 securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(c)          furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the 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 supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including furnishing or making available exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC), 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement;

 

(d)          if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request, provided 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 which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

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(e)          promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the 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 contemplated by this Agreement, when the same has become effective; and (ii) any written comments from the SEC with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

 

(f)          immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter of Registrable Securities, 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any post-effective amendment thereto, 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 light of the circumstances then existing; (ii) the issuance or threat of issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 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 action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

 

(g)          furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the SEC 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 or Overnight Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request and addressed to the underwriters and to the Selling Holders, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership, dated the effective date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto, and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, and (ii) a “comfort letter,” dated the effective date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) 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 “comfort letter” shall be in customary form and cover substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers’) letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings or Overnight Underwritten Offerings of securities, and such other matters as such underwriters or Selling Holders may reasonably request;

 

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(i)          otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months, but not more than 18 months, beginning with the first full calendar month after the effective date of such 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 the Partnership 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 information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;

 

(k)          cause all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed or quoted;

 

(l)          use its reasonable best 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 and entry of such Registrable Securities in book-entry with The Depository Trust Company (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);

 

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(o)          cause the Registrable Securities to be initially represented by direct registration with the Partnership’s transfer agent. In connection therewith, if reasonably required by the Partnership’s transfer agent, the Partnership shall promptly deliver any authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without legend upon sale by the holder of such shares of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(p)          if any Purchaser could reasonably be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of Registrable Securities of such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereof (any such registration statement or amendment or supplement, a “ Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement ”), then, until the Effectiveness Period ends, (i) cooperate with such Purchaser in allowing such Purchaser to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Partnership and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof; (ii) until the Effectiveness Period ends, at any Partnership Unitholder’s request, furnish to such Partnership Unitholder, on the date of the effectiveness of any Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter no more often than on a quarterly basis, (A) a letter, dated such date, from the Partnership’s independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to such Partnership Unitholder, (B) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Partnership for purposes of such Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, including a standard “10b-5” opinion for such offering, addressed to such Purchaser and (C) a standard officer’s certificate from the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership addressed to such Partnership Unitholder; and (iii) permit legal counsel of such Purchaser to review and comment upon any Partnership Underwriter Registration Statement at least five Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and all amendments and supplements to any such Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any Purchaser Underwriter Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which such Partnership Unitholder’s legal counsel reasonably objects;

 

(q)          Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (e) of this Section 2.04 , shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (e) of this Section 2.04 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;

 

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(r)          if requested by a Holder, (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Purchaser 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; (ii) as soon as practicable 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 (iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement; and

 

(s)          use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

 

Section 2.05         Cooperation by Holders. The Partnership shall have no obligation to include in the Shelf Registration Statement Registrable Securities of a Holder who has failed to timely furnish such information which, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, is reasonably required to be furnished or confirmed in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement thereto, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.06         Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who is included in the Shelf Registration Statement agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of the Registrable Securities for a period of up to 30 days following completion of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering of equity securities by the Partnership, provided that (i) the Partnership gives written notice to such Holder of the date of the commencement and termination of such period with respect to any such Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering and (ii) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters of such public sale or distribution on the Partnership or on the officers or directors or any other unitholder of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed; provided further , that this Section 2.06 shall not apply to a Holder that holds less than $10 million of Registrable Securities, which value shall be determined by multiplying the number of Common Unit Registrable Securities and Preferred Unit Registrable Securities on an as-converted basis (based on the Series B Conversion Ratio (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) then in effect) owned by the Common Unit Price.

 

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Section 2.07         Expenses.

 

(a)           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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement or amendment or supplement contemplated by this Agreement, an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and/or the disposition of such securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing 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, all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions and (to the extent not paid by the applicable underwriters) fees of underwriters’ counsel allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities, transfer taxes and fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, and the fees and disbursements of (x) one counsel to the Holders and (y) counsel and independent public accountants (and, if applicable, independent reserve engineers) for the Partnership, including the expenses of any legal opinions or letters, special audits or “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and compliance.

 

(b)           Expenses . The Partnership will pay all Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Overnight Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

Section 2.08         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 Affiliates that own Registrable Securities and their respective directors, officers, managers, employees and agents and each underwriter pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and its directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “ Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and experts’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “ Losses ”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder or underwriter or controlling 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 contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus (or roadshow or other similar marketing material) or final prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, 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 or arise out of or are based upon a Selling Holder being deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with the registration statement in respect of any registration of the Partnership’s securities, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending 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 strict conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such director, officer or controlling Person and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

 

- 17 -
 

 

(b)           By Each Selling Holder . Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, its directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act against any Losses 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 the Shelf Registration Statement or any prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereof relating to the Registrable Securities; 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 such indemnified party’s failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure. In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; provided , however , that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 2.08 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure. 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 election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.08 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 and 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 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 if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then 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 one such separate counsel (firm) 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 indemnified party shall settle any action brought against it with respect to which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnifying party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnifying party.

 

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(d)           Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Partnership or any Selling Holder or is insufficient to hold it 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 Losses as between the Partnership, on the one hand, and such Selling Holder, on the other hand, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Partnership, on the one hand, and of such Selling Holder, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which 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 received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the Partnership, on the one hand, and each Selling Holder, on the other hand, 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 which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph. 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 or defending any Loss which 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.

 

(e)           Other Indemnification . The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

 

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Section 2.09         Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its reasonable best 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 rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) of the Securities Act, at all times from and after the Closing Date;

 

(b)          File with the SEC 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 Closing Date;

 

(c)          So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish 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 so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration; and

 

(d)          take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.10         Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Partnership to include Registrable Securities in a Shelf Registration Statement may not be transferred or assigned by any Holder except as provided in the definitions of Anchorage Holder, EIG Holder and Guggenheim Holder provided that (a) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee and identifying the 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 such Holder under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.11         Information by Holder. Any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration statement shall promptly furnish to the Partnership such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders as the Partnership may reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to herein.

 

Section 2.12         Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders, 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 Piggyback Offering by the Partnership for its own account on a basis that is superior in any material respect to the Piggyback Offering rights granted to the Holders pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.01         Communications. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery, electronic mail, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, regular mail, facsimile or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery to the following addresses:

 

if to the Partnership to:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP
515 S. Flower Street, Ste. 4800

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Facsimile: (213) 225-5916

Attention: Greg Brown

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP

666 Fifth Avenue, 26 th Floor

New York, NY 10103

Attention: Shelley A. Barber

Facsimile: (917) 849-5353

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

 

if to the Purchasers to:

 

To the respective address listed on Schedule A hereof

 

with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

EIG Management Company, LLC
1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, Senior Vice President
Telephone: (202) 600-3309
Email: wdc@eigpartners.com

 

and

 

EIG Management Company, LLC

Three Allen Center

333 Clay Street, Suite 3500

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Clayton Taylor, Managing Director

Telephone: (713) 615-7423

Email: clay.taylor@eigpartners.com

 

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and

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Richard Aftanas and John Pitts
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
Email: richard.aftanas@kirkland.com and john.pitts@kirkland.com

 

and

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

4 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Ken Ziman

Facsimile: (917) 777-3310

Email: ken.ziman@skadden.com

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Michelle Gasaway

Facsimile: (213) 621-5122

Email: michelle.gasaway@skadden.com

and

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

or, if to a transferee of a Holder, to the transferee at the addresses provided pursuant to Section 2.10 above. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) when notice is sent to the sender that the recipient has read the message, if sent by electronic mail; (iii) upon actual receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; (iv) upon actual receipt if received during recipient’s normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipient’s next Business Day if not received during recipient's normal business hours, if sent by facsimile and confirmed by appropriate answer-back; and (v) upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight deliver.

 

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Section 3.02         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and 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 the Purchasers under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by the Purchasers only in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. The Partnership may not transfer or assign any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities.

 

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), which 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         Change of Control. The Partnership shall not merge, consolidate or combine with any other Person, or reorganize or convert into another entity or form of entity, or engage in any similar transaction unless the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or combination, or reorganization or conversion or similar transaction, expressly provides for the continuation of the registration rights specified in this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities or other equity securities issued pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination or reorganization or conversion or similar transaction.

 

Section 3.07         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 which such Person may have.

 

Section 3.08         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 but one and the same Agreement.

 

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Section 3.09         Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

Section 3.10         Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of any Law other than the Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.11         Jurisdiction. Each of the parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, to the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or, if jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the Federal courts of the United States, the Federal courts of the United States sitting in the State of Delaware, and any appellate court from any such state or Federal court, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agree that all claims with respect to any such claim shall be heard and determined in such Delaware court or in such Federal court, as applicable. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such claim is conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. In addition, each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.12         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER, RELATED TO, BASED ON, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 3.11 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

Section 3.13         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.

 

- 24 -
 

 

Section 3.14         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 and the Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

Section 3.15         Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided , however , that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 3.16         No Presumption. In the event 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 3.17          Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement . Each of the Parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Purchasers (and their transferees or assignees) and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the Purchasers may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any Purchaser or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, 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 any Purchaser or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of a Purchaser under this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation.

 

Section 3.18         Independent Nature of Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

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Section 3.19         Further Assurances. The Partnership and each of the Holders shall cooperate with each other and shall take such further action and shall execute and deliver such further documents as may be reasonably requested by any other party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

- 26 -
 

 

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

 

  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
       
  By: Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
       
    By: /s/ James G. Jackson
    Name:  James G. Jackson
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer

 

  EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP
       
    By: EIG Redwood Aggregator GP, LLC, is general partner
    By: EIG Asset Management, LLC, its sole member  
       
    By: /s/ Clayton Taylor
    Name: Clayton Taylor
    Title: Managing Director
       
    By: /s/ Richard Punches
    Name: Richard Punches
    Title: Managing Director
       
  ACMO BBEP Corp.
       
    By: Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., its
      investment manager
       
    By: /s/ Daniel Allen
    Name: Daniel Allen
    Title: Senior Portfolio Manager
       
  A s tax nominee for Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. and ACMO BBEP, L.P.

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 
 

 

Schedule A

 

Purchaser Name; Notice and Contact Information

 

Purchaser

Contact Information

EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP  

EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP

c/o EIG Management Company, LLC

1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800

Washington, DC 20006

Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, Senior Vice President

Telephone: (202) 600-3309

Email: wdc@eigpartners.com

     
ACMO BBEP Corp.  

ACMO BBEP Corp.

c/o Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C.
610 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Attn: Legal
Facsimile: 212-426-4601
Email: legal@anchoragecap.com and ops@anchoragecap.com

     

Midland National Life Insurance Company

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

North American Company for Life and Health Insurance

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

SEI Institutional Managed Trust – Multi-Asset Income Fund

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

A- 1
 

 

Guggenheim Funds Trust – Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

Maverick Enterprises, Inc.

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

Carey Credit Income Fund

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC

 

 

Guggenheim Purchasers

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

SERIES B PREFERRED UNIT

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

among

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

and

THE PURCHASERS PARTY HERETO

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
Article I  DEFINITIONS 1
     
Section 1.01 Definitions 1
     
Article II  AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE 7
     
Section 2.01 Purchase 7
Section 2.02 Closing 8
Section 2.03 Deliveries at Closing 8
Section 2.04 Further Assurances 10
     
Article III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS RELATED TO BREITBURN 10
     
Section 3.01 Formation and Qualification of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries 10
Section 3.02 Capitalization and Valid Issuance of Purchased Units 12
Section 3.03 Breitburn SEC Documents; Breitburn Financial Statements 14
Section 3.04 No Liabilities, Material Contracts or Distributions 14
Section 3.05 No Material Adverse Change 14
Section 3.06 No Registration Required 14
Section 3.07 Litigation 15
Section 3.08 No Conflicts 15
Section 3.09 No Default 15
Section 3.10 Authority; Enforceability 16
Section 3.11 Approvals 16
Section 3.12 Other Sales 16
Section 3.13 Auditors 16
Section 3.14 Statistical Data 16
Section 3.15 Reserve Engineers 17
Section 3.16 Proved Reserves 17
Section 3.17 No Related Party Transactions 17
Section 3.18 MLP Status 17
Section 3.19 Insurance 17
Section 3.20 Internal Controls 17
Section 3.21 Books and Records; Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance 18
Section 3.22 XBRL Information 18
Section 3.23 Listing and Maintenance Requirements 18
Section 3.24 Taxes 19
Section 3.25 Compliance with Laws; Environmental Laws; Pipeline Safety Laws; Permits; and Environmental Permits 19
Section 3.26 Title to Property 20
Section 3.27 No Labor Disputes 21
Section 3.28 Employee Benefit Plans 21
Section 3.29 Form S-3 Eligibility 21
Section 3.30 No Price Stabilization 21

 

i
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D)

 

    Page
     
Section 3.31 No Subsidiary Payment Restrictions 22
Section 3.32 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 22
Section 3.33 Money Laundering Laws 22
Section 3.34 OFAC 22
     
Article IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASERS 22
     
Section 4.01 Existence 23
Section 4.02 Authorization, Enforceability 23
Section 4.03 No Breach 23
Section 4.04 Certain Fees 23
Section 4.05 Unregistered Securities 23
Section 4.06 Short Selling 25
Section 4.07 No Ownership of Breitburn Securities and No Hedging 25
     
Article V  INDEMNIFICATION, COSTS AND EXPENSES 25
     
Section 5.01 Indemnification by Breitburn 25
Section 5.02 Indemnification by the Purchasers 26
Section 5.03 Indemnification Procedure 26
Section 5.04 Tax Matters 28
     
Article VI  MISCELLANEOUS 28
     
Section 6.01 MNPI Disclosure 28
Section 6.02 Certain Notification 28
Section 6.03 Expenses 28
Section 6.04 Interpretation 28
Section 6.05 Survival of Provisions 29
Section 6.06 Termination 29
Section 6.07 No Waiver; Modifications in Writing 29
Section 6.08 Binding Effect 30
Section 6.09 Confidentiality 30
Section 6.10 Communications 31
Section 6.11 Removal of Legend 32
Section 6.12 Entire Agreement 33
Section 6.13 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction 33
Section 6.14 Waiver of Jury Trial 33
Section 6.15 Execution in Counterparts 34

 

ii
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D)

 

Page

 

EXHIBIT A  
   
FORM OF OPINION OF VINSON & ELKINS LLP A-1
   
EXHIBIT B  
   
FORM OF OPINION OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF BREITBURN GP, LLC B-1
   
EXHIBIT C  
   
FORM OF BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT C-1
   
EXHIBIT D  
   
FORM OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT D-1
   
EXHIBIT E  
   
FORM OF ANCHORAGE STANDSTILL AGREEMENT E-1
   
EXHIBIT F  
   
FORM OF GUGGENHEIM STANDSTILL AGREEMENT F-1

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

SERIES B PREFERRED UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED SERIES B PREFERRED UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of April 8, 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Breitburn ”), and the purchasers set forth in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Purchasers ”) and amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety that Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015, by and among Breitburn and the purchasers set forth in Schedule A thereto (the “ Prior Agreement ”).

 

WHEREAS, Breitburn and the Purchasers wish to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, Breitburn desires to issue to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers desire to purchase from Breitburn, Breitburn’s Series B Preferred Units (as defined below), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Breitburn has agreed to provide the Purchasers with certain registration rights with respect to the Series B Preferred Units and Common Units underlying the Series B Preferred Units acquired pursuant hereto.

 

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, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01          Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

 

2020 Notes ” means the $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2020 issued by Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP and Breitburn Finance Corporation.

 

2020 Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent.

 

“2020 Notes Transaction Documents” means the Notes Purchase Agreement, the 2020 Notes Indenture and each other agreement, document and instrument to be delivered in connection therewith, including the Collateral Documents (as defined in the Notes Purchase Agreement).

 

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 the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Breitburn Entities, on the one hand, and any Purchaser, on the other, shall not be considered Affiliates.

 

 
 

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Anchorage ” means ACMO BBEP Corp., a Delaware corporation.

 

Anchorage Standstill Agreement ” means the Standstill Agreement, to be entered into at Closing, among Breitburn, the General Partner and Anchorage, substantially in the form of Exhibit E .

 

Basic Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, the Anchorage Standstill Agreement, the Guggenheim Standstill Agreement and any and all other agreements or instruments executed and delivered to the Purchasers by the Breitburn Entities hereunder or thereunder.

 

BMC ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b) .

 

BMC LLC Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b) .

 

Board Representation and Standstill Agreement ” means the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, to be entered into at the Closing among Breitburn, the General Partner and EIG, substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

 

Breitburn ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Breitburn Credit Facility ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, among Breitburn Operating LP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Breitburn, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and Issuing Lender, and a syndicate of banks, with Breitburn and its Subsidiaries as guarantors, as further amended from time to time.

 

Breitburn Entities ” means, collectively, Breitburn, the General Partner and the Breitburn Subsidiaries.

 

Breitburn Financial Statements ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03 .

 

Breitburn Related Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02 .

 

Breitburn Subsidiaries ” means Breitburn Operating GP LLC, Breitburn Management Company LLC, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Alamitos Company, Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C., Breitburn Florida LLC, Breitburn Sawtelle LLC, Breitburn Oklahoma LLC, Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC, GTG Pipeline LLC, Mercury Michigan Company, LLC, Phoenix Production Company, Terra Energy Company LLC, Terra Pipeline Company LLC, Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P., Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, QR Energy, LP, QRE GP, LLC and QRE Operating, LLC.

 

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Breitburn SEC Documents ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03 .

 

Breitburn Indentures ” means the Indenture, dated as of January 13, 2012, among Breitburn, certain of its Subsidiaries and guarantors thereof, and the U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, for 7.875% Senior Notes due 2022, and the Indenture, dated as of October 6, 2010, among Breitburn, certain of its Subsidiaries and guarantors thereof, and the U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, for 8.625% Senior Notes due 2020.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal legal holiday or day on which banking institutions in the states of California or New York are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close.

 

Closing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02 .

 

Closing Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02 .

 

Closing Date Payment Letter ” means the Closing Date Payment Letter, dated as of the date hereof, among EIG Management Company, LLC, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation and the guarantors party thereto.

 

Code ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.18 .

 

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Units ” means common units representing limited partner interests in Breitburn.

 

Confidentiality Agreements ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09 .

 

Contract ” means any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, instrument, lease, license, commitment or other arrangement, understanding, undertaking, commitment or obligation, whether written or oral.

 

Conversion Units ” means the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units.

 

Delaware LLC Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

Delaware LP Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

 

Drop Dead Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.06 .

 

EIG ” means EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

“Eligible Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

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Environmental Law ” means any Law applicable to the Breitburn Entities or the operation of their business in any way relating to the protection of human health and safety (to the extent such health and safety relate to exposure to Hazardous Substances), the environment, natural resources, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 5101 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq.), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.).

 

Environmental Permits ” means all approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits, variances, waivers, exemptions, registrations of a Governmental Authority required under any Environmental Laws for the operation of the business of the Breitburn Entities.

 

ERISA ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.28 .

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

First Amendment to Breitburn Credit Facility ” means the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Operating GP, LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, the lenders signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as of the date hereof; provided that for the Breitburn Financial Statements prepared as of a certain date, GAAP referenced therein shall be GAAP as of the date of such Breitburn Financial Statements.

 

General Partner ” means Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Breitburn.

 

Governmental Authority ” means, with respect to a particular Person, any country, state, county, city and political subdivision in which such Person or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them and any monetary authority which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein with respect to Breitburn means a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over Breitburn, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties.

 

GP LLC Agreement ” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner, dated as of April 5, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the GP LLC Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2010, and Amendment No. 2 to the GP LLC Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2014.

 

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Guggenheim Management ” means Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC.

 

Guggenheim Purchasers ” means Midland National Life Insurance Company, an Iowa corporation; North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, an Iowa corporation; SEI Institutional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust; Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, a Delaware statutory trust; Maverick Enterprises, Inc., a Nevada corporation; Carey Credit Income Fund, a Delaware statutory trust; and NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Guggenheim Standstill Agreement ” means the Standstill Agreement to be entered into at Closing among Breitburn, the General Partner and the Guggenheim Purchasers, substantially in the form of Exhibit F .

 

Hazardous Substances ” means (a) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (b) any “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (c) any petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas, oil and gas waste, and oil and any components or derivatives thereof, (d) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (e) any pollutant, contaminant or hazardous or toxic, material, waste or substance regulated under any other Environmental Law.

 

Indemnified Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03(b) .

 

Indemnifying Party ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03(b) .

 

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, and Breitburn Operating LP and the Subsidiaries of Breitburn Energy Partners LP named therein.

 

Law ” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law (including common law), rule or regulation.

 

Lead Purchasers ” means EIG and Anchorage.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, claim, encumbrance, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment, preference or priority, assessment, deed of trust, charge, easement, servitude or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind.

 

Limited Partner Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

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Material Adverse Effect ” means any change, event or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities, results of operations, properties or business of the Breitburn Entities, taken as a whole, provided, however, that a Material Adverse Effect shall exclude any change, event or effect resulting from, arising out of or relating to (a) changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in the United States or elsewhere in the world; (b) changes or conditions generally affecting the oil and gas exploration, development and/or production industry or industries (including changes in oil, gas or other commodity prices); (c) the negotiation, execution, announcement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any adverse change in customer, distributor, supplier or similar relationships resulting therefrom; (d) the existence or occurrence of war, acts of war, terrorism or similar hostilities; (e) compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required by, this Agreement and the Notes Purchase Agreement;  (f) changes in accounting requirements or principles imposed upon any Breitburn Entity or their respective businesses or any changes in applicable Law, or the interpretation thereof, other than a change that would result in Breitburn being treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes; and (g) changes in the market price of the Common Units;  except to the extent such changes, events or effects in the cases of clauses (a), (b), and (d) above materially and disproportionately affect the Breitburn Entities relative to other participants in the industry or industries in which the Breitburn Entities operate (in which event the extent of such material and disproportionate effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred).

 

Money Laundering Laws ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.33 .

 

NASDAQ” means the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

Notes Purchase Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and the purchasers listed on Schedule I thereto, entered into in connection with the 2020 Notes.

 

OFAC ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.34 .

 

OLP Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e) .

 

OLP GP ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(d) .

 

OLP GP Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(d) .

 

Operating LP ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(d) .

 

Operating Subsidiaries ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(g) .

 

Operating Subsidiaries Organizational Documents ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(g) .

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn, to be entered into at the Closing substantially in the form of Exhibit D , and as may be amended thereafter from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Partnership Entities ” means Breitburn and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Permits ” means any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits, variances, waivers, grants, franchises, concessions, exemptions, orders, registrations or certificates of a Governmental Authority.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any other form of entity.

 

Pipeline Safety Law ” means any Law applicable to the Breitburn Entities or the operation of their business in any way relating to the safety of owning, operating or managing liquid pipelines or other facilities used for processing, storing or transporting natural gas, liquids, oil or their by-products, including the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601), the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601), the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601) and the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601).

 

Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.28 .

 

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible (including intellectual property rights).

 

Purchase Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

 

Purchased Units ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

 

Purchaser Related Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01 .

 

Purchasers ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means a customary registration rights agreement, to be entered into at Closing among Breitburn and the Purchasers, in a form and substance to be agreed.

 

Representatives ” means, with respect to a specified Person, the investors, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, advisors, counsel, accountants, investment bankers and other representatives of such Person.

 

Reserve Engineer ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.15 .

 

Reserve Reports ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.15 .

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Series A Preferred Units ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a) .

 

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Series B Preferred Units ” means the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in the Partnership Agreement and including PIK Units (as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement).

 

Short Sales ” means, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, “put equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements, and sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.

 

Subsidiary ” means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which: (i) such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner or manager; (ii) at least a majority of the outstanding equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body of such corporation or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time any equity interest of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) any corporation or other entity as to which such Person consolidates for accounting purposes.

 

Tax Return ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.24(b) .

 

Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.24(b) .

 

Third Party Claim ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03(b) .

 

Transaction Fee ” has the meaning set forth in the Closing Date Payment Letter.

 

Article II
AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE

 

Section 2.01          Purchase . On the Closing Date, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from Breitburn, and Breitburn hereby agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser, the number of Series B Preferred Units set forth opposite each Purchaser’s name on Schedule A for a cash purchase price of $7.50 (the “ Purchase Price ”) per Series B Preferred Unit (collectively, the “ Purchased Units ”). The obligations of each Purchaser under any Basic Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Basic Document, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary provided herein, in the event that the Guggenheim Purchasers fail, for any reason, to comply with their obligations to consummate the Closing at the time at which they are obligated to consummate the Closing pursuant to Section 2.02 , Anchorage shall purchase all of the Series B Preferred Units required to be purchased by the Guggenheim Purchasers hereunder, provided further , that, notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if the Guggenheim Purchasers, or a Person that is administered, advised or managed by Guggenheim Management, do not purchase, in the aggregate, all of the 2020 Notes required to be purchased by them under the Notes Purchase Agreement, the closing of which is to occur simultaneously with the Closing, the Guggenheim Purchasers shall not be entitled to purchase any Series B Preferred Units pursuant to this Agreement. The failure or waiver of performance under any Basic Document of any Purchaser by Breitburn does not excuse performance by any other Purchaser and the waiver of performance of Breitburn by any Purchaser does not excuse performance by Breitburn with respect to each other Purchaser.

 

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Section 2.02          Closing . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including the delivery or satisfaction of those matters and conditions set forth in Section 2.03 ), the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Series B Preferred Units hereunder (the “ Closing ”) shall take place simultaneously with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Notes Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing Date ”) at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 2400, Houston, Texas 77002.

 

Section 2.03          Deliveries at Closing .

 

(a)           Deliveries of Breitburn at Closing . The Closing is conditioned upon, and the effectiveness of this Agreement and the respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Breitburn Entities contained herein and in the other Basic Documents, and the performance of the Breitburn Entities of their respective obligations hereunder and each other Basic Document, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions (unless waived by the Lead Purchasers):

 

(i)          Vinson & Elkins LLP, counsel for the Breitburn Entities, shall have furnished to the Purchasers its written opinion, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall be addressed to the Purchasers and dated the date of Closing;

 

(ii)         Gregory C. Brown, the General Partner’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, shall have furnished to the Purchasers his written opinion, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , which shall be addressed to the Purchasers and dated the date of Closing;

 

(iii)        The Partnership Agreement shall be in full force and effect;

 

(iv)        The GP LLC Agreement shall be in full force and effect;

 

(v)         Evidence of issuance of the Series B Preferred Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent, bearing a restrictive notation meeting the requirements of the Partnership Agreement, free and clear of any Liens, other than transfer restrictions under the Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act and applicable federal and state securities laws, shall have been furnished to the Purchasers;

 

(vi)        Breitburn shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Purchasers, a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on its behalf by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, or other officers satisfactory to the Purchasers, as to such matters as the Purchasers may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Breitburn Entities in Article III are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, and the Breitburn Entities have complied with all their agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

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(vii)       Breitburn shall have furnished to the Purchasers a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, on behalf of Breitburn, certifying as to and attaching (1) the Partnership Agreement, (2) board resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Basic Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance of the Series B Preferred Units, and (3) the incumbency of the officers authorized to execute the Basic Documents on behalf of Breitburn, setting forth the name and title and bearing the signatures of such officers;

 

(viii)      A cross-receipt executed by Breitburn and delivered to the Purchasers certifying that it has received from the Purchasers an amount in cash equal to the Purchase Price for all Purchased Units and that Breitburn has paid to the Purchasers the Transaction Fee (which payment will be made by netting the Transaction Fee due to each Purchaser from such Purchaser’s Purchase Price for the Series B Preferred Units purchased by such Purchaser as of the Closing Date);

 

(ix)         The Registration Rights Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by Breitburn;

 

(x)          The Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by Breitburn and the General Partner;

 

(xi)         The Anchorage Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by Breitburn and the General Partner;

 

(xii)        The Guggenheim Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by Breitburn and the General Partner;

 

(xiii)       The issuance of the 2020 Notes shall have occurred, or substantially simultaneously with the purchase of the Series B Preferred Units hereunder shall occur, in accordance with the terms of the 2020 Notes Transaction Documents; and

 

(xiv)      On or prior to the Closing Date, the Breitburn Entities shall have furnished such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Lead Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

(xv)        All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers.

 

(b)          Deliveries of Each Purchaser at Closing. At Closing, the applicable Purchaser or Purchasers shall deliver or cause to be delivered (unless waived by Breitburn) to Breitburn:

 

(i)          The Registration Rights Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by each Purchaser;

 

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(ii)         The Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by EIG;

 

(iii)        The Anchorage Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by Anchorage;

 

(iv)        The Guggenheim Standstill Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by the Guggenheim Purchasers;

 

(v)         A cross-receipt executed by each Purchaser and delivered to Breitburn certifying that it has received from Breitburn the number of Series B Preferred Units set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule A ; and

 

(vi)        Payment of such Purchaser’s Purchase Price (which payment will be made, as applicable, by netting the Transaction Fee due to such Purchaser from such Purchaser’s Purchase Price for the Series B Preferred Units purchased by such Purchaser as of the Closing Date) payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to accounts designated in advance of the Closing Date by Breitburn and the Purchasers.

 

Section 2.04          Further Assurances . From time to time after the date hereof, without further consideration, Breitburn and each Purchaser shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS RELATED TO BREITBURN

 

As of the Closing Date, Breitburn represents and warrants to and covenants with the Purchasers as follows:

 

Section 3.01          Formation and Qualification of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries .

 

(a)          Each of the Breitburn Entities has been duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a limited liability company, limited partnership or corporation, as the case may be, in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as the case may be, and has the full limited liability company, limited partnership or corporate, as the case may be, power and authority to own or lease its Properties and assets and to conduct the business in all material respects in which it is engaged, and is duly registered or qualified as a foreign limited liability company, limited partnership or corporation, as the case may be, for the transaction of business under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the nature or location of the properties owned or leased by it makes such registration or qualification necessary, except where the failure to so register or qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)          Breitburn owns a 100% membership interest in Breitburn Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ BMC ”); such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of BMC (the “ BMC LLC Agreement ”) and is fully paid (to the extent required by the BMC LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act; and Breitburn owns such membership interest free and clear of all Liens, other than those created by or arising under the Breitburn Credit Facility.

 

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(c)          Breitburn owns a 100% membership interest in the General Partner; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Breitburn owns such membership interest free and clear of all Liens, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act, the GP LLC Agreement or the Breitburn Credit Facility

 

(d)          Breitburn owns a 100% membership interest in Breitburn Operating GP LLC (the “ OLP GP ”), a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Breitburn Operating LP (the “ Operating LP ”); such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the OLP GP (the “ OLP GP Agreement ”) and is fully paid (to the extent required by the OLP GP Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Breitburn owns such membership interest free and clear of all Liens, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act, the OLP GP Agreement or the Breitburn Credit Facility.

 

(e)          The OLP GP is the sole general partner of the Operating LP and owns a 0.001% general partner interest in the Operating LP; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the partnership agreement of the Operating LP (the “ OLP Agreement ”); and the OLP GP owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act, the OLP Agreement or the Breitburn Credit Facility.

 

(f)          Breitburn owns a 99.999% limited partner interest in the Operating LP; such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the OLP Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required by the OLP Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and Breitburn owns such interest free and clear of all Liens, other than those created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act, the OLP Agreement and Credit Facility.

 

(g)          The Operating LP owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the ownership interests in each of Alamitos Company, Breitburn Florida LLC, Breitburn Sawtelle LLC, GTG Pipeline LLC, Mercury Michigan Company, LLC, Phoenix Production Company, Terra Energy Company LLC, Terra Pipeline Company LLC, Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C., Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, QR Energy, LP, QRE GP, LLC and QRE Operating, LLC (collectively, the “ Operating Subsidiaries ”); such ownership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the applicable limited liability company agreement or certificate of incorporation of such subsidiary (the “ Operating Subsidiary Organizational Documents ”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the applicable bylaws or limited liability company agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, and the other applicable laws of the jurisdiction of organization, formation or incorporation of the Operating Subsidiaries); and the Operating LP owns such stock or membership interests free and clear of all Liens other than those created by or arising under the Breitburn Credit Facility and restrictions on transferability contained in the Operating Subsidiary Organizational Documents.

 

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(h)          Other than its ownership of its general partner interest in Breitburn, the General Partner does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Other than its ownership of the other Breitburn Entities, Breitburn does not directly or indirectly own, directly or indirectly own, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Phoenix Production Company, Alamitos Company, GTG Pipeline LLC, Seal Beach Gas Processing Venture, Wilderness-Chester Gas Processing Limited Partnership, Wilderness-Chester LLC, Wilderness Energy, L.C., Wilderness Energy Services Limited Partnership, Saginaw Bay Lateral Michigan Limited Partnership, Terra Westside Processing Company, BreitBurn Transpetco GP LLC, BreitBurn Transpetco LP LLC, Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P., BreitBurn Oklahoma LLC and QRE GP, LLC, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be deemed to be a “significant subsidiary” of Breitburn (as such term is defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act).

 

(i)          The Partnership Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the General Partner and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the General Partner, enforceable against the General Partner in accordance with its terms; and each of the GP LLC Agreement, the OLP Agreement and the OLP GP Agreement (together with the Partnership Agreement, the “ Operative Agreements ”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms; provided that, with respect to the Partnership Agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

Section 3.02          Capitalization and Valid Issuance of Purchased Units .

 

(a)          As of the date hereof, and prior to the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units,] the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of Breitburn consist of 210,930,615 Common Units and 8,000,000 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “ Series A Preferred Units ”). All outstanding Common Units and Series A Preferred Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

 

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(b)          Each of the General Partner and Breitburn Operating GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Operating LP has full limited liability company power and authority to act as general partner of Breitburn and the Operating LP, respectively, in all material respects.

 

(c)          The General Partner is the sole general partner of Breitburn with a non-economic general partner interest in Breitburn; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the General Partner owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for (A) restrictions on transferability contained in Section 4.6 of the Partnership Agreement or as disclosed in the Breitburn SEC Documents, (B) Liens created, arising under or securing the Breitburn Credit Facility and the Breitburn Senior Notes and (C) other than Liens arising under the Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act).

 

(d)          The Purchased Units being purchased by the Purchasers hereunder and the limited partner interests represented thereby will be duly authorized by Breitburn pursuant to the Partnership Agreement prior to the Closing, as the case may be, and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than (i) restrictions on transfer under the Partnership Agreement or this Agreement and under applicable state and federal securities laws, (ii) such Liens as are created by the Purchasers and (iii) such Liens as arise under the Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act. Except as disclosed in the Breitburn SEC Documents, there are no persons entitled to statutory, preemptive or other similar contractual rights to subscribe for the Purchased Units; and, except for the Purchased Units to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or as disclosed in the Breitburn SEC Documents, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, partnership securities or ownership interests in Breitburn are outstanding.

 

(e)          Upon issuance in accordance with this Agreement and the terms of the Series B Preferred Units, the Conversion Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than (i) restrictions on transfer under the Basic Documents and under applicable state and federal securities laws, (ii) such Liens as are created by the Purchasers and (iii) such Liens as arise under the Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act.

 

(f)          Except as provided for in the Partnership Agreement, there are no (i) preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of Breitburn or (ii) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of Breitburn. Except for such rights as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, QR Holdings (QRE), LLC, QR Energy Holdings, LLC, Quantum Resources A1, LP, Quantum Resources B, LP, Quantum Resources C, LP, QAB Carried WI, LP, QAC Carried WI, LP and Black Diamond Resources, LLC, dated as of July 23, 2014, the sale of the Purchased Units as contemplated by this Agreement does not give rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Series B Preferred Units or other securities of Breitburn.

 

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Section 3.03          Breitburn SEC Documents; Breitburn Financial Statements . The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) (the “ Breitburn Financial Statements ”) included in Breitburn’s reports, required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act since January 1, 2014 (all such documents filed prior to the date hereof, collectively the “ Breitburn SEC Documents ”), at the time filed (except to the extent corrected by a subsequent Breitburn SEC Document) (a) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made in the case of any prospectus, not misleading, (b) complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, (c) present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and (d) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission).

 

Section 3.04          No Liabilities, Material Contracts or Distributions . Other than as set forth in the Breitburn SEC Documents, none of the Breitburn Entities has (i) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or pursuant to the Basic Documents, other than liabilities or obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) entered into any transactions not in the ordinary course of business that, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the Breitburn Entities, taken as a whole or (iii) declared, paid or made any dividend or distribution on any class of security other than regular monthly pro rata distributions to holders of Common Units or Series A Preferred Units.

 

Section 3.05          No Material Adverse Change . Except as expressly set forth in or contemplated by the Breitburn SEC Documents, none of the Breitburn Entities has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements through the Closing Date: (a) any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, and since such date, there has not been any change in the capitalization or long-term debt of any of the Breitburn Entities or any material adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, unitholders’ equity, properties, management or business of the Breitburn Entities, taken as a whole, in each case except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.06          No Registration Required . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in Article IV, the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to this Agreement are exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act and neither any Breitburn Entity nor any of their respective affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf, directly or indirectly, has made or will make any offers or sales of any security, or has solicited or will solicit offers to buy, or otherwise has negotiated or will negotiate in respect of, any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the Purchased Units under the Securities Act.

 

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Section 3.07          Litigation . Except as set forth in the Breitburn SEC Documents, there is no (i) legal or governmental proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Breitburn, threatened to which any Breitburn Entity is or may be a party or to which any Property or asset of any Breitburn Entity is or may be subject; (ii) statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency and (iii) injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Breitburn Entities is or may be subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or which challenges the validity of this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents or the right of any Breitburn Entity to enter into any of the Basic Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Section 3.08          No Conflicts . None of (i) the offering, issuance and sale by Breitburn of the Purchased Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents, or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (1) constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Partnership Agreement, the GP LLC Agreement or the other organizational documents of any of Breitburn, the General Partner or the Breitburn Subsidiaries, (2) constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under, any indenture (including the Breitburn Indentures and the 2020 Notes Indenture), mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of Breitburn, the General Partner or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (3) violates or will violate any statute, Law, Permit or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or Governmental Authority or body having jurisdiction over any of the Breitburn Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party, or (4) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of Breitburn, the General Partner or the Subsidiaries, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or liens, in the case of clauses (2) (other than with respect to the Breitburn Indentures), (3) or (4), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Breitburn Entities to perform their obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made pursuant to clause (3) as to any applicable securities Law.

 

Section 3.09          No Default . None of the Breitburn Entities (i) is in violation of its organizational documents, (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its properties or assets except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation, failure or default would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.10          Authority; Enforceability . Breitburn has all requisite power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Purchased Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement. All partnership or limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the General Partner and Breitburn for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Purchased Units, the execution and delivery of the Basic Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby shall have been validly taken. No approval from the holders of outstanding Common Units is required under the Partnership Agreement or the NASDAQ rules in connection with Breitburn’s issuance and sale of the Purchased Units (or any PIK dividends thereon) to the Purchasers or will be required in connection with the conversion of the Purchased Units (including any PIK dividends thereon) to Common Units in accordance with their terms. At Closing, each of the Basic Documents has been duly and validly authorized, validly executed and delivered by Breitburn or the General Partner, as the case may be, and will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of Breitburn or the General Partner, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and by general principles of equity.

 

Section 3.11          Approvals . Except as required by the Commission in connection with Breitburn’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, no permit, consent, approval, exemption, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification of or with any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Breitburn Entities of any of the Basic Documents or Breitburn’s issuance and sale of the Purchased Units, except as may be required under the Exchange Act, state securities Laws or “Blue Sky” Laws.

 

Section 3.12          Other Sales . Breitburn has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Series B Preferred Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

 

Section 3.13          Auditors . PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has certified certain consolidated financial statements of Breitburn included or incorporated by reference in the Breitburn SEC Documents, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to such entities as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

Section 3.14          Statistical Data . The statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Breitburn SEC Documents are based on or derived from sources that Breitburn believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

Section 3.15          Reserve Engineers . Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc., Schlumberger Technology Corporation and Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (collectively, the “ Reserve Engineers ”), whose reserve reports as of December 31, 2014 (the “ Reserve Reports ”) are, as of the date hereof, the independent engineers with respect to the Breitburn Entities; and the historical information underlying the estimates of the reserves of the Breitburn Entities supplied to the Reserve Engineers for purposes of preparing the Reserve Reports, including, without limitation, production volumes, sale prices for production, contractual pricing provisions under oil or gas sales or marketing contracts, costs of operations and development and working interest and net revenue information relating to ownership interests in properties, was true and correct in all material respects in accordance with customary industry practice on the date that each such Reserve Report was prepared.

 

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Section 3.16          Proved Reserves . Estimates of proved reserves and present values with respect to the Breitburn Entities for the year ended December 31, 2014, as described in the Breitburn SEC Documents, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X and Subpart 1200 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

Section 3.17          No Related Party Transactions . No relationship, direct or indirect, that would be required to be described in a registration statement of the Partnership pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, exists between or among any of the Breitburn Entities, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, unitholders, partners, members, customers or suppliers of any of the Breitburn Entities, on the other hand, that has not been described in the Breitburn SEC Documents.

 

Section 3.18          MLP Status . Breitburn has, for each taxable year beginning after March 23, 2006, during which Breitburn was in existence, met the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and been treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Breitburn expects to meet the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code for its taxable year, and to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the full calendar year, ending December 31, 2015.

 

Section 3.19          Insurance . The Breitburn Entities maintain or are entitled to the benefits of insurance from financially sound and reputable insurers covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate to protect them and their businesses in a commercially reasonable manner. None of the Breitburn Entities (i) has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that material capital improvements or other material expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in the Breitburn SEC Documents.

 

Section 3.20          Internal Controls . The Partnership maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Partnership’s principal executive and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and (ii) that interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Breitburn SEC Documents fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. There are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Partnership’s internal controls.

 

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Section 3.21          Books and Records; Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance .

 

(a)          Breitburn has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (to the extent required by and as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Breitburn in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is made known to Breitburn’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

(b)           Breitburn (i) makes and keeps books, records and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets and (ii) maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(c)          There is and has been no failure on the part of Breitburn and, to Breitburn’s knowledge, the General Partner’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

Section 3.22          XBRL Information . The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Breitburn SEC Documents fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

Section 3.23          Listing and Maintenance Requirements . The Common Units are listed on the NASDAQ, and Breitburn has not received any notice of delisting. The issuance and sale of the Purchased Units and the offer of the Common Units and issuance of such Common Units upon conversion of the Purchased Units does not contravene NASDAQ rules and regulations.

 

Section 3.24          Taxes .

 

(a)          Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the Breitburn Entities has prepared and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all Tax Returns required to be filed by any of them and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate, (ii) each of the Breitburn Entities has timely paid all Taxes that are required to be paid by any of them, (iii) there are no audits, examinations, investigations, actions, suits, claims or other proceedings in respect of Taxes pending or threatened in writing nor has any deficiency for any Tax been assessed by any Governmental Authority in writing against any Breitburn Entity, and (iv) all Taxes required to be withheld by any Breitburn Entity have been withheld and paid over to the appropriate Tax authority (except, in the case of this clause (iv) or clause (i) or (ii) above, with respect to matters contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established on Breitburn’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP). None of the Breitburn Entities has entered into any transaction that, as of the date of this Agreement, has been identified by the Internal Revenue Service in published guidance as a “listed transaction” as defined under Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

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(b)          As used in this Agreement, (i) “ Taxes ” means any and all domestic or foreign, federal, state, local or other taxes of any kind (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any Governmental Authority, including taxes on or with respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment, unemployment, social security, workers’ compensation or net worth, and taxes in the nature of excise, withholding, ad valorem or value added, and including any liability in respect of any items described above as a transferee or successor, pursuant to Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), or as an indemnitor, guarantor, surety or in a similar capacity under any Contract and (ii) “ Tax Return ” means any return, report or similar filing (including the attached schedules) filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes (and any amendments thereto), including any information return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated Taxes.

 

Section 3.25          Compliance with Laws; Environmental Laws; Pipeline Safety Laws; Permits; and Environmental Permits .

 

(a)          Neither Breitburn nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any Law applicable to Breitburn or its Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Breitburn and its Subsidiaries possess all Permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither Breitburn nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permit, except where such potential revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)          Each of the Breitburn Entities has such Permits as are necessary to own its properties and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Breitburn SEC Documents, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Breitburn SEC Documents and except for such Permits which, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Breitburn Entities has fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such Permits which are due to have been fulfilled and performed and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, subject in each case to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Breitburn SEC Documents; and, except as described in the Breitburn SEC Documents, none of such Permits contains any restriction that is materially burdensome to the Breitburn Entities, taken as a whole.

 

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(c)          The Breitburn Entities have timely applied for or obtained and are in compliance with all such obtained material Environmental Permits required for their operations as currently conducted, except as (i) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) have been disclosed in Breitburn SEC Documents. Breitburn has not received written notice of any pending action or proceeding and, to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, no action or proceeding is threatened, to suspend, revoke, modify or terminate any Environmental Permit held by the Breitburn Entities that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Breitburn Entities. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.25(c) , the operations of the Breitburn Entities are in compliance with all Environmental Laws and, to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, no occurrences or conditions currently exist that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Breitburn Entities’ continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, except as (i) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) have been disclosed in Breitburn SEC Documents. There are no present claims under Environmental Law asserted against any of the Breitburn Entities, including claims relating to the release, spill or disposal of any Hazardous Substances resulting from the operations of the Breitburn Entities, except as such claims (i) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) have been disclosed in Breitburn SEC Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.25(c) are the only representations and warranties relating to Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits.

 

(d)          Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.25(d) , the operations of the Breitburn Entities are in compliance with all Pipeline Safety Laws and, to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, no occurrences or conditions currently exist that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Breitburn Entities’ continued compliance with Pipeline Safety Laws, except as (i) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) have been disclosed in Breitburn SEC Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.25(d) are the only representations and warranties relating to Pipeline Safety Laws.

 

Section 3.26          Title to Property . Each of the Breitburn Entities has (i) good and defensible title to all of the oil and gas properties owned by the Breitburn Entities, (ii) good and marketable title to all other property owned by the Breitburn Entities and (iii) good title to all personal property owned by the Breitburn Entities, in each case, free and clear of all Liens, except (A) as described in the Breitburn SEC Documents, (B) Liens securing taxes and other governmental charges, or claims of materialmen, mechanics and similar persons, not yet due and payable, (C) Liens under oil and gas leases, options to lease, operating agreements, unitization and pooling agreements, participation and drilling concessions agreements and gas sales contracts, securing payment of amounts not yet due and payable and of a scope and nature customary in the oil and gas industry, (D) Liens arising under or permitted by the Breitburn Credit Facility and (E) Liens that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such properties, taken as a whole, or materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such properties, taken as a whole, by the Breitburn Entities; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Breitburn Entities are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property and buildings by the Breitburn Entities. All assets held under lease by the Breitburn Entities are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Breitburn Entities.

 

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Section 3.27          No Labor Disputes . No labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Breitburn Entities exists or, to the knowledge of Breitburn, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.28          Employee Benefit Plans . (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)), for which Breitburn or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code) would have any liability (each a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code except where the failure to so comply would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption other than such transactions as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither Breitburn nor any member of its Controlled Group sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the six-year period preceding the date of this Agreement sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA; and (iv) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to raise a material risk of the loss of such qualification. None of the Breitburn Entities maintains a “pension plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2)(A) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 312 of the Code.

 

Section 3.29          Form S-3 Eligibility . As of the Closing Date, Breitburn is eligible to register the resale of its Series B Preferred Units and Common Units for resale by the Purchasers under Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Section 3.30          No Price Stabilization . No Breitburn Entity has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of Breitburn or to facilitate the sale or resale of its securities.

 

Section 3.31          No Subsidiary Payment Restrictions . No subsidiary of Breitburn is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distribution to Breitburn, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests, from repaying to Breitburn any loans or advances to such subsidiary from Breitburn or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to Breitburn or any other subsidiary of Breitburn.

 

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Section 3.32          Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . None of the Breitburn Entities, and to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, no director, officer, agent or employee of the Breitburn Entities (in their capacity as director, officer, agent or employee) has violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Section 3.33          Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Breitburn Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Breitburn Entities with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, threatened.

 

Section 3.34          OFAC . None of the Breitburn Entities, or, to the knowledge of the Breitburn Entities, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Breitburn Entities, is in violation of any of the country or list based economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”). None of the Breitburn Entities (i) are currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC, (ii) have any assets located in a country or entity that is currently subject to U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or (iii) derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, persons or entities subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC. The Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASERS

 

Each of the Purchasers, severally but not jointly, represents, warrants and covenants to Breitburn as follows, except with respect to any representation and warranty that speaks solely to a specific Purchaser, which representation and warranty is made only by the Purchaser to which such representation and warranty speaks:

 

Section 4.01          Existence . Such Purchaser is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of formation, with all necessary power and authority to own properties and to conduct its business as currently conducted.

 

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Section 4.02          Authorization, Enforceability . Such Purchaser has all necessary legal power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under the Basic Documents. The execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents by such Purchaser and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary legal action, and no further consent or authorization of such Purchaser is required. The Basic Documents have been duly executed and delivered by such Purchaser and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Purchaser; provided that, the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity and except as the rights to indemnification may be limited by applicable law (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

Section 4.03          No Breach . The execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated thereby will not (a) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Purchaser is subject, (b) conflict with or result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of such Purchaser, or (c) violate any statute, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over such Purchaser or the property or assets of such Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (a) and (c), for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults as would not prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents.

 

Section 4.04          Certain Fees . No fees or commissions are or will be payable by such Purchaser to brokers, finders or investment bankers with respect to the purchase of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless Breitburn from and against any and all claims, demands or liabilities for broker’s, finder’s, placement, or other similar fees or commissions incurred by such Purchaser or alleged to have been incurred by such Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.05          Unregistered Securities .

 

(a)           Accredited Investor Status; Sophisticated Purchaser . Such Purchaser is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and is able to bear the risk of its investment in Purchased Units and the Conversion Units. Such Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the purchase of the Purchased Units and the Conversion Units.

 

(b)           Eligible Holder . Such Purchaser is an Eligible Holder (as defined in the Partnership Agreement).

 

(c)           Information . Such Purchaser and its Representatives have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of Breitburn that have been requested and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Purchased Units and Conversion Units that have been requested by such Purchaser. Such Purchaser and its Representatives have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of Breitburn. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted at any time by such Purchasers and its Representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Purchasers’ right (i) to rely on Breitburn’s representations and warranties contained in Article III above or (ii) to indemnification or any other remedy based on, or with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of, or compliance with, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in any Basic Document. Such Purchaser understands that its purchase of the Purchased Units involves a high degree of risk. Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Purchased Units.

 

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(d)           Residency . Such Purchaser shall cooperate reasonably with Breitburn to provide any information necessary for any applicable securities filings.

 

(e)           Legends . Such Purchaser understands that, until such time as the Purchased Units have been registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act, or the Purchased Units are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, or as provided in Section 6.13 , the Purchased Units will bear a restrictive legend as provided in the Partnership Agreement. Such Purchaser understands that, until such time as the Conversion Units have been registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act, or the Conversion Units are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, or as provided in Section 6.13 , the Conversion Units will bear a restrictive legend as provided in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(f)           Purchase Representation . Such Purchaser is purchasing the Purchased Units for its own account and not with a view to distribution in violation of any securities laws. Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that neither the Purchased Units nor the Conversion Units have been registered under the Securities Act or under the “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act (or if eligible, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act). Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that Breitburn, in issuing the Purchased Units, is relying upon, among other things, the representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in this Article IV in concluding that such issuance is a “private offering” and is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act.

 

(g)           Rule 144 . Such Purchaser understands that there is no public trading market for the Purchased Units, that none is expected to develop and that the Purchased Units must be held indefinitely unless and until Purchased Units or Conversion Units received upon conversion thereof are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available. Each Purchaser has been advised of and is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(h)           Reliance by Breitburn . Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units are being offered and sold in reliance on a transactional exemption from the registration requirements of federal and state securities laws and that Breitburn is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the applicability of such exemptions and the suitability of such Purchaser to acquire the Purchased Units and the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion thereof.

 

 

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Section 4.06          Short Selling . Such Purchaser has not engaged in any Short Sales involving Common Units owned by it between February 10, 2015 and the date of execution of this Agreement. Such Purchaser and its Affiliates shall not engage in any Short Sales involving Common Units until April 8, 2017.

 

Section 4.07          No Ownership of Breitburn Securities and No Hedging . As of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, (a) such Purchaser does not own Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units, or any other Breitburn securities, other than the Purchased Units and the 2020 Notes to be issued to such Purchaser on the Closing Date, and (b) is not engaged in, and has not engaged in, hedging transactions with respect to such securities.

 

Article V
INDEMNIFICATION, COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

Section 5.01          Indemnification by Breitburn . Breitburn agrees to indemnify each Purchaser and its Representatives (the “ Purchaser Related Parties ”) from costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), demands, and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, and promptly upon demand, pay or reimburse each of them for all costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them), whether or not involving a Third Party Claim, as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to (i) the failure of any of the representations or warranties made by Breitburn contained herein to be true and correct in all material respects as of the date made (except with respect to any provisions including the word “material,” Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import, with respect to which such representations and warranties must have been true and correct) or (ii) the breach of any covenants of Breitburn contained herein, provided that, in the case of the immediately preceding clause (i), such claim for indemnification is made prior to the expiration of such representation or warranty; provided, however, that for purposes of determining when an indemnification claim has been made, the date upon which a Purchaser Related Party shall have given notice (stating in reasonable detail the basis of the claim for indemnification) to Breitburn shall constitute the date upon which such claim has been made. No Purchaser Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential or punitive damages under this Section 5.01 ; provided, however, that such limitation shall not prevent any Purchaser Related Party from recovering under this Section 5.01 for any such damages to the extent that such damages (x) are in the form of diminution in value or (y) may be payable to a third party in connection with any Third Party Claims.

 

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Section 5.02          Indemnification by the Purchasers . Each Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify Breitburn, the General Partner and their respective Representatives (collectively, “ Breitburn Related Parties ”) from, costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), demands, and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, and promptly upon demand, pay or reimburse each of them for all costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them), whether or not involving a Third Party Claim, as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to (i) the failure of any of the representations or warranties made by such Purchaser contained herein to be true and correct in all material respects as of the date made or (ii) the breach of any of the covenants of such Purchaser contained herein, provided that, in the case of the immediately preceding clause (i), such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of any representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of such representation or warranty; provided , however , that for purposes of determining when an indemnification claim has been made, the date upon which a Breitburn Related Party shall have given notice (stating in reasonable detail the basis of the claim for indemnification) to such Purchaser shall constitute the date upon which such claim has been made; provided, further, that the liability of such Purchasers shall not be greater in amount than the sum of such Purchaser’s Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Price plus any distributions paid to the Purchaser with respect to the Purchased Units. No Breitburn Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential or punitive damages under this Section 5.02 ; provided , however , that such limitation shall not prevent any Breitburn Related Party from recovering under this Section 5.02 for any such damages (x) are in the form of diminution in value or (y) to the extent that such damages may be payable to a third party in connection with any Third Party Claims.

 

Section 5.03          Indemnification Procedure .

 

(a)          A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a Third Party Claim may be asserted by notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought; provided, however, that failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not preclude the indemnified party from any indemnification which it may claim in accordance with this Article V, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01 and Section 5.02 .

 

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(b)          Promptly after any Breitburn Related Party or Purchaser Related Party (hereinafter, the “ Indemnified Party ”) has received notice of any indemnifiable claim hereunder, or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by a third person, which the Indemnified Party believes in good faith is an indemnifiable claim under this Agreement (each a “ Third Party Claim ”), the Indemnified Party shall give the indemnitor hereunder (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) written notice of such Third Party Claim, but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure. Such notice shall state the nature and the basis of such Third Party Claim to the extent then known. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend and settle, at its own expense and by its own counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, any such matter. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend or settle, it shall promptly, and in no event later than ten (10) days, notify the Indemnified Party of its intention to do so, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in all commercially reasonable respects in the defense thereof and the settlement thereof. Such cooperation shall include, but shall not be limited to, furnishing the Indemnifying Party with any books, records and other information reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party and in the Indemnified Party’s possession or control. Such cooperation of the Indemnified Party shall be at the cost of the Indemnifying Party. After the Indemnifying Party has notified the Indemnified Party of its intention to undertake to defend or settle any such asserted liability, and for so long as the Indemnifying Party diligently pursues such defense, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any additional legal expenses incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with any defense or settlement of such asserted liability; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall be entitled (i) at its expense, to participate in the defense of such asserted liability and the negotiations of the settlement thereof and (ii) if (A) the Indemnifying Party has, within ten (10) Business Days of when the Indemnified Party provides written notice of a Third Party Claim, failed (y) to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party and (z) notify the Indemnified Party of such assumption or (B) if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Party or if the interests of the Indemnified Party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the Indemnifying Party, then 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 expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not settle any indemnified claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete release from liability of, and does not include any admission of wrongdoing or malfeasance by, the Indemnified Party. The remedies provided for in this Section 5.03 are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a party at law or in equity or otherwise.

 

Section 5.04          Tax Matters . All indemnification payments under this Article V shall be adjustments to the Purchase Price except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

Article VI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.01          MNPI Disclosure . Within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date, Breitburn will file a Current Report on Form 8-K and the applicable Basic Documents as exhibits thereto with the Commission with information relating to the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents.

 

Section 6.02          Certain Notification . The Partnership shall cause proper notifications regarding the listing of the Conversion Units to NASDAQ to be furnished to the Purchasers within 30 days after the Closing Date.

 

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Section 6.03          Expenses . Breitburn shall pay out of the proceeds received from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to each Lead Purchaser or its designee, the reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by such Lead Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents, including without limitation, legal, accounting, advisory and other reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses.

 

Section 6.04          Interpretation . Article, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are hereby incorporated and made a part hereof as if set forth in full herein and are an integral part of this Agreement. 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 Breitburn has an obligation under the Basic Documents, the expense of complying with that obligation shall be an expense of Breitburn unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement to $ shall mean U.S. dollars. Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Purchaser or the Lead Purchasers, as applicable, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s or the Lead Purchasers’, as applicable, sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in the Basic Documents is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable, (i) such provision shall be fully severable and the Basic Documents shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of the Basic Documents, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and (ii) the applicable parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify the Basic Documents 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 the Basic Documents, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. 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 provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, 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.

 

Section 6.05          Survival of Provisions . The representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.01(a), Section 3.02, Section 3.10, Section 3.11, Section 3.12, Section 4.01, Section 4.02, Section 4.04, Section 4.05 and Section 6.09 hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement indefinitely, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.16 shall survive for a period of three (3) years following the Closing Date, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Breitburn or the Purchasers and the other representations and warranties set forth herein shall survive for a period of fifteen (15) months following the Closing Date, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Breitburn or the Purchasers. The covenants made in this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall survive the Closing and remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of acceptance of any of the Purchased Units and payment therefor and repayment, conversion or repurchase thereof. Regardless of any purported general termination of this Agreement, the provisions of Article V and all indemnification rights and obligations of Breitburn and the Purchasers thereunder, and this Article VI shall remain operative and in full force and effect as between Breitburn and each Purchaser, unless Breitburn and the applicable Purchaser execute a writing that expressly (with specific references to the applicable Section or subsection of this Agreement) terminates such rights and obligations as between Breitburn and such Purchaser.

 

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Section 6.06          Termination . In the event the Closing Date does not occur by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2015 Houston, Texas time (the “ Drop Dead Date ”), this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect, except Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 , Section 6.06 , Section 6.08 , Section 6.10 , Section 6.13 and Section 6.14 which shall survive termination.

 

Section 6.07          No Waiver; Modifications in Writing .

 

(a)           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.

 

(b)           Specific Waiver . Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification or termination of any provision of any Basic Document (except in the case of the Partnership Agreement for amendments adopted pursuant to Article XIII thereof) shall be effective unless signed by each of the parties thereto affected by such amendment, waiver, consent, modification or termination. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of any Basic Document, any waiver of any provision of any Basic Document and any consent to any departure by Breitburn from the terms of any provision of any Basic Document 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 Breitburn in any case shall entitle Breitburn 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.

 

Section 6.08          Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon Breitburn, the Purchasers and its successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

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Section 6.09          Confidentiality . For the Confidentiality Period, no Purchaser shall, directly or indirectly, disclose to any person any confidential information received from the Breitburn Entities, their Affiliates or their Representatives in any form, whether acquired prior to or after the Closing Date, relating to the Breitburn Entities; provided, however, that the term “confidential information” does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than (a) as a result of a disclosure by the Purchaser in violation of this Agreement or (b) in violation of a confidentiality obligation owed to the Breitburn Entities and known to the Purchaser, (ii) is or becomes available to the Purchaser on a non-confidential basis from a source not known to have an obligation of confidentiality to the Breitburn Entities, (iii) was already known to the Purchaser at the time of disclosure, or (iv) is independently developed by the Purchaser without reference to any Confidential Information disclosed to the Board Observer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Purchaser may disclose any such confidential information (i) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, advisory committee members, investment committee members, limited partners, investors and legal counsel (the “Permitted Recipients”) to whom such disclosure is necessary and who in each case either (1) acknowledge that they are bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement or (2) are bound by confidentiality obligations to the Purchaser or its Affiliates that are at least as stringent as the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement, and in each case the Purchasers shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Permitted Recipients to keep any such information confidential; (ii) to any transferee or proposed transferee of the Purchased Units permitted under the Partnership Agreement; (iii) as required by applicable Law or any securities exchange or market rule; (iv) as may be requested or required by any Governmental Authority (provided that such Purchaser first, to the extent legally permissible, notifies Breitburn and gives Breitburn the opportunity to contest such request or requirement, in each case as permitted by applicable Law; or (v) except with prior notice of such request for disclosure to, and consent of, Breitburn (which consent may be withheld in Breitburn’s sole discretion). As used in this Agreement, “ Confidentiality Period ” shall mean (i) when used with regard to EIG, the period from the date of this Agreement through the Standstill Termination Date (as defined in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement), (ii) when used with regard to Anchorage, the period from the Closing Date through the date that is eighteen months from the last date that Anchorage received confidential information, and (iii) when used with regard to the Guggenheim Purchasers, the period from the Closing Date through the date that is eighteen months from the last date that the Guggenheim Purchasers received confidential information. At the Closing, that certain letter agreement by and between EIG Management Company, LLC and the General Partner, dated as of January 26, 2015 (the “EIG Confidentiality Agreement”), and that certain letter agreement by and between Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. and the General Partner, dated as of March 2, 2015 (together with the EIG Confidentiality Agreement, the “Confidentiality Agreements”) shall each terminate and shall have no further force and effect, except that no party to the Confidentiality Agreements shall be relieved or released from liability for damages arising out of a breach of the Confidentiality Agreements before such respective terminations .

 

Section 6.10          Communications . All notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopy, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or personal delivery to the following addresses

 

(a)          If to the Purchasers:

 

EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP

 

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c/o EIG Management Company, LLC
1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, Senior Vice President
Telephone: (202) 600-3309
Email: wdc@eigpartners.com

 

ACMO BBEP Corp.
c/o Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C.
610 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Attn: Legal
Facsimile: 212-426-4601
Email: legal@anchoragecap.com and ops@anchoragecap.com

 

Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facsimile: 212-644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

EIG Management Company, LLC
Three Allen Center
333 Clay Street, Suite 3500
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Clayton Taylor, Managing Director
Telephone: (713) 615-7423
Email: clay.taylor@eigpartners.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Richa rd Aftanas and John Pitts
Email: richard.aftanas@kirkland.com and john.pitts@kirkland.com

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
4 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Ken Ziman
Facsimile: (917) 777-3310
Email: ken.ziman@skadden.com

 

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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Michelle Gasaway
Facsimile: (213) 621-5122
Email: michelle.gasaway@skadden.com

 

(b)          If to Breitburn:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP
515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attention: Gregory C. Brown

 

Facsimile: 213-225-5916
Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins LLP
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10103
Attention: Shelley A. Barber
Facsimile: 917-849-5353
Email: sbarber@velaw.com

 

or to such other address as Breitburn or the Purchasers may designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; upon actual receipt if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; upon actual receipt of the overnight courier copy, if sent via facsimile; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Section 6.11          Removal of Legend . In connection with a sale of the Purchased Units by a Purchaser in reliance on Rule 144, the applicable Purchaser or its broker shall deliver to the transfer agent and Breitburn a broker representation letter providing to the transfer agent and Breitburn any information Breitburn deems necessary to determine that the sale of the Purchased Units is made in compliance with Rule 144, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the Purchaser is not an affiliate of Breitburn and regarding the length of time the Purchased Units have been held. Upon receipt of such representation letter, Breitburn shall promptly direct its transfer agent to remove the notation of a restrictive legend in such Purchaser’s or the book-entry account maintained by the transfer agent, including the legend referred to in Section 4.05 , and Breitburn shall bear all costs associated therewith. At such time as the Purchased Units have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or have been held by any Purchaser for more than one year if that Purchaser is not, and has not been in the preceding three months, an affiliate of Breitburn (as defined in Rule 144), if the book-entry account or Certificate of such Purchased Units still bears the notation of the restrictive legend referred to in Section 4.05 , Breitburn agrees, upon request of the Purchaser or permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the legend described in Section 4.05 from the Purchased Units, and Breitburn shall bear all costs associated therewith, regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as such Purchaser or its permitted assigns provide to Breitburn any information Breitburn deems reasonably necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state laws, including (if there is no such registration statement) a certification that the holder is not an affiliate of Breitburn (and a covenant to inform Breitburn if it should thereafter become an affiliate and to consent to the notation of an appropriate restriction) and regarding the length of time the Purchased Units have been held. Breitburn shall cooperate with such Purchaser to effect the removal of the legend referred to in Section 4.05 at any time such legend is no longer appropriate.

 

33
 

 

Section 6.12          Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the other Basic Documents and the other agreements and documents referred to herein are 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 and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or the other Basic Documents with respect to the rights granted by Breitburn or any of its Affiliates or the Purchasers or any of their respective Affiliates set forth herein or therein. This Agreement, the other Basic Documents and the other agreements and documents referred to herein or therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

Section 6.13          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 New York 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 New York, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of New York 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 such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

 

Section 6.14          Waiver of Jury Trial . THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH 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. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH 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.

 

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Section 6.15          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 but one and the same agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

 

35
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
  By:  Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
     
  By: /s/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

Accepted:  
   
EIG REDWOOD EQUITY AGGREGATOR, LP  
     
By: EIG Redwood Aggregator GP, LLC, its general partner  
     
By: EIG Asset Management, LLC, its sole member  
     
By: /s/ Clayton Taylor  
  Name: Clayton Taylor  
  Title:  Managing Director  
     
By: /s/ Richard Punches  
  Name: Richard Punches  
  Title: Managing Director  

 

 
 

 

ACMO BBEP CORP.  
   
By: Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., as investment manager
     
By: /s/ Daniel Allen  
Name: Daniel Allen  
Title: Senior Portfolio Manager  

 

As tax nominee for Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. and ACMO BBEP, L.P.

 

 
 

 

MIDLAND NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
NORTH AMERICAN COMPANY FOR LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
SEI INSTITUTIONAL MANAGED TRUST - MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Sub-Adviser  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
GUGGENHEIM FUNDS TRUST - GUGGENHEIM MACRO OPPORTUNITIES FUND  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Investment Adviser  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  

 

 
 

 

MAVERICK ENTERPRISES, INC.  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Investment Manager  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
CAREY CREDIT INCOME FUND  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Sub-Advisor  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
NZC GUGGENHEIM FUND LLC  
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Manager  
     
By: /s/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  

 

 
 

 

Schedule A

 

Purchaser   Series B Preferred
Units
    Series B Preferred Unit
Purchase Price
 
EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP     35,000,000     $ 262,500,000.00  
ACMO BBEP Corp., as tax nominee for Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. and ACMO BBEP, L.P.     8,166,666     $ 61,250,000.00  
Midland National Life Insurance Company     1,259,999     $ 9,449,992.50  
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance     653,334     $ 4,900,005.00  
SEI Institutional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund     58,333     $ 437,497.50  
Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund     361,667     $ 2,712,502.50  
Maverick Enterprises, Inc.     46,667     $ 350,002.50  
Carey Credit Income Fund     233,333     $ 1,749,997.50  
NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC     886,667     $ 6,650,002.50  
Total:     46,666,666     $ 350,000,000.00  

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF OPINION OF VINSON & ELKINS LLP

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). Breitburn shall furnish to the Purchasers at the Closing an opinion of Vinson & Elkins LLP, counsel for Breitburn, addressed to the Purchasers and dated the Closing Date in form satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers, stating that:

 

(i)          Each of Breitburn, the General Partner, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Management Company LLC, Breitburn Operating GP LLC, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Sawtelle LLC, Breitburn Florida LLC, Breitburn Oklahoma LLC, Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC, Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P., Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, QR Energy, LP, QRE GP, LLC and QRE Operating, LLC (the “ Delaware Entities ”) has been duly formed and is validly existing and is in good standing as a limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, under the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act or the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “ DGCL ”). Each of the Delaware Entities has full limited liability company, limited partnership or corporate power and authority, as applicable, necessary to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business, in each case in all material respects as described in the Breitburn SEC Documents. Each of the Delaware Entities is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign limited partnership, foreign limited liability company or foreign corporation, as applicable, in each jurisdiction as set forth on Annex 1 to this opinion.

 

(ii)         Except as identified in the Purchase Agreement or provided for in the Partnership Agreement, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of any equity securities of the Partnership pursuant to the Partnership Agreement or any other agreement or instrument listed on Annex 2 to this opinion. To such counsel’s knowledge, the offering, issuance or sale of the Series B Preferred Units or the Conversion Units (as defined below) as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement does not give rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Series B Preferred Units or other securities of Breitburn other than rights which have been waived and other than rights as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, QR Holdings (QRE), LLC, QR Energy Holdings, LLC, Quantum Resources A1, LP, Quantum Resources B, LP, Quantum Resources C, LP, QAB Carried WI, LP, QAC Carried WI, LP and Black Diamond Resources, LLC, dated as of July 23, 2014.

 

(iii)        The Purchased Units to be issued and sold by Breitburn to the Purchasers and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

 

Exhibit A- 1
 

 

(iv)        The [●] Common Units initially issuable upon conversion of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement (the “Conversion Units”) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Partnership under the Delaware LP Act and, when issued upon conversion of the Purchased Units in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(v)         No authorization, consent, approval, waiver, license, qualification, filing, declaration, qualification or registration with, any Governmental Authority is required for the issuance and sale by Breitburn of the Purchased Units or the Conversion Units, the execution, delivery and performance by the Breitburn of the Basic Documents, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any of such agreements, except (i) as may be required in connection with Breitburn’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to register the resale of the Purchased Units and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Purchased Units under the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) those that have been obtained, (iii) as may be required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or (iv) as may be required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, as to which we do not express any opinion.

 

(vi)        Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers and Breitburn contained in the Purchase Agreement, the offer, issuance and sale of the Series B Preferred Units and the Conversion Units by Breitburn to the Purchasers solely in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided that we express no opinion as to any subsequent sale.

 

(vii)       Breitburn is not and, immediately after giving effect to the offering, issuance and sale by Breitburn of the Purchased Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(viii)      None of the offering, issuance and sale by Breitburn of the Series B Preferred Units or the Conversion Units or the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents by Breitburn or the General Partner or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will (i) conflict with or constitute a violation of the organizational documents of any of the Delaware Entities, (ii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under any document listed on Annex 2 to this opinion, (iii) violate the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act or federal law (collectively, the “ Included Laws ”), (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the Delaware Entities, which breach, violation, default or lien, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of any of the Breitburn Entities to perform their obligations under the Basic Documents; provided, however, that no opinion as to securities law is expressed in relation to the preceding clause (iii).

 

Exhibit A- 2
 

 

(ix)         Each of the Basic Documents has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and is a valid and legally binding agreement of such parties thereto, enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with their respective terms; provided, that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (A) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in effect affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such principles are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

Exhibit A- 3
 

 

Annex 1

 

Delaware Entities Foreign Qualifications
   
Breitburn Energy Partners LP Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
   
Breitburn Finance Corporation California
   
Breitburn Management Company LLC Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming
   
Breitburn GP LLC California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas Wyoming
   
Breitburn Operating GP LLC Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
   
Breitburn Operating LP Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
   
Breitburn Sawtelle LLC California
   
Breitburn Florida LLC Florida
   
Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC Michigan

 

Exhibit A- 4
 

 

Breitburn Oklahoma LLC Oklahoma
   
Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
   
Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
   
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P. New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
   
QR Energy, LP Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
   
QRE GP, LLC Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
   
QRE Operating, LLC Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

 

Exhibit A- 5
 

 

Annex 2

 

1) Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement dated May 8, 2012 by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn GP, LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Company L.P. and BreitBurn Management Company, LLC (Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q filed on August 8, 2012), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement, dated March 18, 2014, between Pacific Coast Energy Company LP and Breitburn Management Company LLC (Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on March 20, 2014), as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to the Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement, dated June 30, 2014 , between Pacific Coast Energy Company LP and Breitburn Management Company LLC (Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2014), as further amended by Amendment No. 3 to the Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 31, 2014, between Pacific Coast Energy Company LP and Breitburn Management Company LLC (Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2014), and as further amended by Amendment No. 4 to the Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement, dated August 29, 2014, between Pacific Coast Energy Company LP and Breitburn Management Company LLC (Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2014).

 

2) Omnibus Agreement, dated August 26, 2008, by and among BreitBurn Energy Holdings LLC, BEC (GP) LLC, BreitBurn Energy Company L.P., BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Management Company, LLC and BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on September 2, 2008).

 

3) First Amendment to Omnibus Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2012, by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Management Company, LLC, Pacific Coast Energy Company L.P., Pacific Coast Energy Holdings LLC and PCEC (GP) (LLC) (Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q filed on August 8, 2012).

 

4) Indenture, dated as of October 6, 2010, by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2010), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 8, 2013, by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. National Bank Association, to the Indenture dated as of October 6, 2010 (Exhibit 4.3 to Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2013) and by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2014, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (Exhibit 4.8 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on of November 24, 2014).

 

5) Indenture, dated as of January 13, 2012, by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2012), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 8, 2013, by and among BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. National Bank Association (Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2013) and by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2014, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (Exhibit 4.9 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on of November 24, 2014).

 

Exhibit A- 6
 

 

6) Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated November 19, 2014, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, as borrower, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as parent guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2014), as amended by the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April [8], 2015, by and among Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Energy Partners LP, BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Operating GP, LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, the lenders signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders.

 

7) Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 23, 2014, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, QR Holdings (QRE), LLC, QR Energy Holdings, LLC, Quantum Resources B, LP, Quantum Resources A1, LP, Quantum Resources C, LP, QAB Carried WI, LP, QAC Carried WI, LP and Black Diamond Resources, LLC (Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed by QR Energy, LP on July 29, 2014).

 

8) Indenture, dated as of April [8], 2015, by and among the Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent, entered into in connection with the issuance of the $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2020.

 

9) Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of April [8], 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and the purchasers listed on Schedule I thereto, entered into in connection with the issuance of the $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2020.

 

10) Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April [8], 2015, by and among U.S. Bank National Association, as the collateral agent for the 9.25% Senior Notes due 2020, the collateral agent under the credit facility and acknowledged by the Breitburn entities party thereto.

 

11) Security Agreement, dated as of April [8], 2015, by and among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operating LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as the collateral agent.

 

Exhibit A- 7
 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF OPINION OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF BREITBURN GP LLC

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). Breitburn shall furnish to the Purchasers at the Closing an opinion of Gregory C. Brown, the General Partner’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, addressed to the Purchasers and dated the Closing Date in form satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers, stating that:

 

(i)          None of (i) the offering and sale by Breitburn of the Purchased Units, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby by each of Breitburn and the General Partner party thereto and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units, by Breitburn and the General Partner conflicts with, or, results in a breach, default (and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute such an event) or violation of, or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Breitburn Entities pursuant to (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument known to me (excluding any agreements or instruments listed on Annex 2 to Exhibit A of this Agreement) to which any of the Breitburn Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties may be bound, or (ii) any order, judgment, decree or injunction known to me of any court or governmental agency or body to which any of the Breitburn Entities or any of their properties is subject, which conflict, breach, default, violation or lien could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of either Breitburn or the General Partner to perform their obligations under the Agreement.

 

Exhibit B- 1
 

 

EXHIBIT C


FORM OF BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit C- 1
 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

THIS BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT , dated as of April [●], 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Breitburn Entities ”) and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Purchaser ”). The Breitburn Entities and the Purchaser are herein referred to as the “ Parties. ” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement (as defined below).

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Partnership and the Purchaser, the Partnership has agreed to issue and sell Series B Preferred Units to the Purchaser;

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Parties to enter into the transactions evidenced by the Purchase Agreement, each of the Parties is required to deliver this Agreement, duly executed by each of the Parties, contemporaneously with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing ”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with or prior to the Closing, the General Partner executed and delivered the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “ Partnership Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser’s investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is expected to benefit the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser will receive valuable consideration as a result of the investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”), on behalf of 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 the Partnership to provide the Purchaser with certain observation and designation rights in respect of the Board, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser believes it to be in its best interest to provide the Breitburn 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 as follows:

 

 
 

 

Agreement

 

Section 1.             Board Observation Rights .

 

(a)          During the period commencing upon the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date (as defined below), the Breitburn Entities shall grant the Purchaser the option and right, exercisable by the Purchaser’s delivering a written notice signed by the Purchaser of such appointment to the Breitburn Entities (the “ Observer Notice ”), to appoint a single representative, and an alternate to the representative (each, the “ Board Observer ”) to attend all meetings (including telephonic) of the Board and each committee of the Board (other than the Conflicts Committee) in an observer capacity. The Observer Notice shall be delivered to the Breitburn Entities prior to the Board Observer’s attendance at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof. The Board Observer shall not constitute a member of the Board or any committee thereof and shall not be entitled to vote on, or consent to, any matters presented to the Board or any committee thereof. The initial Board Observer shall be Clayton Taylor, and his initial alternate shall be Richard K. Punches.

 

(b)          The Breitburn Entities shall (i) give the Board Observer written notice of each meeting or action taken by written consent at the same time and in the same manner as notice is given to the members of the Board, (ii) provide the Board Observer with copies of all written materials and other information (including copies of minutes of meetings or written consents of the Board and each committee of the Board (other than the Conflicts Committee) given to the members of the Board and each such committee in connection with such meetings or actions taken by written consent) at the same time such materials and information are furnished to such members of the Board and each such committee, and (iii) provide the Board Observer with the same right to attend (whether in person or by telephone or other means of electronic communication as solely determined by the Board Observer) such meetings as is given to a member of the Board or each such committee, as applicable. The Board Observer shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information and proceedings of the Board and any committee of the Board and to enter into, comply with, and be bound by, in all respects, the terms and conditions of a confidentiality agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”). Purchaser shall be responsible for any breach by the Board Observer of the Confidentiality Agreement and for the breach by any Permitted Recipient (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) of their confidentiality obligations. Notwithstanding any rights to be granted or provided to the Board Observer hereunder, the Board, the Board’s chairman, or any Board committee chairman (as to the material or meeting of that committee) may exclude the Board Observer from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof.

 

2
 

 

 

(c)          The rights of the Purchaser contained in this Section 1 and Section 2 shall immediately cease and terminate on the earlier of (i) the Series B Voting Termination Date (unless such Series B Voting Termination Date is solely the result of the conversion of Purchased Units (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) into Common Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement) or (ii) on or after the initial conversion of Series B Preferred Units held by the Series B Purchasers pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the date on which the Series B Purchasers no longer own (A) Common Units issued in respect of any such conversion or any prior conversion and (B) Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis (based on the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect) that, together, are equal in number to seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) or more of the total number of outstanding Common Units (counting for this purpose in the denominator used to calculate such percentage, all outstanding Series B Preferred Units as though they were outstanding Common Units based on the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect), regardless of whether such failure to own such number of Common Units results from sales by the Series B Purchasers, dilution as the result of new issuances by the Partnership, or otherwise (such earlier date, the “ Board Rights Termination Date ”); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances shall the Board Rights Termination Date be deemed to have occurred so long as the Series B Purchasers continue to beneficially own, solely among the Series B Purchasers, the majority of the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date plus a majority of the PIK Units, if any, paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date. From and after the Board Rights Termination Date, the rights of the Purchaser in this Section 1 and Section 2 shall cease.

 

Section 2.             Board Designation Rights .

 

(a)          During the period commencing upon the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date, the Breitburn Entities shall grant the Purchaser the option and right, exercisable by the Purchaser’s delivering a written notice signed by the Purchaser, to designate one person to serve as a Director on the Board (the “ Purchaser Designated Director ”); provided, however , that such Purchaser Designated Director shall, in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner, (i) have the requisite skill and experience to serve as a director of a public company, (ii) not be prohibited from serving as a Director pursuant to any rule or regulation of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership’s Common Units are listed or admitted to trading, and (iii) not be an employee or director of any Competitor (as defined below); and provided , further , that as a condition precedent to service on the Board, the Purchaser Designated Director shall deliver to the Board his or her written resignation from the Board that the Board or its chairman may, in the Board’s or the chairman’s sole discretion, accept and make effective at any time on or after the Board Rights Termination Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Competitor ” shall mean any person or entity that (a) is an operating company (and not a person or entity, the primary business purpose of which is to operate energy assets in the upstream energy sector; it being agreed that “ Competitor ” shall not include any company the primary business purpose of which is to provide financing directly or indirectly to unaffiliated entities, whether or not engaged in the upstream energy sector) and (b) engages in the upstream energy business or otherwise provides similar services or engages in a similar business as the Partnership. The Breitburn Entities shall take all actions necessary or advisable to effect the first sentence of this Section 2(a), including contemporaneously with or immediately following the Closing to increase the size of the Board by one Director and to appoint the Purchaser Designated Director as a Class III Director, to serve an initial term that expires no earlier than the annual meeting of the Unitholders to be held in 2017. The initial Purchaser Designated Director is Kurt Talbot. The Purchaser agrees upon the Partnership’s request to, and to cause the Purchaser Designated Director to, timely provide the Partnership with accurate and complete information relating to the Purchaser Designated Director as may be required to be disclosed by the Partnership under the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Purchaser further agrees to cause the Purchaser Designated Director to comply with the Section 16 filing obligations under the Securities Exchange Act. At each applicable election of Directors, the Board shall nominate the Purchaser Designated Director, which designee must meet the standards set forth above, as part of the slate of Directors nominated by the Board for election by the Unitholders and shall recommend that the Unitholders vote for the Purchaser Designated Director. Additionally, in the event of the resignation, death, or removal (for cause or otherwise) of the Purchaser Designated Director, the Purchaser shall have the right to designate the person to be appointed by the Board as the Purchaser Designated Director to fill the resulting vacancy (subject to such designee meeting the standards set forth above). Any action by the Purchaser to designate a Purchaser Designated Director shall be evidenced in writing furnished to the Breitburn Entities and shall be executed by the Purchaser. While serving as a Purchaser Designated Director, a Purchaser Designated Director shall be entitled to compensation commensurate with that of an independent member of the Board and reimbursed for reasonable expenses consistent with the General Partner’s policies applicable to other non-employee directors.

 

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(b)          The option and right to appoint a Board Observer or Purchaser Designated Director granted to the Purchaser by the Partnership under Section 1 and this Section 2 , respectively, may not be transferred or assigned by the Purchaser, provided , however , that the Purchaser may assign all (but not less than all) of its rights under Section 1 and Section 2 to any of its Affiliates with the prior written consent of the Partnership, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such a permitted assignee, upon and after such consent, shall be considered the Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

(c)          On the Board Rights Termination Date, the rights of the Purchaser under this Section 2 , including the right to designate a Purchaser Designated Director, shall automatically terminate. In addition to the obligation in Section 2(a) of each Purchaser Designated Director to deliver the written resignation described therein, on and after the Board Rights Termination Date, the Purchaser agrees, promptly upon (and in any event within two (2) Business Days following) receipt of a written request from the Partnership, to cause the Purchaser Designated Director then serving as a member of the Board to resign from the Board effective immediately.

 

Section 3.             Limitation of Liability; Indemnification; Business Opportunities .

 

(a)          At all times while the Purchaser Designated Director is serving as a member of the Board, and following any such Purchaser Designated Director’s death, resignation, removal or other cessation as a director in such former Purchaser Designated Director’s capacity as a former director, the Purchaser 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)          For the avoidance of doubt, the Board Observer shall have (i) no fiduciary duty to the Breitburn Entities or to any Limited Partner and (ii) no obligations to the Breitburn Entities under this Agreement, except as described in Section 1 of this Agreement, or to any Limited Partner.

 

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(c)          At all times while the Board Observer is serving in such capacity in accordance with Section 1 of this Agreement, such Board Observer, the Purchaser and its 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 Breitburn Entities, and the Breitburn Entities, the Board and their Affiliates shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Breitburn Entities, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of the Board Observer, the Purchaser or its respective Affiliates shall be obligated to present any investment opportunity to the Breitburn Entities even if such opportunity is of a character that the Breitburn Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries 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 Board Observer, the Purchaser or its respective Affiliates shall have the right to take for such person’s own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such investment opportunity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board Observer shall be subject to, and comply with, the requirement to maintain confidential information pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d)          The Breitburn Entities shall purchase and maintain (or reimburse the Purchaser Designated Director for the cost of) insurance (“ D&O Insurance ”), on behalf of the Purchaser Designated Director, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Purchaser Designated Director in connection with the Breitburn Entities’ activities or such Purchaser Designated Director’s activities on behalf of the Breitburn Entities, regardless of whether the Breitburn Entities would have the power to indemnify such Purchaser Designated Director against such liability under the provisions of the Partnership Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time) or the GP LLC Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time). Such D&O Insurance shall provide coverage commensurate with that of an independent member of the Board.

 

Section 4.             Purchaser’s Voting Obligations .

 

(a)          Purchaser agrees that, during the Voting Period, at any meeting of the Unitholders, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the Unitholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the Unitholders is sought solely with respect to the matters described in this Section 4. Purchaser shall vote (or cause to be voted) or execute (or cause to be executed) consents with respect to, as applicable, all of the Units owned (beneficially or of record) by the Series B Purchasers as of the applicable record date (i) in favor of (FOR) the election of the persons named in the Partnership’s proxy statement as the Board’s nominees for election as directors, and against any other nominees and (ii) in favor of (FOR) the adoption of or amendment to any equity-based compensation plans presented by the Board for Unitholder vote that is similar with respect to amount and types of awards for long-term incentive plans of publicly traded upstream oil and gas companies.

 

(b)          With respect to any vote of the Unitholders held during the Voting Period with respect to the matters set forth in Section 4(a), the Purchaser shall, and shall cause the other Series B Purchasers on any applicable record date to, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all of the Units held by the Series B Purchasers to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. Any vote required to be cast or consent required to be executed pursuant to this Section 4 shall be cast or executed in accordance with the applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of recording the results of that vote or consent.

 

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(c)           “ Voting Period ” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including the annual meeting of Unitholders to elect Directors to the Board that is held in 2017 (including any adjournments and postponements thereof).

 

(d)          In addition, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date, with respect to any proposal to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, vote (or give consents for) a proportion of their Series B Preferred Units and Common Units in favor of removal that exceeds the proportion of (i) the Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as-converted basis consistent with Section 17.5(a) of the Partnership Agreement) voted in favor of such proposal by the Unitholders other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates as compared to (ii) all Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as-converted basis consistent with Section 17.5(a) of the Partnership Agreement) held by the Unitholders other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates.

 

Section 5.             Standstill .

 

(a)          During the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          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, other than as recommended by the Board);

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis), provided that, the foregoing shall not prohibit or apply to the receipt of any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and such PIK Units shall not be taken into account for purposes of establishing compliance with the foregoing;

 

(iii)        acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 5(c)(v), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iv)        call a special meeting of the Unitholders; or

 

(v)         propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or, other than in accordance with Section 4(d) of this Agreement, vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

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(b)          Specifically, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, without the prior written consent of the Board, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis) provided that, the foregoing shall not prohibit or apply to the receipt of any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and such PIK Units shall not be taken into account for purposes of establishing compliance with the foregoing;

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 5(c)(v), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iii)        propose to enter into, directly or indirectly, any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or their properties, except as permitted hereby;

 

(iv)        make or in any way participate in any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act) or written consents to vote, seek to influence, or advise others with respect to the voting of any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(v)         form, join or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) with respect to any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(vi)        act to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Partnership, except through the Purchaser Designated Director or as permitted by Section 5(c) of this Agreement;

 

(vii)       propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or, other than in accordance with Section 4(d) of this Agreement, vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

(viii)      publicly disclose any intent, plan or arrangement inconsistent with this Agreement; or

 

(ix)         advise, assist or encourage others in connection with the above.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 , the foregoing provisions shall not, and are not intended to:

 

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(i)          prohibit the Purchaser or its Affiliates from privately communicating with, including making any offer or proposal to, the Board;

 

(ii)         restrict in any manner how the Purchaser or its Affiliates vote their Common Units or Series B Preferred Units, except as provided in Section 2(a) and Section 4 ;

 

(iii)        restrict the manner in which the Purchaser Designated Director (A) may vote on any matter submitted to the Board or the Unitholders, (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)        restrict the Purchaser or its Affiliates from selling or transferring any of their Partnership Securities to any Affiliate or successor of the Purchaser that agrees to be bound by the provisions contained in this Agreement;

 

(v)         prohibit portfolio companies that are Affiliates of the Purchaser from purchasing products or services or operating assets sold by the Partnership or its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business, provided that the aggregate purchase price of such products, services and operating assets in any transaction or series of related transactions is equal to or less than $25 million; or

 

(vi)        restrict the Purchaser or its Affiliates from receiving any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.

 

(d)          “ Standstill Termination Date ” means the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the Board Rights Termination Date and (ii) the later of (A) the third anniversary of this Agreement or (B) the first anniversary of the date on which both the Purchaser Designated Director has resigned from the Board and the Purchaser has permanently waived and renounced the Purchaser’s Board observation rights and Board designation rights in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.             Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) 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 with respect to 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 Breitburn Entities or any of their Affiliates or the Purchaser 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 demands provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

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If to the Breitburn Parties:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP
515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800
Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

and

 

Breitburn GP LLC

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800
Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins LLP
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103
Attention: Shelley A. Barber

 

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

 

If to the Purchaser:

 

c/o EIG Management Company, LLC

1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800 

Washington, DC 20006

Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, Senior Vice President 

Telephone: (202) 600-3309

Email: wdc@eigpartners.com 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

EIG Management Company, LLC 

Three Allen Center

333 Clay Street, Suite 3500

 

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Houston, TX 77002 

Attention: Clayton Taylor, Managing Director

Telephone: (713) 615-7423

Email: clay.taylor@eigpartners.com 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Richard Aftanas and John Pitts

 

Email: richard.aftanas@kirkland.com and john.pitts@kirkland.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.

 

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(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 agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. 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.

 

(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.

 

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(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. 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; Termination . This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but, subject to Section 2(b) , will not be assignable or delegable by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of each of the other Parties. This Agreement shall terminate on the later of the Board Rights Termination Date, the expiration of the Voting Period, and the Standstill Termination Date, except that the provisions of Section 6 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and except that no party to this Agreement shall be relieved or released from liability for damages arising out of a breach of this Agreement before such termination.

 

(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. Further, each Party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

 

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(k)           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.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
   
  By:  
  Name: Halbert S. Washburn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     

 

  PARTNERSHIP
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
   
   
  By:  Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
   
  By:  
  Name: Halbert S. Washburn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  PURCHASER:
   
  EIG REDWOOD EQUITY AGGREGATOR, LP
   
  By: EIG Redwood Aggregator GP, LLC, its general partner
   
  By: EIG Asset Management, LLC, its sole member
   
  By:  
  Name: Clayton Taylor
  Title: Managing Director
   
  By:
  Name: Richard Punches
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Board Representation And Standstill Agreement

 

 
 

 

Annex A

 

FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

 

[●], 20[●]

 

Breitburn GP LLC

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 S. Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

 

Attn:_________________

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(b) of that certain Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of March [●], 2015 (the “ Board Representation and Standstill Agreement ”), by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Breitburn Entities ”), and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Purchaser ”), the Purchaser has exercised its right to appoint the undersigned as an [observer/alternate to an observer] (the “ Board Observer ”) to the board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”), although the individual serving as the Board Observer may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement and upon such other new individual’s signing a confidentiality agreement in substantially the form hereof. The Board Observer acknowledges that at the meetings of the Board and its committees and at other times, the Board Observer may be provided with and otherwise have access to non-public information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein, shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement. In consideration for and as a condition to the Breitburn Entities furnishing access to such information, the Board Observer hereby agrees to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter agreement (the “ Agreement ”):

 

1.          As used in this Agreement, subject to Paragraph 3 below, “ Confidential Information ” means any and all non-public financial or other non-public information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates that may hereafter be disclosed to the Board Observer by the Breitburn Entities, their Affiliates or by any of their directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors or other representatives (including financial advisors, accountants or legal counsel) (the “ Representatives ”) of the Breitburn Entities, including all notices, minutes, consents, materials, ideas or other information (to the extent constituting information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates that is non-public financial or other non-public information) provided to the Board Observer.

 

Annex A- 1
 

 

2.          Except to the extent permitted by this Paragraph 2 or by Paragraph 3 or Paragraph 4 below, the Board Observer shall keep such Confidential Information strictly confidential; provided , that the Board Observer may share Confidential Information with any Series B Purchaser or such Series B Purchaser’s Affiliates and its and such Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, advisory committee members, investment committee members, limited partners, investors and legal counsel (the “ Permitted Recipients ”) (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be subject to the terms of that Confidentiality Agreement between the Partnership and the Purchaser dated [●], 2015). The Board Observer may not record the proceedings of any meeting of the Board by means of an electronic recording device.

 

3.          The term “Confidential Information” does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than (a) as a result of a disclosure by the Board Observer in violation of this Agreement or (b) in violation of a confidentiality obligation to the Breitburn Entities known to the Board Observer, (ii) is or becomes available to the Board Observer or the Purchaser on a non-confidential basis from a source not known to have an obligation of confidentiality to the Breitburn Entities, (iii) was already known to the Board Observer or the Purchaser at the time of disclosure, or (iv) is independently developed by the Board Observer or the Purchaser without reference to any Confidential Information disclosed to the Board Observer.

 

4.          In the event that the Board Observer is required or compelled by statute, rule, regulation, arbitral or judicial process or otherwise requested by any governmental authority to disclose the Confidential Information, the Board Observer shall use reasonable best efforts, to the extent permitted and practicable, to provide the Breitburn Entities with prompt prior written notice of such requirement so that the Breitburn Entities may seek, at such entities sole expense and cost, an appropriate protective order. If in the absence of a protective order, the Board Observer is nonetheless legally required or compelled to disclose Confidential Information, the Board Observer may disclose only the portion of the Confidential Information or other information that it is so legally required or compelled or requested to disclose.

 

5.          All Confidential Information disclosed by the Breitburn Entities or their Representatives to the Board Observer is and will remain the property of the Breitburn Entities, so long as such information remains Confidential Information.

 

6.          It is understood and acknowledged that neither the Breitburn Entities nor any Representative makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information or any component thereof.

 

7.          It is further understood and agreed that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by the Board Observer and that the Breitburn Entities shall be entitled to seek specific performance or any other appropriate form of equitable relief as a remedy for any such breach in addition to the remedies available to the Breitburn Entities at law.

 

8.          This Agreement is personal to the Board Observer, is not assignable by the Board Observer and may be modified or waived only in writing. This Agreement is binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Annex A- 2
 

 

9.          If any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will not be affected thereby. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operates as a waiver thereof, nor does any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

10.         THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. Each of the Parties agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware.

 

11.         This Agreement and all obligations herein will automatically expire two (2) years after the date the Board Observer ceases to act as Board Observer.

 

12.         This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement, and all of which, when taken together, will constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic transmission constitutes effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement. Signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile or electronic transmission will be deemed to be their original signatures for any purpose whatsoever.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

Annex A- 3
 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  [                              ]

 

Agreed to and Accepted, effective as of the

day of             , 20    :

                                                                     

[NAME OF OBSERVER/ALTERNATE]

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT D


FORM OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit D- 1
 

   

[Exhibit D]

 

  

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP  

 

 

 
 

 

Table of Contents

 

    Page
     
Article I
DEFINITIONS
     
Section 1.1 Definitions 1
Section 1.2 Construction 23
     
Article II
ORGANIZATION
     
Section 2.1 Formation 23
Section 2.2 Name 23
Section 2.3 Principal Office; Other Offices 23
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business 24
Section 2.5 Powers 24
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney 24
Section 2.7 Term 25
Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets 26
Section 2.9 Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership 26
     
Article III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
     
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability 27
Section 3.2 Management of Business 27
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners 27
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners 28
     
Article IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
     
Section 4.1 Certificates 29
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates 29
Section 4.3 Record Holders 30
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally 30
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests 30
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest 31
Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers 32
Section 4.8 Eligible Holder Certifications; Non-Eligible Holders 33
Section 4.9 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-Eligible Holders 34

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)

 

    Page
     
Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
     
Section 5.1 Interest and Withdrawal 36
Section 5.2 Capital Accounts 36
Section 5.3 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities 39
Section 5.4 Limited Preemptive Right 40
Section 5.5 Splits and Combinations 40
Section 5.6 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests 40
     
Article VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
     
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes 41
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes 47
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders 50
     
Article VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
     
Section 7.1 Management 50
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership 52
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority 53
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner 53
Section 7.5 Outside Activities 54
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members 55
Section 7.7 Indemnification 56
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees 57
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties 58
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner 60
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities 60
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates 61
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties 63
     
Article VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
     
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting 63
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year 64
Section 8.3 Reports 64

 

ii
 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)

 

    Page
     
Article IX
TAX MATTERS
     
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information 64
Section 9.2 Tax Elections 64
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies 65
Section 9.4 Withholding 65
     
Article X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
     
Section 10.1 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners 65
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner 66
Section 10.3 Admission of Additional Limited Partners 66
Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership 66
     
Article XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
     
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner 67
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner 68
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner 69
Section 11.4 Withdrawal of Limited Partners 70
     
Article XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
     
Section 12.1 Dissolution 70
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution 71
Section 12.3 Liquidator 72
Section 12.4 Liquidation 72
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership 73
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions 73
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition 73
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration 73
     
Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
     
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner 73
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures 75
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements 75
Section 13.4 Special Meetings 76
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting 82
Section 13.6 Record Date 82
Section 13.7 Adjournment 82
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes 82

 

iii
 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)

 

    Page
     
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting 83
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting 83
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting 83
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters 84
     
Article XIV
MERGER OR CONVERSION
     
Section 14.1 Authority 85
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion 85
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners 86
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger or Conversion 87
Section 14.5 Amendment of Partnership Agreement 87
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger or Conversion 88
     
Article XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
     
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests 89
     
Article XVI
SERIES A CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS
     
Section 16.1 Designation 90
Section 16.2 Units 90
Section 16.3 Distributions 91
Section 16.4 Change of Control 92
Section 16.5 Voting Rights 93
Section 16.6 Optional Redemption 94
Section 16.7 No Sinking Fund 96
Section 16.8 Record Holders 96
Section 16.9 Notices 96
Section 16.10 Other Rights 96
     
Article XVII
SERIES B PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS
     
Section 17.1 Designation 96
Section 17.2 Units 96
Section 17.3 Distributions 97
Section 17.4 Change of Control 100
Section 17.5 Voting Rights 102
Section 17.6 Conversion of Series B Preferred Units 104
Section 17.7 No Sinking Fund 106
Section 17.8 Record Holders 106
Section 17.9 Notices 106

 

iv
 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)

 

    Page
     
Section 17.10 Other Rights 106
     
Article XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
     
Section 18.1 Addresses and Notices 107
Section 18.2 Further Action 107
Section 18.3 Binding Effect 107
Section 18.4 Integration 107
Section 18.5 Creditors 108
Section 18.6 Waiver 108
Section 18.7 Counterparts 108
Section 18.8 Applicable Law 108
Section 18.9 Invalidity of Provisions 108
Section 18.10 Consent of Partners 108
Section 18.11 Facsimile Signatures 108
Section 18.12 Third-Party Beneficiaries 108

 

v
 

   

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP dated as of April 8, 2015, is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner and as the lawful agent and attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

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 (an “ Additional Book Basis Reduction ”) and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event (a “ Carrying Value Increase ”), then any such Carrying Value Increase shall be treated as Additional Book Basis in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount of such Carrying Value Increase and (b) the amount determined by proportionately allocating to the Carrying Value Increases resulting from such Book-Down Event the lesser of (i) the aggregate Additional Book Basis Reductions resulting from such Book Down-Event and (ii) 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 (ii) 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.

 

 
 

 

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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 amounts that such Partner is (x) obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or (y) 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 the General Partner Interest, a Common Unit, a Series A Preferred Unit, a Series B Preferred Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(i) or 5.2(d)(ii).

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, no Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner under this Agreement solely by virtue of such Person’s ownership of Partnership Securities. Without conceding that any Person that acquired Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date is otherwise deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner under this Agreement, in no event shall any Person that acquired Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner for purposes of Sections 4.5(f), 7.5(d), 7.11, 7.12 and 15.1 of this Agreement.

 

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.

 

2
 

 

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 as described in Section 5.2(d), in each case 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 Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Arrears ” means, with respect to (i) Series A Distributions for any Month (or, with respect to the initial Series A Distribution, for the initial Series A Distribution Period), that the full cumulative Series A Distributions to the most recent Series A Distribution Date (or, with respect to the initial Series A Distribution, to July 15, 2014) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or (ii) Series B Distributions for any Month (or, with respect to the initial Series B Distribution, for the initial Series B Distribution Period), that the full cumulative Series B Distributions to the most recent Series B Distribution Date (or, with respect to the initial Series B Distribution, to May 15, 2015) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units.

 

Assignee ” means a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who has executed and delivered a Transfer Application, including a Eligible Holder Certification, as required by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.

 

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner 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)          all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, less

 

3
 

 

(b)          the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject, (iii) provide funds for Series A Payments, (iv) provide funds for Series B Distributions or (v) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.3 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided , however , 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.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal law for the relief of debtors.

 

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, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner.

 

Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain, loss, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, Simulated Depletion, or gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated 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 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 5.2 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

Book-Up Event ” means 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 California or New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

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Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.2. The “ Capital Account ” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Interest, a Common Unit, a Series A Preferred Unit, a Series B Preferred Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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 federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. In the case of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), adjusted basis shall be determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.613A–3(e)(3)(iii)(C). The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.2(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.

 

Cash COC Conversion Premium ” means (i) prior to the first anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 115%, (ii) during the period commencing on the first anniversary and ending on the date immediately preceding the second anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 110%, (iii) during the period commencing on the second anniversary and ending on the date immediately preceding the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, 105%, and (iv) thereafter, 101%.

 

Cash COC Event ” means any Change of Control in which the consideration received by the holders of Common Units, including holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units upon conversion into Common Units in accordance with this Agreement, is comprised of at least 90% cash.

 

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

 

Certificate ” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement with respect to the Common Units, Exhibit B to this Agreement with respect to Series A Preferred Units, or Exhibit C to this Agreement with respect to Series B Preferred Units, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.

 

5
 

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of either the following:

 

(a)          the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Partnership and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)); or

 

(b)          the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the Partnership’s voting interest, measured by voting power rather than number of Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units or the like.

 

Change of Control Conversion Date ” shall be the date fixed by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, as the date the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, are to be converted to Conversion Common Units. Such Change of Control Conversion Date shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days from the date on which the Partnership provides the notice to Series A Holders or Series B Holders, as applicable, of the Series A Change of Control Offer or the Series B Change of Control Offer, as applicable.

 

claim ” (as used in Section 7.12(c)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).

 

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, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the NASDAQ Global Select Market) 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 (other than the NASDAQ Global Select Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

 

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

 

6
 

 

Combined Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).

 

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means a 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 Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unit Price ” means (i) the amount of cash consideration per Common Unit, if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of the Common Units is solely cash; and (ii) the average of the closing price for the Common Units on the NASDAQ (or other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then trading) for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding, but not including the Change of Control Conversion Date, if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of the Common Units is other than solely cash.

 

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are 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 5.2(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

 

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2006, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Conversion Common Units ” means Common Units issued upon conversion of (i) the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.4(a) or (ii) the Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.6.

 

Conversion Price ” means the product of the Series B Issue Price multiplied by the Series B Conversion Ratio.

 

“Converting Unitholder” means a Person entitled to receive Common Units upon conversion of Series B Preferred Units.

 

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

 

7
 

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Directors ” shall mean the members of the Board of Directors.

 

Economic Risk of Loss ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

 

Eligible Holder ” means a person or entity qualified to hold an interest in oil and gas leases on federal lands. As of the date hereof, Eligible Holder means: (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof; (3) a public body, including a municipality; or (4) an association of United States citizens, such as a partnership or limited liability company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, but only if such association does not have any direct or indirect foreign ownership, other than foreign ownership of stock in a parent corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, onshore mineral leases or any direct or indirect interest therein may be acquired and held by aliens only through stock ownership, holding or control in a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof.

 

Eligible Holder Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Holder.

 

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.

 

Event of Noncompliance ” means the failure of the Partnership to make any Series B Distribution which it is required to make pursuant to Section 17.3.

 

8
 

 

Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).

 

Excess Additional Book Basis ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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

 

General Partner Interest ” means the management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership in its capacity as a general partner. The General Partner Interest does not have any rights to ownership, profit or any rights to receive distributions from operations or the liquidation of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby confirmed that Breitburn GP LLC continues as the general partner of the Partnership without holding any economic interest in the Partnership and the business of the Partnership is continued without dissolution.

 

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 a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, 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 with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.

 

Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

 

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

 

Holder ” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).

 

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).

 

9
 

 

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective 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.

 

Issued Preferred Units ” means the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units, having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVI and Article XVII, respectively.

 

Junior Securities ” means (a) the Common Units and (b) any other class or series of Partnership Securities, the terms of which class do not expressly provide that it is made senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions.

 

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) each limited partner of the Partnership at the effective time of this Agreement, each Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII, IX and XII, each Assignee.

 

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

 

10
 

 

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.

 

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

Month ” means with respect to (i) the Series A Preferred Units, each calendar month beginning on July 15, 2014 and continuing through the end of the month in which no Series A Preferred Unit remains Outstanding or (ii) the Series B Preferred Units, each calendar month beginning on May 15, 2015 and continuing through the end of the month in which no Series B Preferred Unit remains Outstanding.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute.

 

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 or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code.

 

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xii).

 

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and shall include Simulated Gains (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss or any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

 

11
 

 

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 5.2) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) 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 5.2(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided, however , the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

 

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 5.2) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) 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 5.2(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided , however , items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

 

Noncompensatory Option ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(f).

 

Non-Eligible Holder ” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Holder and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.8.

 

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

 

12
 

 

Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Liability.

 

Non-Recourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).

 

Omnibus Agreement ” means the Omnibus Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, among the General Partner, the Partnership, BreitBurn Energy Company LP, BreitBurn Energy Holdings LLC, BEC (GP) LLC and BreitBurn Management Company, LLC, as amended.

 

Operating Partnership ” means BreitBurn Operating L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

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 Securities, all Partnership Securities 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 Securities of any class then Outstanding, all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided , further , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner (if the payment of Series B Distributions in PIK Units pursuant to this Agreement causes any Person or Group to acquire 20% or more of such Partnership Securities, such acquisition shall be deemed to be with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner pursuant to this clause (iii)), including any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Series A Preferred Units on May 21, 2014, or (iv) any Person or Group who acquires 20% or more of the Series B Preferred Units, including as a result of the payment of PIK Units on the Series B Preferred Units (subject to the foregoing clause (iii)), if and only if such Person does not, at or after such acquisition, beneficially own or acquire 20% or more of the voting power of the Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis pursuant to Section 17.5(a)). For the avoidance of doubt, no Series B Purchaser shall be considered an Affiliate of the General Partner for purposes of this definition of “Outstanding.”

 

13
 

 

Parity Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Securities the terms of which class are not expressly subordinated or senior to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions. The Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units are Parity Securities with each other.

 

Partner Non-Recourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Partner Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partner Non-Recourse 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(i), are attributable to a Partner Non-Recourse Debt.

 

Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

Partnership ” means Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

Partnership Interest ” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.

 

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

 

Partnership Security ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units.

 

Paying Agent ” means the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, and its successors and assigns or any other payment agent appointed by the General Partner; provided, however, that if no Paying Agent is specifically designated for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

 

14
 

 

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to any Unitholder or Assignee with respect to Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units), the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units) held by such Unitholder or Assignee by (B) the total number of outstanding Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units), and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.3, the percentage established as part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest, a Series A Preferred Unit and a Series B Preferred Unit shall at all times be zero.

 

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.

 

PIK Payment Date ” is defined in Section 17.3(c).

 

PIK Unit ” means an additional Series B Preferred Unit issued pursuant to a Series B Distribution in accordance with Section 17.3.

 

Plan of Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

Preferred Units ” means a Partnership Security, designated as a “Preferred Unit,” which entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of nonliquidating distributions over Common Units, including the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units.

 

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 Issued Preferred Units) or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units (other than the Issued Preferred Units) in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (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 their relative Percentage Interests and (b) when used with respect to Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, apportioned among all Series A Holders or Series B Holders, as applicable, in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, held by each such holder.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

15
 

 

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) the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, (b) the Person in whose name a Preferred Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent, unless otherwise as set forth in Article XVI or Article XVII, as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day or (c) with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

 

Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9.

 

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-134049) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

 

Remaining Net Positive Adjustments ” means as of the end of any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders (other than holders of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of those Unitholders’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Interest for each prior taxable period.

 

Required Allocations ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction, and any Capital Account decreases attributable to Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i), 6.1(d)(ii), 6.1(d)(iii), 6.1(d)(iv), 6.1(d)(v), 6.1(d)(vi), 6.1(d)(viii) or Section 6.1(e).

 

Revaluation Event ” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.2(d).

 

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.

 

16
 

 

Senior Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Securities the terms of which class expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of nonliquidating distributions.

 

Series A Change of Control Offer ” is defined in Section 16.4(a).

 

Series A Conversion Ratio ” is defined in Section 16.4(b).

 

Series A Distribution Payment Date ” means the 15th of each Month, commencing July 15, 2014; provided, however , that if any Series A Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Series A Distribution Payment Date shall instead be on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions.

 

Series A Distribution Period ” means any Month from and including the preceding Series A Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series A Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series A Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution Period.

 

Series A Distribution Rate ” means a rate equal to 8.25% per annum of the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Series A Distribution Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.3(b).

 

Series A Distributions ” means distributions with respect to Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.3.

 

Series A Holder ” means a Record Holder of the Series A Preferred Units.

 

Series A Liquidation Preference ” means a liquidation preference for each Series A Preferred Unit initially equal to the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series A Preferred Unit amount of any accumulated and unpaid Series A Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared).

 

Series A Original Issue Date ” means May 21, 2014.

 

Series A Payments ” means, collectively, Series A Distributions and Series A Redemption Payments.

 

Series A Preferred Unit ” means a 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Unit having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVI.

 

Series A Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6.

 

Series A Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6(b).

 

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Series A Redemption Payments ” means payments to be made to the holders of Series A Preferred Units to redeem Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.6.

 

Series A Redemption Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.6(a).

 

Series B Change of Control Offer ” is defined in Section 17.4(c).

 

Series B Conversion Ratio ” is defined in Section 17.6(a).

 

“Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments ” is defined in Section 17.6(j).

 

Series B Distribution Payment Date ” means the 15th of each Month, commencing May 15, 2015; provided, however , that if any Series B Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Series B Distribution Payment Date shall instead be on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions.

 

Series B Distribution Period ” means any Month from and including the preceding Series B Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series B Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series B Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Series B Distribution Payment Date for such Series B Distribution Period.

 

Series B Distribution Rate ” means (i) until and including April 15, 2018, a rate equal to 8.00% per annum of the Series B Issue Price and (ii) after April 15, 2018, a rate equal to the greater of (a) 8.00% per annum of the Series B Issue Price and (b) the amount equal to the distributions that would be payable on the Partnership’s Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid in that month under Section 6.3, if such Series B Preferred Unit was converted into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio on the Record Date selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.3; provided , however , that if the General Partner makes a distribution with respect to the Common Units in that month as a quarterly distribution under Section 6.3(a)(i) instead of a monthly distribution under Section 6.3(a)(ii) and if the difference between (A) the amount of the quarterly distribution that would be payable on the Partnership’s Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid for that Quarter under Section 6.3(a)(i), if such Series B Preferred Unit was converted into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio on the Record Date selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.3, minus (B) three times the amount of the monthly distribution on one Series B Preferred Unit calculated at a rate equal to 8% per annum of the Series B Issue Price is positive, the amount in the preceding clause (b) for the month of the quarterly distribution shall be equal to the result of (x) the distributions that would be payable on the Common Units issuable upon conversion of one Series B Preferred Unit, based on the distributions declared by the General Partner to be paid for that Quarter under Section 6.3 minus (y) (2) two times the amount of the monthly distribution on one Series B Preferred Unit calculated at a rate equal to 8% per annum of the Series B Issue Price; provided further that , in the event there is an Event of Noncompliance, the Series B Distribution Rate shall increase by 2.00%, effective as of the date of the first Event of Noncompliance until the first Series B Distribution Payment Date on which no Event of Noncompliance exists and provided further that, if an Event of Noncompliance exists on the seventh Series B Distribution Payment Date following the occurrence of the Event of Noncompliance, the Series B Distribution Rate shall increase by an additional 2.00% until the next Series B Distribution Payment Date on which no Event of Noncompliance exists. Until and including April 15, 2018, such Series B Distributions shall be paid, in the sole discretion of the Partnership, in cash, in PIK Units, or in a combination of cash and PIK Units. The number of PIK Units, per Series B Preferred Unit, to be issued in connection with a Series B Distribution until and including April 15, 2018 shall be the quotient of (A) the applicable Series B Distribution Rate divided by (B) the Series B Issue Price; provided that instead of issuing any fractional PIK Unit, each fractional PIK Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole PIK Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall pay cash in lieu of any fractional PIK Unit not issued because of rounding based on the then-applicable Series B Issue Price. The original issue price of each PIK Unit will be equal to the Series B Issue Price in effect as of the date of such distribution. Each Series B Distribution paid after April 15, 2018 shall be paid in cash.

 

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Series B Distribution Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(b).

 

Series B Distributions ” means distributions with respect to Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.3.

 

Series B Eligible Holder ” means a Series B Holder, or a beneficial owner who holds directly or indirectly through the nominee of the Depositary, that holds the Series B Minimum Election Amount.

 

Series B Floor Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.4(a).

 

Series B Holder ” means a Record Holder of the Series B Preferred Units.

 

Series B Issue Price ” means $7.50 per Series B Preferred Unit, as adjusted for splits, combinations and other similar transactions, if applicable.

 

Series B Liquidation Preference ” means a liquidation preference for each Series B Preferred Unit initially equal to the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series B Preferred Unit amount of any accumulated and unpaid Series B Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared).

 

Series B Minimum Conversion Amount ” means (i) a number of Series B Preferred Units having an aggregate value of $10 million, which value is calculated by multiplying the number of Series B Preferred Units to be converted by the Series B Issue Price or (ii) if the value of the Series B Preferred Units (calculated in accordance with clause (i) above) to be converted by the Series B Holder requesting conversion does not equal or exceed $10 million, then all of the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder.

 

Series B Minimum Election Amount ” means, with respect to a Series B Holder, a number of Series B Preferred Units having an aggregate value of $5 million, which value is calculated by multiplying the number of Series B Preferred Units held by that Series B Holder by the Series B Issue Price.

 

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Series B Original Issue Date ” means April 8, 2015.

 

Series B Preferred Unit ” means a Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Unit having the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth in Article XVII and including PIK Units. A Series B Preferred Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

 

Series B Purchasers ” means EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP and its Affiliates.

 

Series B Voting Termination Date ” means the first date when the Series B Purchasers cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, solely among the Series B Purchasers, the majority of the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date plus a majority of the PIK Units, if any, paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date.

 

Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Limited Partner Interests, 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 period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, and (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment 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 set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.611-2(a)(1) (as if the Simulated Basis of the property was its adjusted tax basis) and in the manner specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2), applying the cost depletion method. 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. If the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d) during a taxable period, following such adjustment Simulated Depletion shall thereafter be calculated under the foregoing provisions based upon such adjusted Carrying Value.

 

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).

 

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Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.

 

Stated Series A Liquidation Preference ” means an amount equal to $25.00 per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Stated Series B Liquidation Preference ” means an amount equal to $7.50 per Series B Preferred Unit.

 

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) or limited liability company in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership or member of such limited liability company, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership or membership interests of such limited liability company (considering all of the partnership interests or membership interests as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation, a partnership or a limited liability company) 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.

 

“Substantially Equivalent Unit” is defined in Section 17.4(b)(ii).

 

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.1 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b)(ii).

 

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 is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).

 

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

 

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Transfer Application ” means an application and agreement for transfer of Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.

 

2020 Indenture ” means the indenture governing the 2020 Notes.

 

2022 Indenture ” means the indenture governing the 2022 Notes.

 

2020 Notes ” means any of the 8.625% Senior Notes due 2020 of the Partnership issued under the 2020 Indenture.

 

2022 Notes ” means any of the 7.875% Senior Notes due 2022 of the Partnership issued under the 2022 Indenture.

 

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 3, 2006, among the Underwriters, the Partnership and the General Partner, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

 

Unit ” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, but shall not include the General Partner Interest.

 

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

Unit Cap ” is defined in Section 16.4(b).

 

Unit Majority ” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

 

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 5.2(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.2(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 5.2(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.2(d)).

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

VWAP ” as of a particular date means the volume-weighted average trading price of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed or admitted to trading.

 

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).

 

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Section 1.2            Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “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 Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Article II
ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1            Formation . The General Partner and the original Limited Partners of the Partnership previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner hereby amends and restates the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended prior to the date hereof, in its entirety, pursuant to Section 13.1 thereof (including Sections 13.1(d) and 13.1(g) thereof). This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

 

Section 2.2            Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Breitburn Energy Partners LP” 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,” “LP,” “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            Principal Office; Other Offices . The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071 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 shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

 

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Section 2.4            Purpose and Business . The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however , that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or appropriate 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            Power of Attorney .

 

(a)          Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

 

(i)          execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.3; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

 

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(ii)         execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided , that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

 

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(b)          The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.7            Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 2.8            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 or Assignee, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided , however , that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided , further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to 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.

 

Section 2.9            Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership .

 

(a)           Separateness Generally . The Partnership shall conduct its business and operations separate and apart from those of any other Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with this Section 2.9.

 

(b)           Separate Records . The Partnership shall maintain (i) its books and records, (ii) its accounts, and (iii) its financial statements, separate from those of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

(c)           Separate Assets . The Partnership shall not commingle or pool its funds or other assets with those of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries, and shall maintain its assets in a manner that is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify as separate from those of any other Person.

 

(d)           Separate Name . The Partnership shall (i) conduct its business in its own name, (ii) use separate stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity, and (iv) generally hold itself out as a separate entity.

 

(e)           Separate Credit . The Partnership shall not (i) pay its own liabilities from a source other than its own funds, (ii) guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries, (iii) hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries, (iv) acquire obligations or debt securities of the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership or its Subsidiaries), or (v) pledge its assets for the benefit of any Person or make loans or advances to any Person, except its Subsidiaries; provided that the Partnership may engage in any transaction described in clauses (ii)–(v) of this Section 2.9(e) if prior Special Approval has been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Conflicts Committee has determined, or has obtained reasonable written assurance from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking or valuation firm, that the borrower or recipient of the credit extension is not then insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in clause (iv), such transaction is completed through a public auction or a National Securities Exchange.

 

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(f)           Separate Formalities . The Partnership shall (i) observe all partnership formalities and other formalities required by its organizational documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or other laws, rules, regulations and orders of governmental authorities exercising jurisdiction over it, (ii) engage in transactions with the General Partner and its Affiliates (other than another Group Member) in conformity with the requirements of Section 7.9, and (iii) promptly pay, from its own funds, and on a current basis, its allocable share of general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, and costs for shared services performed by Affiliates of the General Partner (other than another Group Member). Each material contract between the Partnership or another Group Member, on the one hand, and the Affiliates of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), on the other hand, shall be in writing.

 

(g)           No Effect . Failure by the General Partner or the Partnership to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Partnership as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities.

 

Article III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1            Limitation of Liability . The Limited Partners and the Assignees 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 or Assignee, 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. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3            Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners or Assignees, any Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.

 

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Section 3.4            Rights of Limited Partners .

 

(a)          In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

 

(i)          to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;

 

(ii)         promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;

 

(iii)        to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

 

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

 

(v)         to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and

 

(vi)        to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

 

(b)          The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or 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).

 

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

 

Section 4.1            Certificates . Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Units to any Person and subject to Section 16.2(b) with respect to Series A Preferred Units and Section 17.2(b) with respect to Series B Preferred Units, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Interest and (b) upon the request of any Person owning any other Partnership Securities other than Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such other Partnership Securities other than Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the General Partner elects to issue Units in global form, the Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

 

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 Securities 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.

 

If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee 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.

 

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Section 4.3            Record Holders . The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must execute and deliver a Transfer Application and (c) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.

 

Section 4.4            Transfer Generally .

 

(a)          The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person, 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 or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

(b)          No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be 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 the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.

 

Section 4.5            Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and transfers of such Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

 

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(b)          Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8, the General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer and such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application properly completed and duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate 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. No distributions or allocations will be made in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer Application has been delivered.

 

(c)          Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

(d)          Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1, the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

 

(e)          A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who has completed and delivered a Transfer Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this Agreement.

 

(f)          The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.

 

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

 

(a)          Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2016, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

 

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(b)          Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2016, the General Partner may at its option transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner 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)          Except as provided in Section 4.7(c) below, but 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

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

 

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

 

(d)          Each Certificate evidencing any Series A Preferred Units or any Series B Preferred Units shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the form set forth in the penultimate paragraph of the form of Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B or Exhibit C, respectively, and each Certificate evidencing any other Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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). BREITBURN GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

Section 4.8            Eligible Holder Certifications; Non-Eligible Holders .

 

(a)          If a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish a properly completed Eligible Holder Certification in a Transfer Application or if, upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or otherwise, the General Partner determines that such transferee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such transferee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9.

 

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(b)          The General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Eligible Holder Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person (other than any Person who directly or indirectly owns equity interests in a corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or any State or territory thereof, so long as that corporation (i) is qualified to hold federal leases under 30 U.S.C. 181 and 43 C.F.R. 3102.2 or its successor stature or rule and (ii) is the direct and indirect owner of such Limited Partner or Assignee), the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Eligible Holder Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-Eligible Holder and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-Eligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-Eligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-Eligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-Eligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

 

(d)          Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-Eligible 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 Non-Eligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-Eligible Holder of its Limited Partner Interest (representing its right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).

 

(e)          At any time after a Non-Eligible Holder can and does certify that it has become an Eligible Holder, a Non-Eligible Holder may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-Eligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, and upon admission of such Non-Eligible Holder pursuant to Section 10.1, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-Eligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

Section 4.9            Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-Eligible Holders .

 

(a)          If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish an Eligible Holder Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon receipt of such Eligible Holder Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Holder or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligible Holder Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:

 

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(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 or Assignee, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon 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 or Assignee would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

 

(ii)         The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 10% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

(iii)        Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Assignee, 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, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.

 

(iv)        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 or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible 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 in a Transfer Application that he is an Eligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

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Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1            Interest and Withdrawal . No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.2            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 by the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest; provided that the initial Capital Account of the initial holder of a Series A Preferred Unit or a Series B Preferred Unit with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit or such Series B Preferred Unit, respectively, shall equal the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, irrespective of the amount paid by such holder for such Series A Preferred Unit or such Series B Preferred Unit, respectively, (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and (iii) the portion of any amount realized from the disposition of an oil and gas property that constitutes Simulated Gain allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with Section 6.1(e)(ii) and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement; provided that the Capital Account of a holder of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units shall not be reduced by the amount of Series A Distributions or Series B Distributions, respectively, it receives, (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 and (z) Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss in accordance with Section 6.1(e)(ii).

 

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

 

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(i)          Solely for purposes of this Section 5.2, 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 any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

(iv)        To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(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.

 

(v)         In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(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

 

(vi)        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 Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(vii)       Any deductions for depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery 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. Simulated Depletion will be computed in accordance with the provisions of the definition of Simulated Depletion.

 

(viii)      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).

 

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(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.

 

(d)          (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance, exercise or conversion of a Noncompensatory Option (including the issuance or the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.4, Section 17.3(c), and Section 17.6, respectively), the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; 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, however , 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. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (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 such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may 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 and the amount of Partnership liabilities. The General Partner may 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 cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account attributable to each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Common Unit issued in connection with the conversion of the Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6 shall have the same Capital Account as each other Common Unit.

 

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(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. 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 one made pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.2(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 5.3            Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities .

 

(a)          Subject to any approvals required by Series A Holders pursuant to Section 16.5(b)(ii) or Series B Holders pursuant to Section 17.5, the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

(b)          Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(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 Securities), 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 Security (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.3, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner 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 Securities are listed or admitted to trading.

 

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(d)          The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Units. If a distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.3(d), except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Series B Distribution Rate” in Section 1.1 and except as otherwise provided in Section 17.6(c), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

Section 5.4            Limited Preemptive Right . No Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.

 

Section 5.5            Splits and Combinations .

 

(a)          Subject to Section 5.3(d), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities of any class to all Record Holders of Partnership Securities of such class of Partnership Securities or may effect a subdivision or combination of the same class of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner holding such class of Partnership Securities shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including those based on the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference and the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

 

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

 

(c)          Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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.

 

Section 5.6            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, Article XVI or Article XVII shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

 

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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, amount realized and Simulated Gain (computed in accordance with Section 5.2(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners, and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted for Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss, in each taxable period (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

 

(a)           Net Income . After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), and Capital Account adjustments pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(ii), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and, to the extent provided in Section 6.1(e)(iii), Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

(i)          First, Pro Rata to the Unitholders holding Common Units until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then outstanding is equal to zero; provided that that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account), and provided, further , that to the extent a pro rata allocation of Net Losses pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) does not cause the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of all Common Units then outstanding to equal zero at the same time, any remaining Net Losses will be allocated to the Unitholders holding such Common Units to the extent of, and in proportion to, the excess of (x) the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each such Common Unit (as determined after giving effect to the previous provisions of this Section 6.1(b)(i)), over (y) zero; and

 

(ii)         Second, to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit and each Series B Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero.

 

(c)           Net Termination Gains and Losses . After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.3 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.

 

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(i)          If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.2(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):

 

(A)         First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account; and

 

(B)         Second, 100% to all Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

 

(ii)         If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.2(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:

 

(A)         First, 100% to all Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

 

(B)         Second, to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit and each Series B Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero; and

 

(C)         Third, 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 such taxable period:

 

(i)           Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income, 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 Sections 6.1(d)(v) and 6.1(d)(vi)). 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.

 

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(ii)          Chargeback of Partner Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Non-Recourse 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 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), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(v) and 6.1(d)(vi), 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)         Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income, gain and Simulated 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 unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii).

 

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

 

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(v)          Non-Recourse Deductions . Non-Recourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Non-Recourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

(vi)         Partner Non-Recourse Deductions . Partner Non-Recourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Non-Recourse Debt to which such Partner Non-Recourse 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 Non-Recourse Debt, such Partner Non-Recourse 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.

 

(vii)        Non-Recourse Liabilities . For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Non-Recourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Non-Recourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(viii)       Code Section 754 Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(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 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), 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.

 

(ix)          Series A Preferred Unit and Series B Preferred Unit Allocations .

 

(A)         Income of the Partnership attributable to the issuance by the Partnership of a Series A Preferred Unit or a Series B Preferred Unit for an amount in excess of the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, shall be allocated to the holders of Common Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(B)         Net Termination Gain, if any, for the taxable period (or, to the extent necessary, items of income or gain for the taxable period) shall be allocated to each holder of Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units, in proportion to, and to the extent of, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference with respect to such holder’s Series A Preferred Units and the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference with respect to such holder’s Series B Preferred Units, over (y) such holder’s existing Capital Account balance in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or its Series B Preferred Units, respectively, until the Capital Account balance of each such holder in respect of its Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units is equal to the Stated Series A Liquidation Preference or the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference, respectively, in respect of such Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units.

 

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(C)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Series B Preferred Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Capital Account balance of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units does not equal the greater of (x) the Stated Series B Liquidation Preference for such Series B Preferred Units and (y) the Capital Account balance such holder would have in respect of its Series B Preferred Units if such Series B Preferred Units were fully converted into Common Units (the greater of the amounts described in clauses (x) and (y) being the “ Series B Liquidation Amount ”), then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be reallocated among the holders of Common Units and Series B Preferred Units in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Account of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units to equal the Series B Liquidation Amount. In the event that (1) 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 (2) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(ix)(C) fails to achieve the Capital Account balances 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 the holders of Common Units and Series B Preferred Units 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)(ix)(C), cause the Capital Account of each holder of Series B Preferred Units in respect of its Series B Preferred Units to equal the Series B Liquidation Amount.

 

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(x)           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 income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated 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. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Non-Recourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Non-Recourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Non-Recourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

 

(B)         The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(x)(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)(x)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(xi)          Equalization of Capital Accounts With Respect to Privately Placed Units . Unrealized Gain or Unrealized 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 (other than Privately Place 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.

 

(xii)         Corrective 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)         In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.

 

(B)         In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).

 

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(e)           Simulated Basis; Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss; Simulated Gain; Amount Realized .

 

(i)           Simulated Basis . For purposes of determining and maintaining the Partners’ Capital Accounts, (i) the initial Simulated Basis of each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners, Pro Rata and (ii) if the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.2(d), the Simulated Basis of such property (as adjusted to reflect the adjustment to the Carrying Value of such property), shall be allocated to the Partners, Pro Rata.

 

(ii)          Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss . For purposes of applying clause (z) of the second sentence of Section 5.2(a), Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss with respect to each oil and gas property of the Partnership shall reduce each Partner’s Capital Account in proportion to the manner in which the Simulated Basis of such property is allocated among the Partners pursuant to of Section 6.1(e)(i).

 

(iii)         Simulated Gain . For purposes of applying clause (iii) of the second sentence of Section 5.2(a), Simulated Gain for any taxable period will be treated as included in Net Income or Net Loss and allocated pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b), as applicable.

 

(iv)         Amount Realized . For purposes of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(iii), the amount realized on the disposition of any oil and gas property of the Partnership shall be allocated (i) first to the Partners in an amount equal to the remaining Simulated Basis of such property in the same proportions as the Simulated Basis of such property was allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i), and (ii) any remaining amount realized shall be allocated to the Partners in the same ratio as Simulated Gain from the disposition of such oil and gas property is allocated pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b), as applicable.

 

Section 6.2            Allocations for Tax Purposes.

 

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

 

(b)          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 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), 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) that is (i) a Contributed Property shall initially be allocated among the non-contributing Partners, Pro Rata, but not in excess of any such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i), and (ii) not a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property shall initially be allocated to the Partners in proportion to each such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i). If there is an event described in Section 5.2(d), the General Partner shall reallocate the adjusted tax basis of each oil and gas property in a manner (i) consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and (ii) that maintains the federal income tax fungibility of the Units.

 

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Each Partner shall separately keep records of his share of the adjusted tax basis in each oil and gas property, allocated 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)          In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for 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; provided that in all events the General Partner shall apply the “remedial allocation method” in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d). For purposes of applying the “remedial allocation method” to oil and gas properties (i) the amount by which any Partner’s Capital Account is adjusted for Simulated Depletion shall be treated as an amount of book depletion allocated to such Partner and (ii) the amount of cost depletion computed by such Partner under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code shall be treated as an amount of tax depletion allocated to such Partner.

 

(d)          For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; 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 6.2(d) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.

 

(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 Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), the legislative history of Section 743 of the Code 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.

 

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(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 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, for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the NASDAQ Global Select Market 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 or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

 

(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 shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

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

 

(a)          Except as described in Section 6.3(b) and subject to Section 16.3 and Section 17.3 of this Agreement, following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. Such distribution with respect to any Quarter may be made, at the discretion of the General Partner, (i) within 45 days following the end of each Quarter or (ii) in three equal installments within 17, 45 and 75 days following the end of each Quarter. All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

 

(b)          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.

 

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

 

Article VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1            Management .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

 

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

 

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(iii)        the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

 

(iv)        the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;

 

(v)         the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);

 

(vi)        the distribution of Partnership cash;

 

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

 

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

 

(ix)         the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;

 

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

 

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

 

(xii)        the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.7);

 

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(xiii)       the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities;

 

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

 

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

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is (or was) authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

Section 7.2            Certificate of Limited Partnership .   The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

 

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Section 7.3            Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority .

 

(a)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the General Partner may not, without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided , however , that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

Section 7.4            Reimbursement of the General Partner .

 

(a)          Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

 

(b)          The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or 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 the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.

 

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(c)          The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, or any Group Member or its Affiliates, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

 

Section 7.5            Outside Activities .

 

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

 

(b)          Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) and the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners and (ii) it shall be deemed not to be breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership.

 

(c)          Subject to the terms of Sections 7.5(a) and 7.5(b) and the Omnibus Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner) and no Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership.

 

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(d)          The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Section 7.5 purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting, eliminating or otherwise modifying the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such fiduciary duty, such provisions in this Section 7.5 shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partners.

 

Section 7.6            Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members .

 

(a)          The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided , however , that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

 

(b)          The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

 

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Section 7.7            Indemnification .

 

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

 

(b)          To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.

 

(c)          The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the 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 the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(i)          No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.8            Liability of Indemnitees .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

 

(b)          Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

 

(c)          To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Section 7.9            Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

 

(a)          Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) 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 of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is not sought and 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 acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. 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.

 

(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 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, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership or the holders of the Common Units (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) as the case may be.

 

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(c)          Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, 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. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units or General Partner Interest, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units or General Partner Interest, as appropriate, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.

 

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

 

(e)          Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall owe any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to Series A Holders or Series B Holders.

 

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(f)          The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.

 

Section 7.10          Other Matters Concerning the General Partner .

 

(a)          The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(b)          The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

 

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

 

Section 7.11          Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities 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 Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

 

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

 

(a)          If (i) any holder of Partnership Securities (the “ Holder ”), including 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 Securities 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 the Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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 Securities specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12; and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any registration pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.12(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities 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 Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

(b)          If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take an action to so include the securities 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 securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

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(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 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 Securities 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 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 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 Sections 7.12(a) and 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 Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities 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 Securities 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 Securities, 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 Securities 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.

 

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(f)          Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.

 

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 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 and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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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 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

 

(b)          As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Article IX
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1            Tax Returns and Information . The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined in good faith by the General Partner. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.2            Tax Elections .

 

(a)          The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General 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.

 

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(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 the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

Section 9.4            Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (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.

 

Article X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1          Admission of Substituted Limited Partners . By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited Partner Interest shall, however, only have the authority to convey to a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a Transfer Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the transferred Limited Partner Interests. No transferor of a Limited Partner Interest or other Person shall have any obligation or responsibility to provide a Transfer Application to a transferee or assist or participate in any way with respect to the completion or delivery thereof. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes and delivers a properly completed Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be an Assignee. Such Assignee shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of the Partnership, and until so recorded, such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests with respect to which a properly completed, duly executed Transfer Application has been received to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.

 

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

 

Section 10.3          Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

 

(a)          A Person (other than the General Partner or a Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner:

 

(i)          evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6, and

 

(ii)         such other documents or instruments as may be required by the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.3, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

Section 10.4          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, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.

 

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Article XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1          Withdrawal of the General Partner .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(b)          Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on October 10, 2006 and ending at 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2016, 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 of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on December 31, 2016, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, 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. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

 

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

 

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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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members (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 departure. 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 Sections 11.1 or 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 departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

 

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

 

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(b)          If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

 

(c)          If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 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, 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 Substituted Limited Partners or 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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

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(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 an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 12.3          Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of 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 holders of 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 holders of a 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 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

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

 

(a)          The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may 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 Articles VI, XVI and XVII. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

 

(c)          All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence); provided that any accumulated and unpaid Series A Distributions or Series B Distributions shall be treated as liabilities of the Partnership and paid (and, for purposes of determining balances in Capital Accounts, shall not be treated as distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) prior to the making of any distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c).

 

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Section 12.5          Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership . Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1          Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner . Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, 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 advisable to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;

 

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(d)          Subject to Section 16.5 and Section 17.5, to the extent applicable, 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, classes or series of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes or series 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 advisable in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e)          a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions (other than Series A Distributions and Series B 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 the terms of Section 16.5 and Section 17.5, an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.3;

 

(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 or Plan of Conversion 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;

 

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

 

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

 

Section 13.2          Amendment Procedures . Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, that the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, 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 such proposed amendments.

 

Section 13.3          Amendment Requirements .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting 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.

 

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

 

(c)          Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

 

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

 

(e)          Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

 

Section 13.4          Special Meetings .

 

(a)          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 mailing of notice of the meeting. 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.

 

(b)          (i) An annual meeting of the Limited Partners holding Common Units for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors and such other matters as the General Partner shall submit to a vote of the Limited Partners holding Common Units shall be held in June of each year or at such other date and time as may be fixed from time to time by the General Partner at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the General Partner and all as stated in the notice of the meeting. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given in accordance with Section 13.5 not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date of such meeting.

 

(ii)         The Limited Partners holding Common Units shall vote together as a single class for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors. The Limited Partners entitled to vote shall elect by a plurality of the votes cast at such meeting persons to serve on the Board of Directors of the General Partner who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.4(b). The exercise by a Limited Partner of the right to elect the Directors and any other rights afforded to such Limited Partner under this Section 13.4(b) shall be in such Limited Partner’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership and shall not cause a Limited Partner to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize such Limited Partner’s limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

 

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(iii)        Solely with respect to the election of Directors to the Board of Directors: (A) the General Partner and the Partnership shall not be entitled to vote Units that are otherwise entitled to vote at any meeting of the Unitholders; (B) if at any time any Person or Group beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, then all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group in excess of 20% of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of the applicable class shall not be voted, and in each case, the foregoing Units shall not be counted when calculating the required votes for such matter and shall not be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of determining a quorum for such meeting pursuant to Section 13.9 (but such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement), provided , however , that this clause (B) shall not apply to any Person or Group who acquires 20% or more of the Series B Preferred Units, including as a result of the payment of PIK Units on the Series B Preferred Units, if and only if such Person does not, at or after such acquisition, beneficially own or acquire 20% or more of the voting power of the Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis pursuant to Section 17.5(a)); and (C) holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to vote in the election of Directors to the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Board of Directors of the General Partner may, by action specifically referencing votes for the election of Directors under this Section 13.4(b), determine that the limitation set forth in clause (B) of the preceding sentence shall not apply to a specific Person or Group.

 

(iv)        The number of Directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors of the General Partner shall not be less than five and not more than nine as shall be established from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II, and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be the whole number contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the authorized number of Directors by three, and if a fraction is also contained in such quotient, then if such fraction is one-third, the extra director shall be a member of Class I and if the fraction is two-thirds, one of the extra directors shall be a member of Class I and the other shall be a member of Class II. Each Director shall serve for a term ending as provided herein; provided, however, that the Directors designated in accordance with the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner (the “ General Partner Agreement ”) to Class I shall serve for a term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2015, the Directors designated in accordance with the General Partner Agreement to Class II shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2016, and the Directors designated in accordance with the General Partner Agreement to Class III shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units held in 2014. At each succeeding annual meeting of Limited Partners holding Common Units beginning with the annual meeting held in 2014, successors to the class of Directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term.

 

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(v)         Each Director shall hold office for the term for which such Director is elected and thereafter until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of Directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of Directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional Director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director. A Director shall hold office until the annual meeting of the Limited Partners of the year in which his term expires and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to death, resignation or removal from office. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors (including any vacancy caused by an increase in the number of Directors on the Board of Directors) may only be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director. Any Director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of Directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor. A Director may be removed only for cause and only upon a vote of the majority of the remaining Directors then in office.

 

(vi)        (A)         (1)         Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the General Partner may be made at an annual meeting of the Limited Partners only (a) pursuant to the General Partner’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (c) by any Limited Partner who was a Record Holder at the time the notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the General Partner, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi).

 

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(2)          For any nominations brought before an annual meeting by a Limited Partner pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), the Limited Partner must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the General Partner. To be timely, a Limited Partner’s notice shall be delivered to the General Partner not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the Limited Partner must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Partnership or the General Partner). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Limited Partner’s notice as described above. Such Limited Partner’s notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the Limited Partner proposes to nominate for election as a Director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; and (b) as to the Limited Partner giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (i) the name and address of such Limited Partner, as they appear on the Partnership’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of Units which are owned beneficially and of record by such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination between or among such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, any of their respective Affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned Units) that has been entered into as of the date of the Limited Partner’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Limited Partner and such beneficial owners, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of Unit price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Limited Partner and such beneficial owner, with respect to Units, (v) a representation that the Limited Partner is a Record Holder entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (vi) a representation whether the Limited Partner or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Partnership’s Outstanding Units required to elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from Limited Partners in support of such nomination. The General Partner may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the General Partner.

 

(3)          Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the General Partner is increased effective at the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Partnership or the General Partner naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Limited Partner’s notice required by this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the General Partner not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Partnership or the General Partner.

 

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(B)         Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of Limited Partners at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the General Partner’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors or the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 13.4(a) hereof has determined that Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Limited Partner who is a Record Holder at the time the notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the General Partner, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi). In the event the General Partner calls a special meeting of Limited Partners for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board of Directors, any such Limited Partner entitled to vote in such election of Directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the General Partner’s notice of meeting, if the Limited Partner’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be delivered to the General Partner not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Limited Partner’s notice as described above.

 

(C)         (1)         Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to serve as Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman designated by the General Partner pursuant to Section 13.10 shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) (including whether the Limited Partner or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such Limited Partner’s nominee in compliance with such Limited Partner’s representation as required by clause (A)(2)(b)(vi) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi)) and (b) if any proposed nomination was not made in compliance with this Section 13.4(b)(vi), to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), unless otherwise required by law, if the Limited Partner (or a qualified representative of the Limited Partner) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the General Partner or the Partnership. For purposes of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), to be considered a qualified representative of the Limited Partner, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Limited Partner or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Limited Partner or an electronic transmission delivered by such Limited Partner to act for such Limited Partner as proxy at the meeting of Limited Partners and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Limited Partners.

 

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(2)          For purposes of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Partnership or the General Partner with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act.

 

(3)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), a Limited Partner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi); provided however, that any references in this Agreement to the Securities Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations pursuant to this Section 13.4(b)(vi) (including paragraphs A(1)(c) and B hereof), and compliance with paragraphs A(1)(c) and B of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be the exclusive means for a Limited Partner to make nominations.

 

(vii)       This Section 13.4(b) shall not be deemed in any way to limit or impair the ability of the Board of Directors to adopt a “poison pill” or unitholder or other similar rights plan with respect to the Partnership, whether such poison pill or plan contains “dead hand” provisions, “no hand” provisions or other provisions relating to the redemption of the poison pill or plan, in each case as such terms are used under Delaware common law.

 

(viii)      The Partnership and the General Partner shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to take such action as shall be necessary or appropriate to give effect to and implement the provisions of this Section 13.4(b), including amending the organizational documents of the General Partner such that at all times the organizational documents of the General Partner shall provide (i) that the Directors shall be elected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) terms consistent with this Section 13.4(b).

 

(ix)         If the General Partner delegates to an existing or newly formed wholly owned Subsidiary the power and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b) shall be applicable with respect to the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Subsidiary.

 

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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 Sections 16.9, 17.9 or 18.1, as applicable. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.

 

Section 13.6          Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day 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 . When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

 

Section 13.8          Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes . The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

 

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Section 13.9          Quorum and Voting . Subject to Section 13.4(b), the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class, classes, or series for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class, classes or series unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.

 

Section 13.10          Conduct of a Meeting . The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.

 

Section 13.11          Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner; provided , however , that, if and only if any Series B Purchaser at the time beneficially owns the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and has (and solely controls) the right to vote those Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, where required in this Agreement, may be obtained by written consent without any minimum time period before such consent may be delivered or be effective (including with respect to the rights set forth in Section 17.5). If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

 

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Section 13.12          Right to Vote and Related Matters .

 

(a)          Only those Record Holders of the Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding” and the limitations set forth in Section 13.4(b)) 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, voting together as a single class as provided in Section 17.5(a). All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units (other than Outstanding Series A Preferred Units), voting together as a single class as provided in Section 17.5(a).

 

(b)          Only those Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding” and the limitations set forth in Sections 13.4(b), 16.5 and 17.5) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners holding Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, respectively, or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, respectively, 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 Series A Preferred Units or Outstanding Series B Preferred Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or such Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, respectively.

 

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(c)          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(c) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

 

Article XIV
MERGER OR CONVERSION

 

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

 

Section 14.2          Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(iv)        the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner 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 securities 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 or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner may approve and adopt a Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 14.3          Approval by Limited Partners .

 

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

 

(b)          Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.

 

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

 

(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 which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

(e)          Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (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 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership 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 Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

 

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

 

Section 14.5          Amendment of Partnership Agreement . 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 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

 

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Section 14.6          Effect of Merger or Conversion .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)          At the effective time of the certificate of conversion:

 

(i)          the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;

 

(ii)         all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;

 

(iii)        all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;

 

(iv)        all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;

 

(v)         a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior partners without any need for substitution of parties; and

 

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(vi)        the Partnership Securities that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion or certificate of conversion.

 

(c)          A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.

 

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

 

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

 

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(c)          At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate 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
SERIES A CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS

 

Section 16.1          Designation . A series of Preferred Units to be known as “8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units,” is hereby designated and created. Article XVI of this Agreement fixes the preferences, rights, powers and duties of the Series A Holders and the Series A Preferred Units. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series A Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series A Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which Series A Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates may differ. Each Series A Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and shall not give rise to a claim by the holder thereof for redemption at any particular date.

 

Section 16.2          Units .

 

(a)          The authorized number of Series A Preferred Units shall be unlimited. The Partnership shall issue 7,000,000 Series A Preferred Units on the Series A Original Issue Date, and it may issue up to 1,000,000 additional Series A Preferred Units on or after such date pursuant to the option granted to the underwriters by the Partnership. Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled.

 

(b)          The Series A Preferred Units shall be initially represented by a single Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series A Holder shall be entitled to receive a Certificate evidencing Series A Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such and the Partnership shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series A Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.

 

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Section 16.3          Distributions .

 

(a)          Distributions on each Series A Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accrue at the Series A Distribution Rate from the Series A Original Issue Date (or, for any subsequently issued and newly Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, from the Series A Distribution Payment Date immediately preceding the issuance date of such Units) until such time as the Partnership pays the Series A Distribution or redeems the Series A Preferred Units in full in accordance with Section 16.6 below, whether or not such Series A Distributions shall have been declared, and distributions shall accrue on the amount of Series A Distributions in Arrears at the Series A Distribution Rate. Subject to the Delaware Act, Series A Holders shall be entitled to receive Series A Distributions from time to time at the Series A Distribution Rate per Series A Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner. Distributions, to the extent declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 16.3, shall be paid monthly (except in the case of the initial payment) on each Series A Distribution Payment Date. If any Series A Distribution Payment Date otherwise would occur on a date that is not a Business Day, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. Series A Distributions shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All Series A Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 16.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

(b)          Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series A Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series A Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series A Holders on the Record Date for the applicable Series A Distribution. The Record Date (the “ Series A Distribution Record Date ”) for any Series A Distribution payment shall be as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Series A Preferred Units are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each Month immediately preceding the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date, except that in the case of payments of Series A Distributions in Arrears, the Series A Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series A Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with this Article XVI. No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities through the most recent respective distribution payment dates. Accumulated Series A Distributions in Arrears for any past Series A Distribution Period may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series A Distribution Payment Date, to Series A Holders on the record date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all accumulated distributions in Arrears on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of accumulated distributions in Arrears on the Series A Preferred Units and any such Parity Securities shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate distribution amounts remaining due in respect of such Series A Preferred Units and Parity Securities at such time. Subject to Sections 12.4 and 16.6, Series A Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or equity interests, in excess of full cumulative Series A Distributions. Except insofar as distributions accrue on the amount of any Series A Distributions in Arrears as described in Section 16.3(a), no interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment which may be in Arrears on the Series A Preferred Units. So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series A Distribution Payment Date or other interest payment date in the case of payments for Series A Distributions in Arrears.

 

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Section 16.4          Change of Control .

 

(a)          In connection with any Change of Control after the Series A Original Issue Date, if the Partnership does not elect to redeem all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date through the redemption provision contained in Section 16.6 of this Agreement, the Partnership will give notice to the Series A Holders and make an irrevocable written offer (a “ Series A Change of Control Offer ”) to each Series A Holder to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Holder on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Units per Series A Preferred Units that is an amount equal to the Series A Conversion Ratio.

 

(b)          Subject to Section 5.5, the Series A Conversion Ratio shall be calculated as the lesser of either: (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Series A Liquidation Preference as of the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Series A Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, in which case any accrued and unpaid distribution will be excluded from this amount) by (y) the Common Unit Price, or (ii) 2.46548 (the “ Unit Cap ”). The General Partner shall make such adjustments to the Common Unit Price and the Unit Cap as it determines to be equitable in view of any splits, combinations or distributions in the form of equity issuances or the payment of any alternative consideration to the holders of the Common Units in connection with the Change of Control.

 

(c)          Each Series A Holder electing to participate in the Series A Change of Control Offer will be required prior to the close of business on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted in the Series A Change of Control Offer and otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the conversion.

 

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(d)          Upon conversion, the rights of such participating Series A Holder as a holder of the Series A Preferred Units shall cease with respect to such converted Series A Preferred Units, and such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall, upon its Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Conversion Common Unit.

 

(e)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series A Holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series A Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties which will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(f)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

(g)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series A Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion.

 

Section 16.5          Voting Rights .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Units shall have no voting rights except as set forth in this Section 16.5 or as otherwise required by the Delaware Act.

 

(b)          (i) Unless the Partnership shall have received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class, no amendment to this Agreement shall be adopted that would have a material adverse effect on the existing terms of the Series A Preferred Units.

 

(ii)         Unless the Partnership shall have received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class together with holders of any other Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Partnership shall not (x) create or issue any Parity Securities if the cumulative distributions payable on Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are in Arrears or (y) create or issue any Senior Securities.

 

(c)          For any matter described in this Section 16.5 in which the Series A Holders are entitled to vote as a class (whether separately or together with the holders of any Parity Securities), such Series A Holders shall be entitled to one vote per Series A Preferred Unit. Any Series A Preferred Units held by any of the Partnership’s subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be entitled to vote.

 

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Section 16.6          Optional Redemption . The General Partner shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 15, 2019 or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, to cause the Partnership to redeem the Series A Preferred Units, in whole or in part, from any source of funds legally available for such purpose; provided, however, that any cash payment upon a Change of Control shall not be made unless (i) the Partnership has completed any required change of control offers for its outstanding 2020 Notes pursuant to the 2020 Notes Indenture and its outstanding 2022 Notes pursuant to the 2022 Notes Indenture, and (ii) such payment would be permitted under the restricted payments covenant contained in each such indenture. Additionally, any cash payment to Series A Holders shall be subject to the limitations contained in the indentures governing any future issuances of senior notes by the Partnership, in its bank credit facility and in any other agreements governing its indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the General Partner (the “ Series A Redemption Date ”).

 

(a)          Subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall effect any such redemption by paying cash for each Series A Preferred Unit to be redeemed equal to the Series A Liquidation Preference for such Series A Preferred Unit on such Series A Redemption Date (the “ Series A Redemption Price ”). So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the Depositary, the Series A Redemption Price shall be paid by the Paying Agent to the Depositary on the Series A Redemption Date.

 

(b)          The Partnership shall give notice of any redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the scheduled Series A Redemption Date, to the Series A Holders (as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of any Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as such Series A Holders’ names appear on the books of the Transfer Agent and at the address of such Series A Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “ Series A Redemption Notice ”) shall state: (i) the Series A Redemption Date, (ii) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the number (and, in the case of Units in certificated form, the identification) of Units to be redeemed from such Series A Holder, (iii) the Series A Redemption Price, (iv) the place where any Series A Preferred Units in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Series A Redemption Price therefor and (v) that distributions on the Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate from and after such Series A Redemption Date.

 

(c)          If the Partnership elects to redeem less than all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be determined by the General Partner, and such Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed by such method of selection as the Depositary shall determine either Pro Rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional Series A Preferred Units. The aggregate Series A Redemption Price for any such partial redemption of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be allocated correspondingly among the redeemed Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units not redeemed shall remain Outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided in this Article XVI.

 

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(d)          If the Partnership gives or causes to be given a Series A Redemption Notice, the Partnership shall deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series A Preferred Units as to which such Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, no later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Series A Redemption Date, and shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Series A Redemption Price to the Series A Holders to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is issued in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) of the Certificates therefor as set forth in the Series A Redemption Notice. If the Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, from and after the Series A Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Series A Redemption Notice, all Series A Distributions on such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate and all rights of holders of such Series A Preferred Units with respect to such Series A Preferred Units shall cease, except the right to receive the Series A Redemption Price, including any amount equal to accumulated and unpaid distributions to the Series A Redemption Date (whether or not declared), and such Series A Preferred Units shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Transfer Agent or be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The Partnership shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent (to the extent that such interest income is not required to pay the Series A Redemption Price of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed), and the holders of any Series A Preferred Units so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest income. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including redemption of Series A Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after two years after the applicable Series A Redemption Date or other payment date, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment the Series A Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Series A Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Series A Redemption Price of such Series A Preferred Units shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Paying Agent.

 

(e)          Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be canceled. If only a portion of the Series A Preferred Units represented by a Certificate shall have been called for redemption, upon surrender of the Certificate to the Paying Agent (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee), the Partnership shall issue and the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Series A Holders a new Certificate (or adjust the applicable book-entry account) representing the number of Series A Preferred Units represented by the surrendered Certificate that have not been called for redemption.

 

(f)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XVI, unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities to the most recent respective distribution payment dates, neither the Partnership nor any Affiliate of the Partnership shall be permitted to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series A Preferred Units or Parity Securities except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all holders of Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities. Neither the Partnership, nor any Affiliate of the Partnership shall be permitted to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any Common Units or any other Junior Securities unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities to the most recent respective distribution payment dates.

 

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Section 16.7          No Sinking Fund . The Series A Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Section 16.8          Record Holders . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series A Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series A Preferred Units for all purposes, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Partnership, the Transfer Agent nor the Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 16.9          Notices . All notices or other communications in respect of the Series A Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVI, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series A Preferred Unit in book-entry form shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.

 

Section 16.10          Other Rights . The Series A Preferred Units shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in this Article XVI or as required by applicable law.

 

Article XVII
SERIES B PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS

 

Section 17.1          Designation . A series of Preferred Units to be known as “Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units,” including any PIK Units issued pursuant to Section 17.3, is hereby designated and created. Article XVII of this Agreement fixes the preferences, rights, powers and duties of the Series B Holders and the Series B Preferred Units. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series B Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series B Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which Series B Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates may differ. Each Series B Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and shall not give rise to a claim by the holder thereof for redemption or conversion at any particular date, unless converted by any Series B Holder or the Partnership pursuant to Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6.

 

Section 17.2          Units .

 

(a)          The authorized number of Series B Preferred Units shall be unlimited. The Partnership shall issue 46,666,666 Series B Preferred Units on the Series B Original Issue Date. Any Series B Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled. Other than with respect to PIK Units, the class of Series B Preferred Units shall be closed immediately following the Series B Original Issue Date and thereafter no additional Series B Preferred Units shall be designated, created or issued without the affirmative vote required in Section 17.5(b).

 

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(b)          The Series B Preferred Units shall be initially represented by direct registration with the Partnership’s transfer agent. When the Series B Preferred Units are subsequently deposited with the Depository, they shall be represented by a single Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series B Holder shall be entitled to receive a Certificate evidencing Series B Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such and the Partnership shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series B Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.

 

Section 17.3          Distributions .

 

(a)          Distributions on each Series B Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accrue at the Series B Distribution Rate from the Series B Original Issue Date (or, (a) for any PIK Units, from the Series B Distribution Payment Date immediately preceding the issuance date of such Units and (b) for any Series B Preferred Units issued after the Series B Original Issue Date (other than PIK Units), from the date of issuance of such Series B Preferred Units) until such time as the Partnership pays the Series B Distributions or the Series B Preferred Units are converted to Common Units in full in accordance with Section 17.3(c), 17.4 or Section 17.6, whether or not such Series B Distributions shall have been declared, and distributions shall accrue on the amount of Series B Distributions in Arrears at the Series B Distribution Rate. Subject to the Delaware Act, Series B Holders shall be entitled to receive Series B Distributions from time to time at the Series B Distribution Rate per Series B Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner. Distributions, when, as and if declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 17.3, shall be paid monthly (except in the case of the initial payment) on each Series B Distribution Payment Date. Series B Distributions shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. All Series B Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 17.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.

 

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(b)          Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series B Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series B Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series B Holders on the Record Date for the applicable Series B Distribution. The Record Date (the “ Series B Distribution Record Date ”) for any Series B Distribution payment shall be as of the closing of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the last Business Day of each month immediately preceding the applicable Series B Distribution Payment Date, except that in the case of payments of Series B Distributions in Arrears, the Series B Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series B Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with this Article XVII. No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Junior Securities or cash in lieu of fractional Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) through the most recent respective distribution payment dates. Accumulated Series B Distributions in Arrears for any past Series B Distribution Period may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series B Distribution Payment Date, to Series B Holders on the Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all accumulated distributions in Arrears on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of accumulated distributions in Arrears on the Series B Preferred Units and any such Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series B Preferred Units and any Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate distribution amounts remaining due in respect of such Series B Preferred Units and Parity Securities (including any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) at such time. Subject to Sections 12.4 and 17.6, Series B Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or equity interests, in excess of full cumulative Series B Distributions. Except insofar as distributions accrue on the amount of any Series B Distributions in Arrears as described in Section 17.3(a), no interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment which may be in Arrears on the Series B Preferred Units. If and for so long as the Series B Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, declared Series B Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series B Distribution Payment Date or other interest payment date in the case of payments for Series B Distributions in Arrears.

 

(c)          If the Partnership elects to pay some or all of a Series B Distribution in PIK Units as permitted in this Agreement, it shall publicly announce that election on or before the Series B Distribution Record Date for which such election has been made and shall state in the announcement the amount of PIK Units or combination of cash and PIK Units to be paid per Series B Preferred Unit in connection with the Series B Distribution. Except as set forth in Section 17.3(c)(i) through (iii), when any PIK Units are payable to a Series B Holder pursuant to this Section 17.3, the Partnership shall issue the PIK Units to such holder as a distribution in accordance with Section 17.3(a) (the date of issuance of such PIK Units, the “ PIK Payment Date ”). On the PIK Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to such Series B Holder a certificate or certificates for the number of PIK Units to which such Series B Holder shall be entitled, or, at the request of the holder, a notation in book entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent, and all such 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 17-303,17-607 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 the Partnership Agreement.

 

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(i)          In addition to the conversion rights provided in Section 17.6, a Series B Eligible Holder shall have the right to elect to receive on the PIK Payment Date, instead of the PIK Units payable to the Series B Eligible Holder (but not instead of any cash payment that is declared), the number of Common Units into which all the PIK Units payable to that Series B Eligible Holder on that PIK Payment Date are then convertible. This right must be exercised by delivery of signed, written notice from the Series B Eligible Holder to the Partnership (or, if the Series B Preferred Units of the Series B Eligible Holder are held of record by the nominee of the Depository, by complying with the applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the election), received no later than 10 days before the PIK Payment Date setting forth the number of Series B Preferred Units that the Series B Holder holds, certifying that the Series B Holder is a Series B Eligible Holder, and stating that it elects to receive Common Units instead of the PIK Units payable on that PIK Payment Date. Such a notice may also specify that it remains in effect for such Series B Eligible Holder with respect to all future PIK Payment Dates until it is revoked in writing by the Series B Eligible Holder no less than 10 days before the first PIK Payment Date for which such revocation is to be effective.

 

(ii)         If such an election is made pursuant to Section 17.3(c)(i), on the applicable PIK Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to each validly electing Series B Holder a certificate or certificates for the number of Common Units to which such Series B Holder shall be entitled instead of PIK Units, or, at the request of the holder, a notation in book entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent, and all such Common 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 17-303,17-607 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 the Partnership Agreement. Instead of issuing any fractional Common Unit in lieu of a PIK Unit, all Common Units to be issued to the Series B Holder shall be aggregated, and the resulting fractional Common Unit (if any) shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, the Partnership shall pay cash in lieu of any fractional Common Unit not issued because of rounding based on the value of a Common Unit as a portion of then-applicable Series B Issue Price, taking into account the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect.

 

(iii)        The payment of the Common Units in lieu of the PIK units shall be treated as the simultaneous receipt and conversion of the PIK Units into Common Units and subject to the provisions of Section 17.6(d), (e) and (f), but (for avoidance of doubt) not Section 17.6(c). Immediately upon any issuance of the Common Units in lieu of PIK Units, all rights of the electing Series B Holder in respect the PIK Units payable on that PIK Payment Date shall cease, and such electing Series B Holder shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units.

 

(d)          For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, if the Partnership issues one or more PIK Units (or Common Units in lieu of PIK Units) with respect to a Series B Preferred Unit, (i) the Partnership shall be treated as distributing cash with respect to such Series B Preferred Unit in an amount equal to the Series B Distribution Rate and (ii) the holder of such Series B Preferred Unit shall be treated as having contributed to the Partnership in exchange for such newly issued PIK Units (or such newly issued Common Units) an amount of cash equal to the Series B Distribution Rate less the amount of any cash paid by the Partnership in lieu of fractional PIK Units or fractional Common Units.

 

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Section 17.4          Change of Control .

 

(a)          In the event of a Cash COC Event, the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units shall be automatically converted, without requirement of any action of the Series B Holders, into Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the Cash COC Event at a conversion ratio equal to the greater of (A) the then applicable Series B Conversion Ratio and (B) the quotient of (i) the product of (a) the Series B Issue Price, multiplied by (b) the Cash COC Conversion Premium, divided by (ii) the greater of (x) the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of closing of the Cash COC Event and (y) $0.33, adjusted appropriately for any subdivisions, splits, combinations, reclassifications or other similar transactions (the “ Series B Floor Price ”).

 

(b)          If a Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event) occurs, then each Series B Holder may, at its sole election:

 

(i)          convert all, but not less than all, Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder into Common Units, at the then-applicable Series B Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 17.6(c);

 

(ii)         if the Partnership is not the surviving entity of such Change of Control, then the Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Series B Holders, in exchange for their Series B Preferred Units upon such Change of Control, a security in the surviving entity that has substantially similar powers, preferences and special rights as the Series B Preferred Units, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right to distributions equal in amount and timing to those provided in Section 17.3 (a “ Substantially Equivalent Unit ”); provided , however , that, if such Change of Control occurs and the Partnership is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered a Substantially Equivalent Unit to any such electing Series B Holder in connection with such Change of Control, each such Series B Holder shall be entitled to (x) take any action otherwise permitted by clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 17.4(b), or (y) convert the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder immediately prior to such Change of Control (other than (in the case of clauses (A) and (B) below) any PIK Units, which, solely with respect to a Change of Control contemplated by this Section 17.4(b)(ii), shall be extinguished for no consideration upon the closing of such Change of Control) into the number of Common Units that would be issued at the then-applicable Series B Conversion Ratio multiplied by:

 

(A)         prior to the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, the quotient of (a) (i) 160% of the then-applicable Conversion Price less (ii) the sum of all cash distributions paid as of the effective date of the conversion with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder on or prior to the date of the Change of Control, divided by (b) the greater of (i) 0.97 multiplied by the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (ii) the Series B Floor Price, or

 

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(B)         after the third anniversary of the Series B Original Issue Date, the quotient of (a) (i) 160% multiplied by the then-applicable Conversion Price plus (ii) accrued and unpaid distributions as of the effective date of the conversion with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder less (iii) the sum of all cash distributions paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder during the first twelve full quarters following the Series B Original Issue Date, divided by (b) the greater of (i) 0.97 multiplied by the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (ii) the Series B Floor Price.

 

(iii)        if the Partnership is the surviving entity of such Change of Control, continue to hold Series B Preferred Units; or

 

(iv)        require the Partnership to redeem the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder at a price per Series B Preferred Unit equal to 101% of the Series B Issue Price plus accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of such redemption with respect to each of the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder. Any redemption pursuant to this sub-clause (iv) shall, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be paid in either cash or a number of Common Units equal to the quotient of (a) the product of (1) 101% of the Series B Issue Price, multiplied by (2) the number of Series B Preferred Units owned by such Series B Holder that the Partnership has elected to redeem by payment of Common Units, divided by (b) the product of (x) 0.92 multiplied by (y) the greater of (1) the VWAP for the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control and (2) the Series B Floor Price.

 

(c)          In connection with any Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event) after the Series B Original Issue Date, the Partnership will give notice to the Series B Holders and make an irrevocable written offer (a “ Series B Change of Control Offer ”) to convert, receive a Substantially Equivalent Security, continue to hold, or redeem its Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 17.4(b). Each Series B Holder electing to participate in the Series B Change of Control Offer will be required, prior to the close of business on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series B Preferred Units to be converted, exchanged for a Substantially Equivalent Security, continued to be held, or redeemed in the Series B Change of Control Offer and, if the Series B Preferred Units are held of record by the nominee of the Depository, otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures of the Depositary for effecting the conversion, exchange for a Substantially Equivalent Security or redemption. Each Series B Holder who fails to timely deliver an election with respect to the Series B Change of Control Offer will be deemed to have elected to convert all the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder into Common Units as provided in Section 17.4(b)(i).

 

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(d)          Upon conversion, the rights of such participating Series B Holder as a holder of the Series B Preferred Units shall cease with respect to such converted Series B Preferred Units, and such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall, upon its Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Conversion Common Unit.

 

(e)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series B Holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series B Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties which will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(f)          All Common Units delivered upon any conversion or redemption of the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 17.4 shall be (1) newly issued and (2) 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 17-303,17-607 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.

 

(g)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

(h)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series B Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion.

 

Section 17.5          Voting Rights .

 

(a)          In addition to the voting rights provided in Section 17.5(b) through (c), the Series B Preferred Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Series B Preferred Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Series B Preferred Units are convertible on each matter with respect to which each Common Unit is entitled to vote.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by the Delaware Act, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Series B Preferred Unit, shall be necessary for any of the following actions:

 

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(i)          amendments to this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership that are materially adverse to powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Units;

 

(ii)         other than PIK Units, issuances of Senior Securities or Parity Securities to the Series B Preferred Units (other than Parity Securities to the Series B Preferred Units that are substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Units), including the designation, creation or issuance of additional Series B Preferred Units after the Series B Original Issue Date;

 

(iii)        entering into any transaction between the Partnership on the one hand, and the General Partner or any of the General Partner’s Affiliates on the other hand, if such transaction (A) is not in existence on the Series B Original Issue Date ( provided , for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment to any such transaction shall be subject to the terms of this Section 17.5(b)(iii)) or (B) has not been approved pursuant to Section 7.9(a)(i) or (ii), but in any event excluding any transactions between the Partnership and any of its Subsidiaries or between or among two or more of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries;

 

(iv)         adopting or changing tax elections, tax accounting methods or tax reporting positions, in each case if such adoption or change would disproportionately and adversely affect the Series B Holders (relative to the other Limited Partners) unless the adoption or change is required by applicable law; and

 

(v)         making any distribution, other than in accordance with the existing distribution provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 12.4 as in effect on the Series B Original Issue Date.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by the Delaware Act, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, until the Series B Voting Termination Date, the affirmative vote or consent of the majority of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Series B Preferred Unit, shall be necessary for the Partnership’s repurchase of Parity Securities or Junior Securities to the Series B Preferred (other than (i) Parity Securities or Junior Securities transferred to the Partnership to satisfy some or all of the exercise price or tax withholding obligations on equity-based awards under the Partnership’s employee benefit plans, (ii) repurchases of Parity Securities when a similar proportion of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units are also repurchased or subject to a comparable repurchase offer, and (iii) the conversion of any Parity Securities or Junior Securities in accordance with their terms into Parity Securities or Junior Securities).

 

(d)          Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Series B Holders may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Series B Holders owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which the requisite minimum percentage of Series B Preferred Units were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or the Series B Preferred Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern).

 

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Section 17.6          Conversion of Series B Preferred Units .

 

(a)          One or more Series B Holders may elect, each in its own discretion, at any time on or after April 15, 2018, to convert all or any portion of the Series B Preferred Units held by such electing Series B Holder(s) in an aggregate amount equaling or exceeding the Series B Minimum Conversion Amount into Common Units, with each Series B Preferred Unit so converted being converted into one Common Unit, subject to Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments (as so adjusted, the “ Series B Conversion Ratio ”), by delivery of: (A) written notice to the Partnership, in the form set forth as Exhibit D hereto, setting forth the number of Series B Preferred Units it holds and the number of Series B Preferred Units it is electing to convert, and (B) if such Series B Preferred Units are Certificated, a Series B Preferred Unit Certificate to the Transfer Agent representing an amount of Series B Preferred Units at least equal to the amount such Series B Holder is electing to convert (or an instruction letter to the Transfer Agent if the Series B Preferred Units are in book-entry form). Immediately upon any conversion of the Series B Preferred Units, all rights of the Converting Unitholder in respect thereof shall cease, including any accrual of distributions, and such Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units.

 

(b)          At any time on or after April 15, 2018, the Partnership shall have the option at any time to convert all or part of the Series B Preferred Units then Outstanding into Common Units at the Series B Conversion Ratio; provided that (i) with respect to Common Units delivered upon a conversion in accordance with this Section 17.6(b), such Common Units shall be registered for public resale under the Securities Act, pursuant to an effective registration statement that is then-available for the resale of such Common Units; and (ii) the daily VWAP of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is greater than one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the Conversion Price for 20 Trading Days in the 30 Trading Day period immediately preceding the date the Partnership furnishes notice to the Series B Holders of the conversion.

 

(c)          The Partnership shall make a cash payment to any Series B Holder with respect to any Series B Preferred Units converted pursuant to Sections 17.4(b)(i), 17.6(a) and (b) to account for any accrued but unpaid distributions on such Series B Preferred Units up to, but excluding, the date of such conversion. Instead of issuing any fractional Common Units, the Partnership shall, after aggregating all Common Units to be issued to such Series B Holder at that time, round down the number of Common Units issued to each Series B Holder to the next lower whole Common Unit and, subject to the Delaware Act, pay cash in lieu of any such fractional unit based on the then-applicable Series B Issue Price.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything in this Section 17.6 to the contrary, with respect to Series B Preferred Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a Series B Distribution and a Common Unit distribution with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date, together with all accrued but unpaid distributions on the converted Series B Preferred Units.

 

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(e)          Upon conversion, the rights of a holder of converted Series B Preferred Units as a Series B Holder shall cease with respect to such converted Series B Preferred Units, including any rights under this Agreement with respect to Series B Holders, and such Person shall continue to be a Limited Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall, upon its Conversion Date be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Common Units(s) into which such Series B Preferred Unit is converted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a result of a conversion, a holder shall not lose or relinquish any claims or rights of action such holder may then or thereafter have as a result of such holder’s previous ownership of Series B Preferred Units.

 

(f)          The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Common Units upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units. However, the holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Common Units in a name other than the holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to deliver the Certificate representing Common Units (or notation of book entry) being issued in a name other than the holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties due because the Units are to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

 

(g)          The Partnership shall keep free from preemptive rights a sufficient number of Common Units to permit the conversion of all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units into Common Units to the extent provided in, and in accordance with this Section 17.6.

 

(h)          All Common Units delivered upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 17.6 shall be (1) newly issued or (2) 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 17-303, 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.

 

(i)          The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Common Units upon conversion of Series B Preferred Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other National Securities Exchange or other market shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

105
 

 

(j)          If, after the Series B Original Issue Date, the Partnership (A) makes a distribution on its Common Units in Common Units, (B) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (C) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a smaller number of Common Units or (D) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), then the Series B Conversion Ratio in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted (such adjustments referred to as, the “Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments” ) so that the conversion of the Series B Preferred Units after such time shall entitle the holder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or shares of any Partnership Interests into which such shares of Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified pursuant to clauses (C) and (D) above) that such holder would have been entitled to receive if the Series B Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, and in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 17.6 relating to the Series B Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Series B Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Series B Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 17.6(j) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur. No Series B Conversion Ratio Adjustments shall be made upon cash distributions by the Partnership on its Common Units.

 

Section 17.7          No Sinking Fund . The Series B Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Section 17.8          Record Holders . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series B Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series B Preferred Units for all purposes, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Partnership, the Transfer Agent nor the Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 17.9          Notices . All notices or other communications in respect of the Series B Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVII, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series B Preferred Unit in book-entry form by the nominee of the Depository shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.

 

Section 17.10          Other Rights . The Series B Preferred Units shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in this Article XVII or as required by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Partnership shall have no obligation to redeem any Series B Preferred Units in whole or in part in cash unless such redemption complies with the Delaware Act and the covenants in the Partnership’s debt instruments, including any restricted payment covenant in its indentures, until such time as the Partnership is no longer restricted from making such payment under any such debt instrument. Distributions shall continue to accrue on the Series B Preferred Units at the Series B Distribution Rate until such payment is made.

 

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Article XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 18.1          Addresses and Notices . Except as otherwise provided in Section 16.9 in relation to the Series A Preferred Units and Section 17.9 in relation to the Series B Preferred Units, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee 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 Securities 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 Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 18.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees. 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, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

Section 18.2          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 18.3          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 18.4          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 18.5          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 18.6          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 18.7          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 Unit, upon accepting the Certificate evidencing such Unit or executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described, independently of the signature of any other party.

 

Section 18.8          Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

Section 18.9          Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 18.10          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 18.11          Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent of the Partnership on Certificates representing either Common Units, Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

Section 18.12          Third-Party Beneficiaries . Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.

 

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

108
 

 

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

 

  GENERAL PARTNER:
   
  Breitburn GP LLC
   
  By:  
    Halbert S. Washburn
    Chief Executive Officer
   
  LIMITED PARTNERS:
   
  All Limited Partners previously admitted to the Partnership that continue to be Limited Partners on the date hereof:
     
  By: Breitburn GP LLC, as attorney-in-fact pursuant to the power of attorney granted under Section 2.6 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP
     
  By:  
    Halbert S. Washburn
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

Exhibit A
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Common Units

 

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy 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 and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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). BREITBURN GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

A- 1
 

 

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

 

Dated:     Breitburn Energy Partners LP
     
Countersigned and Registered by:   By: Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
       
    By:  
as Transfer Agent and Registrar   Name:  
         
By:     By:  
  Authorized Signature     Secretary

 

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 MIN ACT    
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties Custodian  
      (Cust)   (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to
  survivorship and not as Minors Act    ____________________________
  tenants in common                                                         (State)

 

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

 

ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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 Breitburn Energy 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 17A(d)-15    
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
     

 

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer application in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.

 

A- 3
 

 

APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS

 

Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Breitburn Energy Partners LP, c/o Breitburn GP LLC, 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071; Attn: Chief Financial Officer, to be admitted as limited partners to Breitburn Energy Partners LP.

 

The undersigned (“ Assignee ”) hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby and hereby certifies to Breitburn Energy Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”) that the Assignee (including to the best of Assignee’s knowledge, any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units) is an Eligible Holder. 1

 

The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee’s attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Date:      
     
     
Social Security or other identifying number
of Assignee
  Signature of Assignee
     
     
Purchase Price including commissions, if any   Name and Address of Assignee

 

 

(1) The term Eligible Holder means a person or entity qualified to hold an interest in oil and gas leases on federal lands. As of the date hereof, Eligible Holder means: (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof; (3) a public body, including a municipality; or (4) an association of United States citizens, such as a partnership or limited liability company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, but only if such association does not have any direct or indirect foreign ownership, other than foreign ownership of stock in a parent corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, onshore mineral leases or any direct or indirect interest therein may be acquired and held by aliens only through stock ownership, holding or control in a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof.

 

A- 4
 

 

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨ Individual ¨ Partnership ¨ Corporation
           
¨ Trust ¨ Other (specify)    

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨ U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
         
¨ Foreign Corporation ¨ Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A. Individual Interestholder
   
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.
   
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is                      .
   
3. My home address is                                          .
   
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
   
1.                              is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations).
   
2. The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                      .
   
3. The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                      .

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within ten (10) days of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

A- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

 
Name of Interestholder
 
 
Signature and Date
 
 
Title (if applicable)

 

Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee’s knowledge.

 

A- 6
 

 

Exhibit B
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing
8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Series A Preferred Units

 

In accordance with Section 16.2(b) of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                      (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of                      8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Series A Preferred Units ”), transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Series A Preferred Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Series A Preferred Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

B- 1
 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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) OR (D) VIOLATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP DATED APRIL 8, 2015, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. BREITBURN GP LLC MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

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

 

Dated:    

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, LLC
as Transfer Agent

 

By:     Breitburn Energy Partners LP
  Authorized Signature    
      By:  Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
         
      By:  
        Name:  
        Title:  
        By:  
          Secretary

 

B- 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/TRANFERS MIN ACT
     
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties   Custodian  
    (Cust)   (Minor)
     
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of  
  survivorship and not as under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD
  tenants in common Minors Act (State)

 

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

 

B- 3
 

 

ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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)

 

Series A Preferred 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 Breitburn Energy 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.

 

SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE(S)    
  (Signature)
   
   
    (Signature)
GUARANTEED:      

 

No transfer of the Series A Preferred Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Series A Preferred Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.

 

B- 4
 

 

ASSIGNEE CERTIFICATION

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨ Individual ¨ Partnership ¨ Corporation
           
¨ Trust ¨ Other (specify)    

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨ U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
         
¨ Foreign Corporation ¨ Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned Interestholder’s Interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the Interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A. Individual Interestholder
   
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation;
   
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (social security number) is:                    
   
3. My home address is                                         
   
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
   
1.                      is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations)
   
2. The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                      
   
3. The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                     

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the Interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this Certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

B- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

 
Name of Interest holder
 
 
Signature and Date
 
 
Title (if applicable)

 

Note: If the assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the assignee will hold the Series A Preferred Units shall be made to the best of Assignee’s knowledge.

 

B- 6
 

 

Exhibit C
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Certificate Evidencing
Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

No. Series B Preferred Units

 

In accordance with Section 17.2(b) of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                      (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of                      Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Series B Preferred Units ”), transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Series B Preferred Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Series B Preferred Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at the principal office of the Partnership located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and is an Eligible Holder, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

C- 1
 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BREITBURN ENERGY 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 BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, (C) CAUSE BREITBURN ENERGY 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) OR (D) VIOLATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP DATED APRIL 8, 2015, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. BREITBURN GP LLC MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

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

 

Dated: __________________________

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, LLC
as Transfer Agent

 

By:     Breitburn Energy Partners LP
  Authorized Signature    
      By:  Breitburn GP LLC,
its General Partner
         
      By:  
        Name:  
        Title:  
        By:  
          Secretary

 

C- 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/TRANFERS MIN ACT
     
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties   Custodian  
    (Cust)   (Minor)
     
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of  
  survivorship and not as under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD
  tenants in common Minors Act (State)

 

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

 

C- 3
 

 

ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES B PREFERRED UNITS
in
BREITBURN ENERGY 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)

 

Series B Preferred 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 Breitburn Energy 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.

 

SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE(S)    
  (Signature)
   
   
    (Signature)
GUARANTEED:      

 

No transfer of the Series B Preferred Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Series B Preferred Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.

 

C- 4
 

 

ASSIGNEE CERTIFICATION

 

Type of Entity (check one):

 

¨ Individual ¨ Partnership ¨ Corporation
           
¨ Trust ¨ Other (specify)    

 

Nationality (check one):

 

¨ U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity  
         
¨ Foreign Corporation ¨ Non-resident Alien  

 

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned Interestholder’s Interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the Interestholder).

 

Complete Either A or B:

 

A. Individual Interestholder
   
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation;
   
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (social security number) is:                    
   
3. My home address is                                         
   
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
   
1.                      is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations)
   
2. The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is                     
   
3. The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is                     

 

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the Interestholder becomes a foreign person.

 

The interestholder understands that this Certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

C- 5
 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

 
Name of Interest holder
 
 
Signature and Date
 
 
Title (if applicable)

 

Note: If the assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the assignee will hold the Series B Preferred Units shall be made to the best of Assignee’s knowledge.

 

C- 6
 

 

Exhibit D
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Form of Notice of Conversion

 

Series B Preferred Unit Conversion Notice

(To be Executed by the [Series B Holder][Partnership] in Order to Convert Series B Preferred Units)

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units (“ Series B Preferred Units ”) of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), indicated below into common units (“ Common Units ”) of the Partnership, according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If Common Units are to be issued in the name of a person other than the holder of such Series B Preferred Units, such holder will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and will deliver such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Partnership or its transfer agent. No fee will be charged to the holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.

 

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion:     

 

Number of Series
B Preferred Units to be Converted: 
   

 

Total Amount of Accrued, Accumulated and Unpaid Distributions on the Series
B Preferred  Units: 
   

 

Applicable Series
B Conversion Ratio: 
   

 

Number of Common Units to be Issued:     

 

Name in which Certificate for Common Units to be Issued:     

 

Address for Delivery:     

 

  [SERIES B HOLDER] [Breitburn GP LLC]  
     
  By:    
    Authorized Officer:  
      Title:
           

 

D- 1
 

  

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF ANCHORAGE STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit E- 1
 

 

Exhibit E

 

STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

THIS STANDSTILL AGREEMENT , dated as of April [●], 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Breitburn Entities ”) and ACMO BBEP Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”). The Breitburn Entities and the Purchaser are herein referred to as the “ Parties. ” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement (as defined below).

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Partnership and the purchasers party thereto, including the Purchaser, the Partnership has agreed to issue and sell Series B Preferred Units to the Purchaser;

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Parties to enter into the transactions evidenced by the Purchase Agreement, each of the Parties is required to deliver this Agreement, duly executed by each of the Parties, contemporaneously with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing ”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with or prior to the Closing, the General Partner executed and delivered the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “ Partnership Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser’s investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is expected to benefit the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser will receive valuable consideration as a result of the investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser believes it to be in its best interest to provide the Breitburn 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 as follows:

 

 
 

 

Agreement

 

Section 1.           Standstill .

 

(a)                    During the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          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, other than as recommended by the board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”)); or

 

(ii)         call a special meeting of the Unitholders.

 

(b)                   Specifically, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, without the prior written consent of the Board, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis), except by the receipt of PIK Units (or Common Units in lieu thereof) as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement;

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 1(c)(iv), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iii)        propose to enter into, directly or indirectly, any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or their properties, except as permitted hereby;

 

(iv)         make or in any way participate in any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act) or written consents to vote, seek to influence, or advise others with respect to the voting of any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(v)          form, join or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) (other than a group of other Affiliates of the Purchaser) with respect to any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(vi)         act to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Partnership, except as permitted by Section 1(c) of this Agreement;

 

2
 

 

(vii)        propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

(viii)      publicly disclose any intent, plan or arrangement inconsistent with this Agreement; or

 

(ix)         advise, assist or encourage others in connection with the above.

 

(c)                   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1 , the foregoing provisions shall not, and are not intended to:

 

(i)          prohibit the Purchaser from privately communicating with, including making any offer or proposal to, the Board;

 

(ii)         restrict in any manner how the Purchaser votes its Common Units or Series B Preferred Units;

 

(iii)        restrict the Purchaser from selling or transferring any of its Partnership Securities; provided that if such transferee is an Affiliate or successor of the Purchaser, such transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions contained in this Agreement; or

 

(iv)         prohibit portfolio companies that are Affiliates of the Purchaser from purchasing products or services or operating assets sold by the Partnership or its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business, provided that the aggregate purchase price of such products, services and operating assets in any transaction or series of related transactions is equal to or less than $25 million.

 

(d)          “ Standstill Termination Date ” means the earlier of (1) the second anniversary of this Agreement and (2) the Standstill Termination Date under that certain Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April [●], 2015, by and among the General Partner, Partnership and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP.

 

Section 2.           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) 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 with respect to 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 Breitburn Entities or any of their Affiliates or the Purchaser 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.

 

3
 

 

(b)           Notices . All notices and demands provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the Breitburn Parties:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

and

 

Breitburn GP LLC

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103

Attention: Shelley A. Barber

 

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

 

If to the Purchaser:

 

ACMO BBEP Corp
c/o Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C.

610 Broadway, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10012

Attn: Legal

Facsimile: 212-426-4601

Email: legal@anchoragecap.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

4 Times Square

 

New York, NY 10036

 

4
 

 

Attention: Ken Ziman

Facsimile: (917) 777-3310

Email: ken.ziman@skadden.com

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Michelle Gasaway

Facsimile: (213) 621-5122

Email: michelle.gasaway@skadden.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.

 

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(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 agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. 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.

 

(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.

 

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(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. 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; Termination . 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; provided that this Agreement shall not be binding on any subsequent transferees of Partnership Securities from the Purchaser, other than Affiliates of the Purchaser to the extent required by Section 1(c)(iii). This Agreement shall terminate on the Standstill Termination Date, except that the provisions of this Section 2 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and except that no party to this Agreement shall be relieved or released from liability for damages arising out of a breach of this Agreement before such termination.

 

(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. Further, each Party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

 

(k)           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.

 

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[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

8
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
   
  By:  
  Name:     Halbert S. Washburn
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

  PARTNERSHIP
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
   
  By:  Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
   
  By:  
  Name:     Halbert S. Washburn
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

  PURCHASER:
   
    ACMO BBEP Corp.
   

 

By:

Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., as investment           manager
     
    By:  
    Name:     Daniel Allen
    Title:    Senior Portfolio Manager
       
      As tax nominee for Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. and ACMO BBEP, L.P.

 

Signature Page to Standstill Agreement

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF GUGGENHEIM STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit F- 1
 

 

Exhibit F

  

THIS STANDSTILL AGREEMENT , dated as of April [●], 2015 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership” and, together with the General Partner, the “Breitburn Entities”) and each entity specified on Exhibit A attached hereto (individually and not jointly and solely with respect to the assets of each entity under management of Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“Investment Manager”), each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”). The Breitburn Entities and the Purchasers are herein referred to as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of April [●], 2015 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Partnership and the purchasers party thereto, including the Purchasers, the Partnership has agreed to issue and sell Series B Preferred Units to the Purchasers;

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Parties to enter into the transactions evidenced by the Purchase Agreement, each of the Parties is required to deliver this Agreement, duly executed by each of the Parties, contemporaneously with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Closing”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with or prior to the Closing, the General Partner executed and delivered the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, each Purchaser’s investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is expected to benefit the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, each Purchaser will receive valuable consideration as a result of the investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, each Purchaser believes it to be in its best interest to provide the Breitburn 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 as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.           Standstill.

 

               (a)          During the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, none of the Purchasers and Investment Manager shall, and Investment Manager shall cause any other account it manages or advises not to, directly or indirectly:

 

 
 

 

(i)          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, other than as recommended by the board of directors of the General Partner (the “Board”)); or

 

(ii)         call a special meeting of the Unitholders.

 

                 (b)          Specifically, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, without the prior written consent of the Board, Investment Manager shall not, and shall cause the Purchasers (solely with respect to assets of each entity under management of the Investment Manager) and any other account it manages or advises not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis), except by the receipt of PIK Units (or Common Units in lieu thereof) as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement;

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 1(c)(iv), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iii)        propose to enter into, directly or indirectly, any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or their properties, except as permitted hereby;

 

(iv)        make or in any way participate in any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act) or written consents to vote, seek to influence, or advise others with respect to the voting of any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(v)         form, join or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) (other than a group of other Affiliates of the Purchasers) with respect to any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(vi)        act to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Partnership, except as permitted by Section 1(c) of this Agreement;

 

(vii)       propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

(viii)      publicly disclose any intent, plan or arrangement inconsistent with this Agreement; or

  

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(ix)         advise, assist or encourage others in connection with the above.

 

                  (c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, the foregoing provisions shall not, and are not intended to:

 

(i)          prohibit any Purchaser from privately communicating with, including making any offer or proposal to, the Board;

 

(ii)         restrict in any manner how any Purchaser votes its Common Units or Series B Preferred Units;

 

(iii)        restrict any Purchaser from selling or transferring any of its Partnership Securities; provided that if such transferee is an Affiliate or successor of such Purchaser, such transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions contained in this Agreement; or

 

(iv)        prohibit portfolio companies that are Affiliates of any Purchaser from purchasing products or services or operating assets sold by the Partnership or its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business, provided that the aggregate purchase price of such products, services and operating assets in any transaction or series of related transactions is equal to or less than $25 million.

 

           (d)           “Standstill Termination Date” means the earlier of (1) the second anniversary of this Agreement and (2) the Standstill Termination Date under that certain Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among the General Partner, Partnership and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP.

 

Section 2.           Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) 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 with respect to 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 Breitburn Entities or any of their Affiliates or the Purchasers or any of their 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 demands provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the Breitburn Parties:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800 Los

Angeles, California 90071

 

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Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

and

 

Breitburn GP LLC

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and

Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10103

Attention: Shelley A. Barber

 

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

 

If to the Purchasers:

 

c/o Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC

330 Madison Avenue, 10 th Floor

New York, NewYork 10017

Attn: GI Legal

Facismile: (212) 644-8107

Email: GILegal@Guggenheimpartners.com

 

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(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 agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. 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 INVESTMENT MANAGER AGREES, 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. 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.

 

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(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; Termination . 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; provided that this Agreement shall not be binding on any subsequent transferees of Partnership Securities from the Purchasers, other than Affiliates of the Purchasers to the extent required by Section 1(c)(iii). This Agreement shall terminate on the Standstill Termination Date, except that the provisions of this Section 2 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and except that no party to this Agreement shall be relieved or released from liability for damages arising out of a breach of this Agreement before such termination.

 

(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. Further, each Party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

 

(k)          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.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

7
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
   
  By:  
  Name:   Halbert S. Washburn
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

  PARTNERSHIP
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
  By: Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
     
  By:  
  Name:   Halbert S. Washburn
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Standstill Agreement  

 

 
 

 

  PURCHASER:
   
  Each entity specified on Exhibit A attached hereto, individually and not jointly
   
  By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC
   
  By:  
  Name:    William R. Hagner
  Title:    Attorney-In-Fact

   

 
 

 

Exhibit A

 

Purchaser
Midland National Life Insurance Company
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance
SEI Institutional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund
Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund
Maverick Enterprises, Inc.
Carey Credit Income Fund
NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

THIS BOARD REPRESENTATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT , dated as of April 8, 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Breitburn Entities ”) and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Purchaser ”). The Breitburn Entities and the Purchaser are herein referred to as the “ Parties. ” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement (as defined below).

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Partnership and the Purchaser, the Partnership has agreed to issue and sell Series B Preferred Units to the Purchaser;

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Parties to enter into the transactions evidenced by the Purchase Agreement, each of the Parties is required to deliver this Agreement, duly executed by each of the Parties, contemporaneously with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “ Closing ”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with or prior to the Closing, the General Partner executed and delivered the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “ Partnership Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser’s investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is expected to benefit the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser will receive valuable consideration as a result of the investment in the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”), on behalf of 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 the Partnership to provide the Purchaser with certain observation and designation rights in respect of the Board, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser believes it to be in its best interest to provide the Breitburn 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 as follows:

 

 
 

 

Agreement

 

Section 1.           Board Observation Rights .

 

(a)          During the period commencing upon the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date (as defined below), the Breitburn Entities shall grant the Purchaser the option and right, exercisable by the Purchaser’s delivering a written notice signed by the Purchaser of such appointment to the Breitburn Entities (the “ Observer Notice ”), to appoint a single representative, and an alternate to the representative (each, the “ Board Observer ”) to attend all meetings (including telephonic) of the Board and each committee of the Board (other than the Conflicts Committee) in an observer capacity. The Observer Notice shall be delivered to the Breitburn Entities prior to the Board Observer’s attendance at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof. The Board Observer shall not constitute a member of the Board or any committee thereof and shall not be entitled to vote on, or consent to, any matters presented to the Board or any committee thereof. The initial Board Observer shall be Clayton Taylor, and his initial alternate shall be Richard K. Punches.

 

(b)          The Breitburn Entities shall (i) give the Board Observer written notice of each meeting or action taken by written consent at the same time and in the same manner as notice is given to the members of the Board, (ii) provide the Board Observer with copies of all written materials and other information (including copies of minutes of meetings or written consents of the Board and each committee of the Board (other than the Conflicts Committee) given to the members of the Board and each such committee in connection with such meetings or actions taken by written consent) at the same time such materials and information are furnished to such members of the Board and each such committee, and (iii) provide the Board Observer with the same right to attend (whether in person or by telephone or other means of electronic communication as solely determined by the Board Observer) such meetings as is given to a member of the Board or each such committee, as applicable. The Board Observer shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information and proceedings of the Board and any committee of the Board and to enter into, comply with, and be bound by, in all respects, the terms and conditions of a confidentiality agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”). Purchaser shall be responsible for any breach by the Board Observer of the Confidentiality Agreement and for the breach by any Permitted Recipient (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) of their confidentiality obligations. Notwithstanding any rights to be granted or provided to the Board Observer hereunder, the Board, the Board’s chairman, or any Board committee chairman (as to the material or meeting of that committee) may exclude the Board Observer from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof.

 

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(c)          The rights of the Purchaser contained in this Section 1 and Section 2 shall immediately cease and terminate on the earlier of (i) the Series B Voting Termination Date (unless such Series B Voting Termination Date is solely the result of the conversion of Purchased Units (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) into Common Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement) or (ii) on or after the initial conversion of Series B Preferred Units held by the Series B Purchasers pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the date on which the Series B Purchasers no longer own (A) Common Units issued in respect of any such conversion or any prior conversion and (B) Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis (based on the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect) that, together, are equal in number to seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) or more of the total number of outstanding Common Units (counting for this purpose in the denominator used to calculate such percentage, all outstanding Series B Preferred Units as though they were outstanding Common Units based on the Series B Conversion Ratio then in effect), regardless of whether such failure to own such number of Common Units results from sales by the Series B Purchasers, dilution as the result of new issuances by the Partnership, or otherwise (such earlier date, the “ Board Rights Termination Date ”); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances shall the Board Rights Termination Date be deemed to have occurred so long as the Series B Purchasers continue to beneficially own, solely among the Series B Purchasers, the majority of the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date plus a majority of the PIK Units, if any, paid with respect to the Series B Preferred Units issued on the Series B Original Issue Date. From and after the Board Rights Termination Date, the rights of the Purchaser in this Section 1 and Section 2 shall cease.

 

Section 2.           Board Designation Rights .

 

(a)          During the period commencing upon the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date, the Breitburn Entities shall grant the Purchaser the option and right, exercisable by the Purchaser’s delivering a written notice signed by the Purchaser, to designate one person to serve as a Director on the Board (the “ Purchaser Designated Director ”); provided, however , that such Purchaser Designated Director shall, in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner, (i) have the requisite skill and experience to serve as a director of a public company, (ii) not be prohibited from serving as a Director pursuant to any rule or regulation of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership’s Common Units are listed or admitted to trading, and (iii) not be an employee or director of any Competitor (as defined below); and provided , further , that as a condition precedent to service on the Board, the Purchaser Designated Director shall deliver to the Board his or her written resignation from the Board that the Board or its chairman may, in the Board’s or the chairman’s sole discretion, accept and make effective at any time on or after the Board Rights Termination Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Competitor ” shall mean any person or entity that (a) is an operating company (and not a person or entity, the primary business purpose of which is to operate energy assets in the upstream energy sector; it being agreed that “ Competitor ” shall not include any company the primary business purpose of which is to provide financing directly or indirectly to unaffiliated entities, whether or not engaged in the upstream energy sector) and (b) engages in the upstream energy business or otherwise provides similar services or engages in a similar business as the Partnership. The Breitburn Entities shall take all actions necessary or advisable to effect the first sentence of this Section 2(a), including contemporaneously with or immediately following the Closing to increase the size of the Board by one Director and to appoint the Purchaser Designated Director as a Class III Director, to serve an initial term that expires no earlier than the annual meeting of the Unitholders to be held in 2017. The initial Purchaser Designated Director is Kurt Talbot. The Purchaser agrees upon the Partnership’s request to, and to cause the Purchaser Designated Director to, timely provide the Partnership with accurate and complete information relating to the Purchaser Designated Director as may be required to be disclosed by the Partnership under the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Purchaser further agrees to cause the Purchaser Designated Director to comply with the Section 16 filing obligations under the Securities Exchange Act. At each applicable election of Directors, the Board shall nominate the Purchaser Designated Director, which designee must meet the standards set forth above, as part of the slate of Directors nominated by the Board for election by the Unitholders and shall recommend that the Unitholders vote for the Purchaser Designated Director. Additionally, in the event of the resignation, death, or removal (for cause or otherwise) of the Purchaser Designated Director, the Purchaser shall have the right to designate the person to be appointed by the Board as the Purchaser Designated Director to fill the resulting vacancy (subject to such designee meeting the standards set forth above). Any action by the Purchaser to designate a Purchaser Designated Director shall be evidenced in writing furnished to the Breitburn Entities and shall be executed by the Purchaser. While serving as a Purchaser Designated Director, a Purchaser Designated Director shall be entitled to compensation commensurate with that of an independent member of the Board and reimbursed for reasonable expenses consistent with the General Partner’s policies applicable to other non-employee directors.

 

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(b)          The option and right to appoint a Board Observer or Purchaser Designated Director granted to the Purchaser by the Partnership under Section 1 and this Section 2 , respectively, may not be transferred or assigned by the Purchaser, provided , however , that the Purchaser may assign all (but not less than all) of its rights under Section 1 and Section 2 to any of its Affiliates with the prior written consent of the Partnership, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such a permitted assignee, upon and after such consent, shall be considered the Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

(c)          On the Board Rights Termination Date, the rights of the Purchaser under this Section 2 , including the right to designate a Purchaser Designated Director, shall automatically terminate. In addition to the obligation in Section 2(a) of each Purchaser Designated Director to deliver the written resignation described therein, on and after the Board Rights Termination Date, the Purchaser agrees, promptly upon (and in any event within two (2) Business Days following) receipt of a written request from the Partnership, to cause the Purchaser Designated Director then serving as a member of the Board to resign from the Board effective immediately.

 

Section 3.           Limitation of Liability; Indemnification; Business Opportunities .

 

(a)          At all times while the Purchaser Designated Director is serving as a member of the Board, and following any such Purchaser Designated Director’s death, resignation, removal or other cessation as a director in such former Purchaser Designated Director’s capacity as a former director, the Purchaser 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)          For the avoidance of doubt, the Board Observer shall have (i) no fiduciary duty to the Breitburn Entities or to any Limited Partner and (ii) no obligations to the Breitburn Entities under this Agreement, except as described in Section 1 of this Agreement, or to any Limited Partner.

 

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(c)          At all times while the Board Observer is serving in such capacity in accordance with Section 1 of this Agreement, such Board Observer, the Purchaser and its 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 Breitburn Entities, and the Breitburn Entities, the Board and their Affiliates shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Breitburn Entities, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of the Board Observer, the Purchaser or its respective Affiliates shall be obligated to present any investment opportunity to the Breitburn Entities even if such opportunity is of a character that the Breitburn Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries 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 Board Observer, the Purchaser or its respective Affiliates shall have the right to take for such person’s own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such investment opportunity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board Observer shall be subject to, and comply with, the requirement to maintain confidential information pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d)          The Breitburn Entities shall purchase and maintain (or reimburse the Purchaser Designated Director for the cost of) insurance (“ D&O Insurance ”), on behalf of the Purchaser Designated Director, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Purchaser Designated Director in connection with the Breitburn Entities’ activities or such Purchaser Designated Director’s activities on behalf of the Breitburn Entities, regardless of whether the Breitburn Entities would have the power to indemnify such Purchaser Designated Director against such liability under the provisions of the Partnership Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time) or the GP LLC Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time). Such D&O Insurance shall provide coverage commensurate with that of an independent member of the Board.

 

Section 4.           Purchaser’s Voting Obligations .

 

(a)          Purchaser agrees that, during the Voting Period, at any meeting of the Unitholders, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the Unitholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the Unitholders is sought solely with respect to the matters described in this Section 4. Purchaser shall vote (or cause to be voted) or execute (or cause to be executed) consents with respect to, as applicable, all of the Units owned (beneficially or of record) by the Series B Purchasers as of the applicable record date (i) in favor of (FOR) the election of the persons named in the Partnership’s proxy statement as the Board’s nominees for election as directors, and against any other nominees and (ii) in favor of (FOR) the adoption of or amendment to any equity-based compensation plans presented by the Board for Unitholder vote that is similar with respect to amount and types of awards for long-term incentive plans of publicly traded upstream oil and gas companies.

 

(b)          With respect to any vote of the Unitholders held during the Voting Period with respect to the matters set forth in Section 4(a), the Purchaser shall, and shall cause the other Series B Purchasers on any applicable record date to, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all of the Units held by the Series B Purchasers to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. Any vote required to be cast or consent required to be executed pursuant to this Section 4 shall be cast or executed in accordance with the applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of recording the results of that vote or consent.

 

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(c)           “ Voting Period ” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including the annual meeting of Unitholders to elect Directors to the Board that is held in 2017 (including any adjournments and postponements thereof).

 

(d)          In addition, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date, with respect to any proposal to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, vote (or give consents for) a proportion of their Series B Preferred Units and Common Units in favor of removal that exceeds the proportion of (i) the Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as-converted basis consistent with Section 17.5(a) of the Partnership Agreement) voted in favor of such proposal by the Unitholders other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates as compared to (ii) all Common Units (plus Series B Preferred Units counted on an as-converted basis consistent with Section 17.5(a) of the Partnership Agreement) held by the Unitholders other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates.

 

Section 5.           Standstill .

 

(a)          During the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          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, other than as recommended by the Board);

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis), provided that, the foregoing shall not prohibit or apply to the receipt of any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and such PIK Units shall not be taken into account for purposes of establishing compliance with the foregoing;

 

(iii)        acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 5(c)(v), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iv)         call a special meeting of the Unitholders; or

 

(v)          propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or, other than in accordance with Section 4(d) of this Agreement, vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

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(b)          Specifically, during the period commencing on the Closing and ending on the Standstill Termination Date, without the prior written consent of the Board, the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)          acquire or propose to acquire beneficial ownership of additional Common Units, Series B Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities that in the aggregate, together with their beneficial ownership of any other Units, is equal to beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Common Units (taking into account the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Units on an as-converted basis) provided that, the foregoing shall not prohibit or apply to the receipt of any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and such PIK Units shall not be taken into account for purposes of establishing compliance with the foregoing;

 

(ii)         acquire or propose to acquire securities of any Affiliates of the Partnership or, subject to Section 5(c)(v), any properties of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(iii)        propose to enter into, directly or indirectly, any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or their properties, except as permitted hereby;

 

(iv)         make or in any way participate in any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act) or written consents to vote, seek to influence, or advise others with respect to the voting of any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(v)          form, join or participate in a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) with respect to any voting securities of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates;

 

(vi)         act to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Partnership, except through the Purchaser Designated Director or as permitted by Section 5(c) of this Agreement;

 

(vii)        propose to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership or, other than in accordance with Section 4(d) of this Agreement, vote to remove Breitburn GP LLC as the general partner of the Partnership;

 

(viii)      publicly disclose any intent, plan or arrangement inconsistent with this Agreement; or

 

(ix)         advise, assist or encourage others in connection with the above.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 , the foregoing provisions shall not, and are not intended to:

 

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(i)          prohibit the Purchaser or its Affiliates from privately communicating with, including making any offer or proposal to, the Board;

 

(ii)         restrict in any manner how the Purchaser or its Affiliates vote their Common Units or Series B Preferred Units, except as provided in Section 2(a) and Section 4 ;

 

(iii)        restrict the manner in which the Purchaser Designated Director (A) may vote on any matter submitted to the Board or the Unitholders, (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)         restrict the Purchaser or its Affiliates from selling or transferring any of their Partnership Securities to any Affiliate or successor of the Purchaser that agrees to be bound by the provisions contained in this Agreement;

 

(v)          prohibit portfolio companies that are Affiliates of the Purchaser from purchasing products or services or operating assets sold by the Partnership or its Affiliates in the ordinary course of business, provided that the aggregate purchase price of such products, services and operating assets in any transaction or series of related transactions is equal to or less than $25 million; or

 

(vi)         restrict the Purchaser or its Affiliates from receiving any PIK Units as distributions on Series B Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.

 

(d)          “ Standstill Termination Date ” means the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the Board Rights Termination Date and (ii) the later of (A) the third anniversary of this Agreement or (B) the first anniversary of the date on which both the Purchaser Designated Director has resigned from the Board and the Purchaser has permanently waived and renounced the Purchaser’s Board observation rights and Board designation rights in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.              Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) 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 with respect to 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 Breitburn Entities or any of their Affiliates or the Purchaser 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 demands provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

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If to the Breitburn Parties:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and

Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

and

 

Breitburn GP LLC

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Gregory C. Brown, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and

Chief Administrative Officer

 

Email: gbrown@breitburn.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103

Attention: Shelley A. Barber

 

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

  

If to the Purchaser:

 

c/o EIG Management Company, LLC

1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800

Washington, DC 20006

Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, Senior Vice President

Telephone: (202) 600-3309

 

Email: wdc@eigpartners.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

EIG Management Company, LLC

Three Allen Center

333 Clay Street, Suite 3500

 

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Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Clayton Taylor, Managing Director

Telephone: (713) 615-7423

 

Email: clay.taylor@eigpartners.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Richard Aftanas and John Pitts

 

Email: richard.aftanas@kirkland.com and john.pitts@kirkland.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.

 

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(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 agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. 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.

 

(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.

 

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(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. 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; Termination . This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but, subject to Section 2(b) , will not be assignable or delegable by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of each of the other Parties. This Agreement shall terminate on the later of the Board Rights Termination Date, the expiration of the Voting Period, and the Standstill Termination Date, except that the provisions of Section 6 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and except that no party to this Agreement shall be relieved or released from liability for damages arising out of a breach of this Agreement before such termination.

 

(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. Further, each Party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

 

(k)           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.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
   
  By: /s/ Halbert S. Washburn
  Name: Halbert S. Washburn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     

 

  PARTNERSHIP
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
   
  By:  Breitburn GP LLC, its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Halbert S. Washburn
  Name: Halbert S. Washburn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     

 

  PURCHASER:
   
  EIG REDWOOD EQUITY AGGREGATOR, LP
   
  By: EIG Redwood Aggregator GP, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: EIG Asset Management, LLC, its sole member
     

 

  By: /s/ Clayton Taylor
  Name: Clayton Taylor
  Title: Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Richard Punches
  Name: Richard Punches
  Title: Managing Director

 

S ignature P age to B oard R epresentation A nd S tandstill A greement

 
 

 

Annex A

 

FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

 

[●], 20[●]

 

Breitburn GP LLC

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 S. Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

 

Attn:_________________

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(b) of that certain Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of March [●], 2015 (the “ Board Representation and Standstill Agreement ”), by and among Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ” and, together with the General Partner, the “ Breitburn Entities ”), and EIG Redwood Equity Aggregator, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Purchaser ”), the Purchaser has exercised its right to appoint the undersigned as an [observer/alternate to an observer] (the “ Board Observer ”) to the board of directors of the General Partner (the “ Board ”), although the individual serving as the Board Observer may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement and upon such other new individual’s signing a confidentiality agreement in substantially the form hereof. The Board Observer acknowledges that at the meetings of the Board and its committees and at other times, the Board Observer may be provided with and otherwise have access to non-public information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein, shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement. In consideration for and as a condition to the Breitburn Entities furnishing access to such information, the Board Observer hereby agrees to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter agreement (the “ Agreement ”):

 

1.          As used in this Agreement, subject to Paragraph 3 below, “ Confidential Information ” means any and all non-public financial or other non-public information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates that may hereafter be disclosed to the Board Observer by the Breitburn Entities, their Affiliates or by any of their directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors or other representatives (including financial advisors, accountants or legal counsel) (the “ Representatives ”) of the Breitburn Entities, including all notices, minutes, consents, materials, ideas or other information (to the extent constituting information concerning the Breitburn Entities and their Affiliates that is non-public financial or other non-public information) provided to the Board Observer.

 

Annex A- 1
 

 

2.          Except to the extent permitted by this Paragraph 2 or by Paragraph 3 or Paragraph 4 below, the Board Observer shall keep such Confidential Information strictly confidential; provided , that the Board Observer may share Confidential Information with any Series B Purchaser or such Series B Purchaser’s Affiliates and its and such Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, advisory committee members, investment committee members, limited partners, investors and legal counsel (the “ Permitted Recipients ”) (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be subject to the terms of that Confidentiality Agreement between the Partnership and the Purchaser dated [●], 2015). The Board Observer may not record the proceedings of any meeting of the Board by means of an electronic recording device.

 

3.          The term “Confidential Information” does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than (a) as a result of a disclosure by the Board Observer in violation of this Agreement or (b) in violation of a confidentiality obligation to the Breitburn Entities known to the Board Observer, (ii) is or becomes available to the Board Observer or the Purchaser on a non-confidential basis from a source not known to have an obligation of confidentiality to the Breitburn Entities, (iii) was already known to the Board Observer or the Purchaser at the time of disclosure, or (iv) is independently developed by the Board Observer or the Purchaser without reference to any Confidential Information disclosed to the Board Observer.

 

4.          In the event that the Board Observer is required or compelled by statute, rule, regulation, arbitral or judicial process or otherwise requested by any governmental authority to disclose the Confidential Information, the Board Observer shall use reasonable best efforts, to the extent permitted and practicable, to provide the Breitburn Entities with prompt prior written notice of such requirement so that the Breitburn Entities may seek, at such entities sole expense and cost, an appropriate protective order. If in the absence of a protective order, the Board Observer is nonetheless legally required or compelled to disclose Confidential Information, the Board Observer may disclose only the portion of the Confidential Information or other information that it is so legally required or compelled or requested to disclose.

 

5.          All Confidential Information disclosed by the Breitburn Entities or their Representatives to the Board Observer is and will remain the property of the Breitburn Entities, so long as such information remains Confidential Information.

 

6.          It is understood and acknowledged that neither the Breitburn Entities nor any Representative makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information or any component thereof.

 

7.          It is further understood and agreed that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by the Board Observer and that the Breitburn Entities shall be entitled to seek specific performance or any other appropriate form of equitable relief as a remedy for any such breach in addition to the remedies available to the Breitburn Entities at law.

 

8.          This Agreement is personal to the Board Observer, is not assignable by the Board Observer and may be modified or waived only in writing. This Agreement is binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Annex A- 2
 

 

9.          If any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will not be affected thereby. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operates as a waiver thereof, nor does any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.

 

10.         THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. Each of the Parties agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware.

 

11.         This Agreement and all obligations herein will automatically expire two (2) years after the date the Board Observer ceases to act as Board Observer.

 

12.         This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement, and all of which, when taken together, will constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic transmission constitutes effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement. Signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile or electronic transmission will be deemed to be their original signatures for any purpose whatsoever.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Annex A- 3
 

  

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  [                                  ]

 

Agreed to and Accepted, effective as of the

day of          , 20     :

 

   
[NAME OF OBSERVER/ALTERNATE]  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

$650,000,000

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
BREITBURN OPERATING LP
BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

April 8, 2015

 

The Purchasers named in Schedule I attached hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Operating LP ”), and Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Breitburn Finance , ” and together with the Partnership and the Operating LP, the “ Issuers ”), propose to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement (this “ Agreement ”), to the purchasers named in Schedule I attached to this agreement (the “ Purchasers ”), $650,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of their 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “ Notes ”). References herein to the “ Lead Holder ” mean EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP and its successors. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “ Indenture ”) to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof), among the Issuers, the Guarantors listed on Schedule II hereto (the “ Guarantors ”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”) and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”). The Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, including the due and punctual payment of interest on the Notes, will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Guarantees ” and, together with the Notes, the “ Securities ”) by the Guarantors. As used herein, the term “ Notes ” shall include the Guarantees, unless the context otherwise requires. This is to confirm the agreement among the Issuers and the Guarantors (collectively, the “ Breitburn Parties ”), on the one hand, and the Purchasers, on the other hand, concerning the purchase of the Notes from the Issuers by the Purchasers. Any term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule IV hereto.

 

Each of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Breitburn Entities ”) is listed on Schedule III hereof.

 

 
 

 

The Securities and the Guarantees will be secured by a Second-Priority lien on substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Breitburn Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired by any of the Breitburn Parties, that secure borrowings under the Credit Facility (as defined below) on a first-priority basis, subject to certain exceptions to be agreed (the “ Collateral ”). The Collateral shall be described in (a) with respect to real property (including titles, rights and interests therein) that constitutes Collateral, the mortgages, debentures, hypothecs, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt to be entered into after the date hereof (collectively, the “ Mortgages ”), (b) with respect to personal property that constitutes Collateral, the Security Agreement, to be dated the date hereof, and entered into by the Issuers and the Guarantors party hereto (the “ Security Agreement ”) and (c) with respect to cash, deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodity accounts that constitute Collateral, the deposit account control agreements, securities account control agreements and commodity account control agreements to be entered into after the date hereof (the “ Control Agreements ”). The term “ Collateral Documents ” as used herein shall mean the Mortgages, the Security Agreement, the Control Agreements and related financing statements as the same may be amended from time to time and any and all other instruments heretofore, now or hereafter executed in connection with or as security for the payment of the Obligations. The rights of the holders of the Securities with respect to the Collateral shall be further governed by the Intercreditor Agreement to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), among the Collateral Agent and the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and acknowledged by the Breitburn Parties (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). “ Second-Priority ” means, with respect to any Lien, a Lien that is second priority to the Priority Lien Debt (as defined in the Description of Notes), in each instance, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and any Liens expressly permitted to be incurred or exist on the Collateral under the Indenture (“ Permitted Liens ”).

 

This Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date set forth above, amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015, by and among the Breitburn Entities and the purchasers set forth in Schedule I thereto.

 

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1.A.            Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Breitburn Parties . The Breitburn Parties, jointly and severally, represent, warrant to, and agree with, each of the Purchasers that:

 

(a)           Organization and Good Standing of the Breitburn Parties . Each of the Breitburn Parties: (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation except to the extent, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, that any such failure of such Restricted Subsidiary to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) has the power and authority and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Note Documents and, except to the extent that any failure to have any thereof could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to own its assets and carry on its business; (iii) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is licensed and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) is in compliance in all material respects with all Requirements of Law, except to the extent that the failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Corporate Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by each Breitburn Party of this Agreement and each other Note Document to which such Person is a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action, and do not and will not: (i) contravene the terms of any of that Person’s Organization Documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party that would be prior to the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties or otherwise that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect or, except to the extent that any such conflict, breach or contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which such Person or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any Requirement of Law, that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, including any California Requirement of Law promulgated with respect to preparedness and damage prevention associated with earthquakes.

 

(c)           Governmental Authorizations . No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Breitburn Party of this Agreement or any other Note Document to which it is a party, except for filings necessary to obtain and maintain perfection of Liens; routine filings related to the Breitburn Parties and the operation of their business; and such filings as may be necessary in connection with the Collateral Agent’s exercise of remedies under the Note Documents.

 

 
 

 

(d)           Binding Effect . This Agreement and each other Note Document to which any Breitburn Party is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Person to the extent it is a party thereto, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles.

 

(e)           Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending, or to the knowledge of the Breitburn Parties, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against any Breitburn Party or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective Properties which: (i) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Note Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or (ii) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of each Breitburn Party, no injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or any order of any nature has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other Note Document, or directing that the transactions provided for herein or therein not be consummated as herein or therein provided.

 

(f)           No Default .

 

(i)          No Default or Event of Default exists or would be reasonably expected to result from the incurring of any Obligations by the Breitburn Parties;

 

(ii)         No Breitburn Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation in any respect which, individually or together with all such defaults, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Breitburn Party and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property and all agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, and possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, exemptions, approvals and other authorizations granted by Governmental Authorities necessary for the ownership of its Property and the present conduct of its business, except in each case where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           ERISA Compliance . Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 1(g) :

 

(i)          Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law. Each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has either received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or may rely on favorable opinion letter issued by the IRS, and to the knowledge of any Issuer, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification. Each Breitburn Party and each ERISA Affiliate has made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

2
 

 

(ii)         There are no pending or, to the knowledge of any Breitburn Party, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iii)        (1) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (2) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (3) no Breitburn Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (4) no Breitburn Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (5) no Breitburn Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) or ERISA.

 

(h)           Margin Regulations . No Breitburn Party is generally engaged in the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No proceeds from the sale of any Note shall be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose in violation of Regulation U.

 

(i)           Title to Properties . Subject to Permitted Liens, the Breitburn Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries shall each have good and defensible title to all of their respective Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Initial Reserve Report (other than the interests that have been disposed of in one or more dispositions since the date of such report), and except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be have a Material Adverse Effect, and each Breitburn Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have good title to all other Oil and Gas Properties necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of their respective businesses. After giving full effect to the Permitted Liens, any Breitburn Party or Restricted Subsidiary thereof specified as the owner under the Initial Reserve Report owns the net interests in production attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties as reflected in such Reserve Report (other than the interests that have been disposed of in one or more dispositions permitted under the Indenture), and the ownership of such Properties shall not in any material respect obligate such Breitburn Party or Restricted Subsidiary thereof to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each Property set forth in the Initial Reserve Report that is not offset by a corresponding proportionate increase in such Breitburn Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s net revenue interest in such Property. Other than as set forth on Schedule 1(i) , no consents or rights of first refusal exist or remain outstanding with respect to such Breitburn Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s interest in the Mortgaged Properties assigned to it pursuant to any acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties other than Permitted Liens. Other than as set forth on Schedule 1(i) , as of the Closing Date, the property of the Breitburn Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

3
 

 

(j)           Oil and Gas Reserves . Each Breitburn Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is and will hereafter be, in all material respects, the owner of the Oil and Gas that it purports to own from time to time in and under its Oil and Gas Properties, together with the right to produce the same. The Oil and Gas Properties are not subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All Oil and Gas has been and will hereafter be produced, sold and delivered in accordance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations of any Governmental Authority; each of the Breitburn Parties and its Restricted Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects and will hereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all material terms of each oil, gas and mineral lease and any other agreement comprising its Oil and Gas Properties; and all such oil, gas and mineral leases and other agreements have been and will hereafter be maintained in full force and effect; provided , however that nothing in this Section 1(j) shall prevent any Breitburn Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries from (i) abandoning any well or forfeiting, surrendering, releasing or defaulting under any lease in the ordinary course of business which is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders and which, in the opinion of such Breitburn Party, is in its best interest, and such Breitburn Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries is and will hereafter be in compliance with all obligations hereunder and (ii) making any disposition permitted hereunder. All of the Breitburn Parties’ and their Restricted Subsidiaries’ operating agreements and operating leases with respect to their Oil and Gas Properties are and will hereafter be enforceable in all material respects in accordance with their terms except as such may be modified by applicable bankruptcy law or an order of a court in equity.

 

(k)           Initial Reserve Report . The Issuers have heretofore delivered to the Lead Holder a true and complete copy of (x) reserve reports, each dated effective as of December 31, 2014 prepared by Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc. (the “ Initial Reserve Report ”) relating to an evaluation of the Oil and Gas attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties described therein. To the knowledge of the Issuers, (i) the assumptions stated or used in the preparation of the Initial Reserve Report are reasonable, (ii) all information furnished by the Breitburn Parties for use in the preparation of the Initial Reserve Report, was accurate in all material respects, (iii) there has been no material adverse change in the amount of the estimated Oil and Gas shown in the Initial Reserve Report since the date thereof, except for changes which have occurred as a result of production in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) the Initial Reserve Report does not omit any material statement or information necessary to cause the same not to be misleading to the Purchasers.

 

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(l)           Gas Imbalances . There are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties which would require the Breitburn Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries to deliver Oil and Gas produced from any of the Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor exceeding 5,000,000 Mcf of gas (on an Mcf equivalent basis) in the aggregate.

 

(m)           Taxes . Unless specifically disclosed on Schedule 1(m) , the Breitburn Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all federal tax returns and reports required to be filed by them, including any filing extensions together with payments for any estimated taxes due thereon on or before the time the extension is due, and have paid all federal taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. The Breitburn Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all material state and other non-federal tax returns and reports required to be filed by them, and have paid all material state and other non-federal taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets prior to delinquency thereof, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. To the knowledge of the Breitburn Parties, there is no proposed tax assessment against any Breitburn Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would, if made, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(n)           Financial Condition .

 

(i)          The audited consolidated balance sheet of Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014, the related consolidated statement of income, partners’ equity and cash flow of Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended on said date, (1) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (2) fairly present the financial condition of Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (3) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(ii)         Since December 31, 2014, (1) there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (2) the business of Partnership and the other Breitburn Parties have been conducted only in the ordinary course consistent with past business practices.

 

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(o)           Environmental Matters . Except as described on Schedule 1(o) hereto or that, either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (ii) and (iii) below, where the failure, either individually or in the aggregate, to take such actions could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect):

 

(i)          neither any Property of any Breitburn Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, nor the operations conducted thereon, violate Environmental Laws.

 

(ii)         no Property of any Breitburn Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, nor the operations currently conducted thereon by any Breitburn Party, or, to the knowledge of such Breitburn Party, no operations conducted thereon by any prior owner or operator of such Property, are in violation of or subject to any existing, or to the knowledge of such Breitburn Party, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority under Environmental Laws.

 

(iii)        all notices, permits, licenses, exemptions and approvals, if any, required to be obtained or filed under any Environmental Law in connection with the operation or use of any and all Property by each Breitburn Party, including any treatment, storage, disposal or Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed or requested, and each Breitburn Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with the material terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses, exemptions and approvals.

 

(iv)        Hazardous Materials, if any, generated by the Breitburn Parties or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries at any and all Property of any such Restricted Subsidiary have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in compliance with Environmental Laws then in effect, and, to the knowledge of such Breitburn Party, transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities known by such Breitburn Party to have been used by it are not the subject of any existing action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws.

 

(v)         no Hazardous Materials have been disposed of or otherwise Released by any Breitburn Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof on or to any Property of such Breitburn Party or Restricted Subsidiary except in compliance with Environmental Laws.

 

(vi)        no Breitburn Party has any known pending assessment, investigation, monitoring, removal or remedial obligations under applicable Environmental Laws in connection with any Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment by any Breitburn Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof.

 

(p)           Regulated Entities . No Breitburn Party is an “ investment company ” or is a company “controlled by” an “ investment company ” (or a company required to be registered as an “ investment company ”) within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. None of the Breitburn Parties, or any Person controlling any Breitburn Party, is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code, or any other Federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.

 

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(q)           No Burdensome Restrictions . No Breitburn Party nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contractual Obligation, or subject to any restriction in any Organization Document, or any Requirement of Law, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)           Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, Etc . Except to the extent that any failure, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Breitburn Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries owns or is licensed or otherwise has the right to use all of the material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, contractual franchises, authorizations and other rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of its business, without material conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the knowledge of any Breitburn Party, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Breitburn Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof infringes in a material respect upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, and no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code is pending or, to the knowledge of any Breitburn Party, proposed, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(s)           Subsidiaries and Other Equity Interests . No Breitburn Party has any Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary or other equity investment other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 1(s) hereto. Each Breitburn Party owns the percentage interest of all issued and outstanding Equity Interests in each Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary or other material equity investment described on Schedule 1(s) . Partnership owns one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding equity in each of Operating LP and Breitburn Finance.

 

(t)           Insurance . The Properties of each Breitburn Party and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of any Breitburn Party, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where such Breitburn Party or Restricted Subsidiary operates.

 

(u)           Hedging Contracts . As of the date hereof, Schedule 1(u) sets forth, a true and complete list of all Hedging Contracts of the Breitburn Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries in effect as of the Closing Date, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement.

 

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(v)          Full Disclosure . None of the representations or warranties made by any Breitburn Party in the Note Documents as of the date such representations and warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the statements contained in any exhibit, report, written statement or certificate (other than any financial projections, forecasts or estimates) furnished by or on behalf of any Breitburn Party in connection with the Note Documents, taken as whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact known to any Breitburn Party, or omits any material fact known to any Breitburn Party, required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as of the time when made or delivered. The financial projections, forecasts, estimates and other forward looking statements furnished by or on behalf of any Breitburn Party or made available to any Secured Party were (and, to the extent provided after the date hereof, will be) prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are reasonable at the time made and at the time of delivery thereof; provided that with respect to any such information, it is agreed and understood that (i) such information (1) is based upon a number of estimates and is subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and (2) is as to future events and is not to be viewed as facts, (ii) whether or not the results or other projections described therein are achieved will depend on future events, many of which are not within the control of the Breitburn Parties and (iii) the actual results or other projections during the period or periods covered by such information may differ from the projected results and other projections and such differences may be material.

 

(w)           Solvency . Each of the Partnership and the Operating LP is Solvent and the Breitburn Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

(x)           Improved Real Estate . To the knowledge of each Breitburn Party, the Oil and Gas Properties that are not Mortgaged Properties do not include any “ buildings ” (as defined under Section 4000 et. seq. of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, as amended) that are critical to operating any Mortgaged Properties for the exploration and production of oil and gas.

 

(y)           Anti- Corruption Laws and Sanctions . The Partnership has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Partnership, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Law, OFAC Laws, Anti- Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. The Partnership, its subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Partnership, its directors, agents and other persons acting on behalf of them, are in compliance with Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Law, OFAC Laws, Anti- Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (i) the Partnership, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, is a Sanctioned Person, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Partnership, any agent of the Partnership or any subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the note purchase facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Note purchase contemplated hereunder, the use of proceeds thereof or other Transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate any Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Law, OFAC Laws, Anti- Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

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(z)           Collateral .

 

(i)          Upon making of the filings and taking of the other actions set forth on Schedule 1(z) , all filings and other actions necessary to perfect the security interests in the Collateral created under the Collateral Documents shall have been duly made or taken to the extent the Security interest in such Collateral may be perfected by filing and taking the other actions set forth on Schedule 1(z) . Each Breitburn Party has properly delivered or caused to be delivered to Collateral Agent (or, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent) all Collateral that requires perfection of the Liens and security interests described above by possession.

 

(ii)         The Collateral Documents create in favor of Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid and, upon making of the filings and taking of the other actions set forth on Schedule 1(z) , perfected Second-Priority Lien and security interest in the Collateral securing the payment of the Obligations to the extent the Security interest in such Collateral may be perfected by filing and taking the other actions set forth on Schedule 1(z) .

 

(iii)        Each of Breitburn Party is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral to be pledged by it free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(iv)        The mortgages and deeds of trust set forth on Schedule 5 represent all of the mortgages and deeds of trust granted by a Breitburn Party to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent (other than any such mortgages and deeds of trust that have been released prior to the Closing Date); provided it is agreed and understood that the Partnership may update this Schedule 5 by providing written notice to the Purchasers at any time between the date hereof and the Closing Date.

 

(aa)          No General Solicitation .

 

(i)          No Breitburn Party, Affiliate thereof or any person acting on its or any of their behalf has engaged, or will engage, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Notes.

 

(ii)         Other than this Agreement and the Note Documents expressly contemplated hereunder, none of the Breitburn Parties or any Affiliate thereof has entered into any agreement or arrangement with any person in relation to the sale of the Notes.

 

(iii)        Neither any Breitburn Party nor any of their respective Affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf, directly or indirectly, has made or will make any offers or sales of any security, or has solicited or will solicit offers to buy, or otherwise has negotiated or will negotiate in respect of, any security, under circumstances that would require the registration of the Notes under the Securities Act.

 

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(bb)         [ Reserved ].

 

(cc)          Indebtedness . All Indebtedness constituting Existing Indebtedness for purposes of the Note Documents is set forth on Schedule 1(aa) .

 

(dd)          Liens . All Liens constituting Liens in existence as of the Closing Date (to the extent not constituting Liens that are Permitted Liens other than by the fact that they are in existence on the Closing Date) for purposes of the Note Documents are set forth on Schedule 1(bb) .

 

(ee)          Investments . All Investments constituting Investments in existence as of the Closing Date (to the extent not constituting Permitted Investments other than by the fact that they are in existence on the Closing Date) for purposes of the Note Documents are set forth on Schedule 1(dd) .

 

1.B.            Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Purchasers . Each of the Purchasers, severally but not jointly, represents, warrants and agrees with the Breitburn Parties as follows, except with respect to any representation and warranty that speaks solely to a specific Purchaser, which representation and warranty is made only by the Purchaser to which such representation and warranty speaks:

 

(a)           Accredited Investor Status; Sophisticated Purchaser . Such Purchaser is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and is able to bear the risk of its investment in the Securities. Such Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the purchase of the Securities.

 

(b)           Information . Such Purchaser and its representatives have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries that have been requested and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been requested by such Purchaser. Such Purchaser and its representatives have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Partnership. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted at any time by such Purchasers and its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Purchasers’ right (i) to rely on the Breitburn Parties’ representations and warranties contained in Section 1A above or (ii) to indemnification or any other remedy based on, or with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of, or compliance with, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in any Note Document. Such Purchaser understands that its purchase of the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

 

(c)           Purchase Representation . Such Purchaser is purchasing the Securities for its own account and not with a view to distribution in violation of any securities laws. Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act (or if eligible, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act). Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that the Breitburn Parties issuing the Securities are relying upon, among other things, the representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in this Section in concluding that such issuance is a “private offering” and is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act.

 

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(d)           Reliance by Breitburn . Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and sold in reliance on a transactional exemption from the registration requirements of federal and state securities laws and that the Breitburn Parties are relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the applicability of such exemptions and the suitability of such Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

 

2.           Purchase of the Notes by the Purchasers . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Issuers agree, severally and jointly, to issue and sell to the several Purchasers, and each of the Purchasers agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuers, the Notes, at a purchase price of 97.00% of the principal amount thereof, in the respective principal amounts (before giving effect to any discount thereon) set forth on Schedule I ; provided that, notwithstanding the forgoing or anything else to the contrary provided herein, in the event that the Guggenheim Purchasers fail, for any reason, to purchase their respective Notes as set forth on Schedule I at the time at which they are obligated to consummate the Closing pursuant to Section 3 , Anchorage Purchasers shall purchase all of the Notes required to be purchased by the Guggenheim Purchasers hereunder; provided , further , that, notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if the Guggenheim Purchasers, or a Person that is administered, advised or managed by Guggenheim Management , do not purchase, in the aggregate, all of the Series B Convertible Preferred Units required to be purchased by them under the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, the closing of which is to occur simultaneously with the Closing, the Guggenheim Purchasers shall not be entitled to purchase any Notes pursuant to this Agreement. The Breitburn Parties shall not be obligated to deliver any of the securities to a Purchaser to be delivered hereunder, except upon payment for all of the securities to be purchased by such Purchaser as provided herein.

 

3.           Delivery of the Notes and Payment Therefor . The closing of the sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement (the “ Closing ”) will be at the office of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103 at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on April 8, 2015 (the “ Scheduled Closing Date ”); provided that if all conditions in Section 7 to be satisfied at or prior to the closing have not been satisfied or waived on the Scheduled Closing Date, the closing shall occur on the first Business Day following the date on which all such conditions have been (or, at closing, will be capable of being) satisfied or waived (subject to all such conditions in Section 7 being satisfied or waived at the closing). The date the Closing actually occurs is called the “ Closing Date .”

 

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4.           Further Agreements of the Breitburn Parties and the Lead Purchasers . Each of the Breitburn Parties, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees:

 

(a)          To (i) complete on or prior to the Closing Date all filings and other similar actions required in connection with the perfection of Second-Priority security interests in the Collateral as and to the extent contemplated by the Indenture and the Collateral Documents and (ii) take all actions necessary to maintain such security interests and to perfect security interests in any Collateral acquired after the Closing Date, in each case as and to the extent contemplated by the Indenture and the Collateral Documents; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors may deliver, furnish and/or cause to be furnished all of the obligations set forth on Schedule 5 hereto within the time periods set forth therein; and

 

(b)          To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities released to the Issuers solely to (i) repay loans outstanding under the Credit Facility in an amount no less than $930,000,000 and (ii) pay fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and with the (1) purchase and sale of the Securities on the Closing Date and (2) the issuance of the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units in an aggregate amount of $350,000,000.

 

(c)          The Partnership shall pay to the Lead Holder (through the trustee as set forth in the immediately following sentence), from time to time, for the account of the Holders in accordance with their respective percentages of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, with respect to any fee paid by any Breitburn Party to or for the account of the lenders under any Permitted Credit Facility in respect of Indebtedness under the Permitted Credit Facility that is not (i) expressly required by the terms of the Permitted Credit Facility as of the Closing Date or (ii) a fee of the type described in clauses (ii)(D) through (F) of the definition of “Interest Rate Priority Cap” contained in the Intercreditor Agreement (any such fee other than as set forth in clause (i) or clause (ii) above, an “ Additional First Lien Fee ”) a fee in an amount which (when aggregated with the other fees paid under this Section 4(c) in respect of other Additional First Lien Fees made within the one year period ending on such date) is equal to the product of (x) the Excess Fee Percentage, if any, and (y) the total principal amount of the Notes outstanding as of such date of payment. Any fees payable under this Section 4(c) shall be paid to the trustee for the benefit of all Holders on a pro rata basis and shall be due and payable on the date such Additional First Lien Fee is paid to the lenders under Permitted Credit Facility. This covenant shall survive any termination of this Agreement until such time as all of Notes shall have otherwise ceased to be outstanding.

 

5.           Additional Covenants . So long as any Obligation (other than Obligations in respect of indemnification or expense reimbursement for which no claim has been made) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied each of the Breitburn Parties, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with each of the Lead Purchasers as follows:

 

(a)           Financial Statements . The Partnership shall maintain, for itself and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Lead Holder:

 

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(i)          no later than fifteen (15) days following the date required by applicable SEC rules (without giving effect to any extensions available thereunder) for the filing of such financial statements:

 

(1)         the audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, partners equity and cash flows of the Partnership as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all (A) reported on by a nationally recognized independent public accounting firm (the “ Independent Auditor ”) (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and (B) certified by a Proper Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(2)         unaudited annual consolidating balance sheet and consolidating statement of income for the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such year, certified by a Proper Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and

 

(3)         the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, partners equity and cash flows of the Partnership as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous final year, and unaudited consolidating balance sheets and statements of income, all certified by a Proper Officer of the Partnership as fairly presenting in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the absence of footnotes.

 

(ii)         fifteen (15) days following the date required by applicable SEC rules (without giving effect to any extensions available thereunder) for the filing of such financial statements after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Partnership:

 

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(1)         the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, partners equity and cash flows of the Partnership as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of), the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Proper Officer of the Partnership as fairly presenting in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the absence of footnotes; and

 

(2)         the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, partners equity and cash flows of the Partnership as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Proper Officer of the Partnership as fairly presenting in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to the absence of footnotes.

 

(b)           Certificates; Other Production and Reserve Information . The Issuers shall furnish to the Lead Holder:

 

(i)          As soon as available, but not later than forty-five (45) days after the close of each fiscal quarter of the Partnership (including the fourth quarter), a Quarterly Status Report covering each of the three months during such fiscal quarter;

 

(ii)         Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Sections 5(a)(i) and 5(a)(ii), a certificate of a Proper Officer of the Partnership, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such fiscal quarter or fiscal year, a true and complete list of all Hedging Contracts of each Issuer, Guarantor and Restricted Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed on Schedule 1(u) , any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counterparty to each such agreement;

 

(iii)        [Reserved];

 

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(iv)        (A)         Annually commencing March 1, 2015, dated as of January 1 st of such year, a Reserve Report provided by the Reserve Engineer, and annually, commencing September 1, 2015, dated as of July 1 of such year, a Reserve Report prepared by personnel of the Partnership and certified by a Proper Officer of the Partnership as to the knowledge of such Property Officer, true and correct in all material respects. With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Issuers shall provide to the Lead Holder certificate from a Proper Officer of each Issuer certifying that in all material respects: (1) to the knowledge of such Proper Officers, the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct in all material respects, (2) the Breitburn Parties own good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report, and such Properties are free of all Liens except for Permitted Liens, (3) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments in excess of the volume specified in Section 1(l) with respect to their Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report that would require any Breitburn Party to deliver Oil and Gas either generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor, (4) none of their proved Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the delivery of the previous Reserve Report except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all of its proved Oil and Gas Properties sold and in such detail as reasonably required by the Lead Holder, (5) attached to the certificate is a list of all marketing agreements entered into subsequent to the most recently delivered Reserve Report and (6) attached thereto is a schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Breitburn Parties evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Mortgaged Properties and demonstrating the percentage of the present value determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum that such Mortgaged Properties represent and certifying that such Mortgaged Properties represent at least 80% of the total net present value (determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum) of the Breitburn Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report;

 

(v)         In connection with the delivery of each Reserve Report, a listing of any property or related properties of any Breitburn Party acquired pursuant to an acquisition or series of related acquisitions since the date of the last Reserve Report for which such Breitburn Party paid consideration in excess of $5.0 million, not subject to a Mortgage;

 

(vi)        Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any financial statement, report or notice furnished to or by any Person pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock designation, indenture, note purchase agreement, loan or credit or other similar agreement other than this Agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Holders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 5(b) .

 

(vii)       Concurrently with the delivery of any Reserve Report to the Lead Holder pursuant to Section 5(b)(iv) , or after an Event of Default, upon request, a list of all Persons purchasing Oil and Gas from any of the Issuers or Guarantors;

 

(viii)      Prompt written notice, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as the Lead Holder may agree), of the occurrence of any Casualty Event;

 

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(ix)         Prompt written notice (and in any event within thirty (30) days prior thereto (or such shorter period as the Lead Holder may agree) of any change (1) in any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s organizational name or in any trade name used to identify such Person in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its Properties, (2) in the location of any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s chief executive office or principal place of business, (3) in any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s identity or organizational structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed, (4) in any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s jurisdiction of organization or such Person’s organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, and (5) in any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s federal taxpayer identification number, if any;

 

(x)          Promptly upon the request of the Lead Holder, such copies of all geological, engineering and related data contained in any of Issuer’s or Guarantor’s files or readily accessible to the Issuer or Guarantor relating to the Oil and Gas Properties as may reasonably be requested;

 

(xi)         On request by the Lead Holder, based upon the Lead Holder’s good faith belief that any Issuer’s or Guarantors’ title to the Mortgaged Properties or the Collateral Agent’s Lien on any of the Issuers’ or Guarantors’ properties is subject to claims of third parties (other than Permitted Liens), title and mortgage lien evidence reasonably satisfactory to the requesting party, as the case may be, covering such Mortgaged Property as may be designated by the requesting party covering such Issuer’s or Guarantor’s title thereto and evidencing that the Obligations are secured by liens and security interests as provided in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents;

 

(xii)        As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a business and financial plan for the Partnership (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder), prepared by a Proper Officer of the Partnership, setting forth for the current fiscal year, quarterly financial projections and budgets for the Partnership, and for three fiscal years thereafter yearly financial projections and budgets;

 

(xiii)       Promptly, such additional information regarding the properties, business, financial or corporate affairs of the Breitburn Parties as the Lead Holder may from time to time reasonably request;

 

(xiv)      Concurrently with the delivery to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under any Note Document, copies of each notice, opinion, certificate or other document furnished to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable, under any Note Document; and

 

(xv)       The Breitburn Parties acknowledge and agree that (1) the Lead Holder has the right to review and discuss the Reserve Report and the calculation of the PV10, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and such other component calculations as the Lead Holder may reasonably request with the Breitburn Parties during normal business hours, (2) the Reserve Report shall be in form and scope reasonably acceptable to the Lead Holder, and (3) the Breitburn Parties shall, promptly upon the Lead Holder’s reasonable request, provide such information and data with respect to such Oil and Gas Properties included in the Reserve Report and components of such calculations.

 

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(c)           Notices . The Issuers shall promptly notify the Lead Holder:

 

(i)          of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (1) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of any Issuer or Guarantor or any subsidiary thereof; (2) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Issuer, Guarantor or any subsidiary thereof and any Governmental Authority; (3) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation, proposed legislation, ordinance or regulation of a Governmental Authority, or proceeding affecting any Issuer, Guarantor or any subsidiary thereof, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; or (4) revocation, cancellation or failure to renew any license, permit or franchise, where such breach, non-performance, default, dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding, suspension, proposed legislation, ordinance or regulation, revocation, failure or loss could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii)         of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Issuer, Guarantor or any Consolidated Subsidiary; and

 

(iii)        of the formation or acquisition of any Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Each notice under this Section 5(c) shall be accompanied by a written statement by a Proper Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein, and (if applicable) stating what action such Issuer, Guarantor or subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto and at what time. Each notice under Section 5(c) shall describe with particularity any and all clauses or provisions of this Agreement or other Note Document that have been (or foreseeably will be) breached or violated.

 

(d)           Maintenance of Properties . The Issuers will, and will cause each of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve their respective property which is used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and to use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided , however , that nothing in this Section 5(d) shall prevent any of the Issuers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries from abandoning any well or forfeiting, surrendering, releasing or defaulting under any lease in the ordinary course of business which is not materially disadvantageous in any way to the Holders and which, in its opinion, is in the best interest of such Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e)           Title Information . On or before the delivery to the Lead Holder of each Reserve Report required by Section 5(b)(iv) , the Partnership will deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Lead Holder covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the Lead Holder shall have received together with title information previously delivered to the Lead Holder, satisfactory title information on at least 80% of the total net present value (determined by a discount factor of 10%) of the proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report.

 

(f)           Payment of Obligations . The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge prior to delinquency, all their respective obligations and liabilities, including: (i) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (iii) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness; except in each of (a), (b) and (c), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g)           Compliance with Laws . The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business (including Environmental Laws, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and any California Requirement of Law promulgated with respect to earthquakes), except (i) such as may be contested in good faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist or (ii) where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Partnership and its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with the applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Laws, OFAC Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

(h)           Inspection of Books and Records . The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of such Issuer, Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable. The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Lead Holder to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine their respective company, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective managers, directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Partnership and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Partnership; provided , however , when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Lead Holder may do any of the foregoing at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

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(i)           Environmental Laws .

 

(i)          The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and maintain all environmental, health and safety permits, licenses, registrations and authorizations necessary for its operations and will maintain such in full force and effect except where such noncompliance or the failure to maintain such permits, licenses, registrations and authorizations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, any assessment, evaluation, investigation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, removal, repair, restoration, remediation or other remedial obligations (collectively, the “ Remedial Work ”) in the event any Remedial Work is required under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with the actual or suspected past, present or future Release of any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of the Properties of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which failure to commence and diligently prosecute to completion could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)         The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, establish and implement, such procedures as may be reasonably necessary to continuously determine and assure that the Partnership’s obligations under this Section 5(i)(ii) are timely and fully satisfied, which failure to establish and implement could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iii)        The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, promptly furnish to the Lead Holder all written notices of violation, orders, claims, citations, complaints, penalty assessments, suits or other proceedings received by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or of which it has notice, pending or threatened against such Issuer, Guarantor or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, by any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged violation of or non-compliance with any Environmental Laws or any permits, licenses, registrations or authorizations related to Environmental Laws in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the operation of its business, except where any such alleged violations or incidents of non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a penalty, assessment, fine or other cost or liability exceeding $2.0 million.

 

(iv)        The Partnership will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, promptly furnish to the Lead Holder all requests for information, notices of claim, demand letters, and other notifications, received by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the conduct of its business, relating to potential responsibility with respect to any investigation or clean-up of Hazardous Materials at any location, except where any such alleged responsibility would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a penalty, assessment, fine or other cost or liability exceeding $2.0 million.

 

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(j)           Phase I Reports . In the event such is obtained in connection with the acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties directly or indirectly through a subsidiary or otherwise, the Partnership shall deliver to the Lead Holder a copy of a Phase I Report covering such Oil and Gas Properties, and in the event such is not obtained, the Partnership will provide a Phase I Report upon request by the Lead Holder and no more than once per year in the absence of any Event of Default (or as otherwise required to be obtained by the Lead Holder of any Governmental Authority), in connection with any future acquisition of any Oil and Gas Properties.

 

(k)           Margin Stock . The Partnership will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to use any portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes, directly or indirectly, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock in violation of Regulation U, (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any Subsidiary or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock in violation of Regulation U or (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. If requested by the Lead Holder, the Issuers will furnish to the Trustee and the Purchasers a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or such other form referred to in Regulation U or Regulation X of the FRB, as the case may be.

 

(l)           Amendments to Organization Documents . The Partnership will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to alter, amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Holders any of its Organization Documents.

 

(m)           Accounting Changes . Except as expressly permitted by the Lead Holder, the Partnership will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(n)           ERISA Compliance . Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Partnership will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at any time:

 

(i)          engage in, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any transaction in connection with which any Issuer, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i) or (l) of Section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

 

(ii)         fail to make, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto;

 

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(iii)        permit to exist, or allow any ERISA Affiliate to permit to exist, any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, with respect to any Plan;

 

(iv)        permit, or allow any ERISA Affiliate to permit, the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan maintained by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate which is regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4041 of ERISA;

 

(v)         incur, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to incur, an ERISA Event;

 

(vi)        acquire, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA Affiliate with respect to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or with respect to any ERISA Affiliate of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, (1) any Multiemployer Plan with respect to which such Person has an outstanding withdrawal liability under Section 4201 or 4202 of ERISA, or (2) any other Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such Plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities;

 

(vii)       incur, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to incur, a liability to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, or 4204 of ERISA;

 

(viii)      contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, that provides retiree benefits to former employees of such entities (other than coverage mandated by applicable law), that may not be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any material liability; and

 

(ix)         amend, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability such that such the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or establish or contribute to, or permit an ERISA Affiliate to establish or contribute to, a Pension Plan or a Multiemployer Plan.

 

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(o)           Mortgages and Opinions . Within 60 days of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Lead Holder may agree in its sole discretion), the Breitburn Parties will (i) execute and deliver Mortgages in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent in favor of the Collateral Agent on their respective Oil and Gas Properties as required by the Indenture, including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) those Mortgages as described on Schedule 5 under the heading “ Mortgages ” and (y) Mortgages on the Permian Basin Properties and (ii) cause such Mortgages to be filed in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records and pay the mortgage recording fees and taxes in respect thereof and otherwise comply with the formal requirements of state law applicable to the recording of real estate mortgages generally with respect to the Mortgages. On the date that each such Mortgage is so filed or recorded, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Lead Holder favorable opinions of counsel for the Breitburn Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder.

 

(p)           Control Agreements . Within 60 days of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Lead Holder may agree in its sole discretion), the Breitburn Parties shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent the Control Agreements as described on Schedule 5 under the heading “ Control Agreements ” in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent.

 

(q)           Insurance . Within 60 days of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Lead Holder may agree in its sole discretion), the Breitburn Parties shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Collateral Agent such certificates and endorsements to insurance policies in accordance with the Indenture (or as the Lead Holder may otherwise agree) and as otherwise described on Schedule 5 under the heading “ Insurance Certificates and Endorsements ” in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent.

 

6.           Expenses; Indemnification . Each of the Breitburn Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to pay and reimburse each Lead Purchaser, the Lead Holder and their Related Parties in full for all costs, expenses, fees (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel and advisors for the Lead Purchasers and Lead Holder and any fees and expenses incurred exercising their rights under any Transaction Document) ( provided that if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, the Breitburn Parties shall not be liable for amounts in excess of $750,000 (the “ Dead Deal Reimbursement Amount ”) unless the condition set forth in either Section 7(h) or Section 7(i) has not been satisfied by the Drop Dead Date (a “ Bank Condition Failure ”) and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Purchasers, and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Notes; (c) the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (in the case of amendments, modifications or waivers, whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby shall be consummated) and creating, documenting and perfecting the security interests in the Collateral as contemplated by the Collateral Documents and other security documents (including the reasonable related fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Lead Purchasers for all periods prior to and after the Closing Date); (d) the performance by the Breitburn Parties of their other obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents; and (e) the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including its rights under this Section 6 and all expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Notes. Each of the Breitburn Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Lead Purchasers, Lead Holder and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Breitburn Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, any actual, threatened or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Note (or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom), or (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Breitburn Entity, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Breitburn Entity, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Breitburn Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by a Breitburn Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s material obligations hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, if the Breitburn Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. “ Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates. This covenant shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

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7.           Conditions of Purchasers’ Obligations to Purchase the Notes . The several and not joint obligations of the Purchasers hereunder to purchase the Notes in accordance with the provisions herein are subject to the accuracy, when made on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Breitburn Parties contained herein and each other Transaction Document, to the performance by the Breitburn Parties of their respective obligations hereunder and each other Transaction Document, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions (unless waived by the Lead Purchasers):

 

(a)          All corporate, partnership and limited liability company proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Notes, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Lead Purchasers, and the Breitburn Parties shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

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(b)          The Lead Purchasers shall have received a certificate of the secretary, assistant secretary or a Proper Officer with similar responsibilities of each Breitburn Party, or in the event that such Breitburn Party is a limited partnership, of such Person’s general partner, certifying that as of the Closing Date: (i) resolutions of its board of directors or members (or equivalent governing body), authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) the names and genuine signatures of the Proper Officers of such Person, authorized to execute, deliver and perform, as applicable, the Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents, and all other Note Documents to be delivered by such Person; (iii) the Organization Documents of such Person as in effect as of the Closing Date; (iv) the good standing certificate for such Person, from its state of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, dated as of a recent date; (v) as may be reasonably required by the Lead Purchasers, certificate(s) of authority for such Person from states wherein such Person is required to be qualified to conduct business, evidencing such Person’s qualification to do business in such state, dated as of a recent date and (vi) since December 31, 2014, no change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)          Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. shall have furnished to the Lead Purchasers its written opinion, as counsel to the Issuers and Guarantors, addressed to the Lead Purchasers and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers.

 

(d)          Mike, Meyers, Beckett & Jones PLLC shall have furnished to the Lead Purchasers its written opinion, as Michigan local counsel to Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C., a Michigan limited liability company, Mercury Michigan Company, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, Terra Energy Company LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, and Terra Pipeline Company, a Michigan limited liability company, addressed to the Lead Purchasers and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers.

 

(e)          The Partnership shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Lead Purchasers, a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on its behalf by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, or other officers satisfactory to the Lead Holder, as to such matters as the Lead Holder may reasonably request, including, without limitation, statements that (i) the representations, warranties and agreements of the Breitburn Parties in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, and the Breitburn Parties have complied with all their agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (ii) each of the Partnership and the Operating LP is Solvent and the Breitburn Parties and their Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

(f)          Each of the Breitburn Parties shall have furnished to counsel for the Lead Purchasers a duly executed copy of each Note, the Indenture, each other Transaction Document and the Preferred Equity Series B Documentation, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lead Purchasers; provided that the Indenture shall be substantially identical to that certain Indenture, dated as of January 13, 2012, by and among the Partnership, Breitburn Finance, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with changes and modifications to reflect the terms agreed to in the Description of Notes, to otherwise reflect the second lien nature of the financing contemplated hereunder and thereunder and to otherwise reflect any matters mutually agreed to by the parties thereto. “ Preferred Equity Series B Documentation ” means the Partnership Limited Partnership Agreement, the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Board Representation Agreement, each dated as of the Closing Date.

 

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(g)          The Preferred Series B Issuance shall have occurred, or substantially simultaneously with the purchase of the Notes hereunder, shall occur, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Equity Series B Documentation. “ Preferred Equity Series B Issuance ” means the issuance by Partnership of its Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units in an aggregate amount of $350,000,000, which such issuance is to occur on the terms set forth in the Preferred Equity Series B Documentation.

 

(h)          The Lead Purchasers shall have received a duly executed copy of that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers (it being understood and agreed that the draft of the First Amendment to Credit Agreement circulated by counsel to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association at approximately 9:07 p.m., New York City time, on April 5, 2015, is deemed to be satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers), which such First Amendment to Credit Agreement shall, substantially contemporaneous herewith, be fully effective.

 

(i)          The Lead Purchasers shall have received a duly executed copy of that certain Intercreditor Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers (it being understood and agreed that the draft of the Intercreditor Agreement circulated by counsel to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association at approximately [2:32 p.m., New York City time, on March 26, 2015], is deemed to be satisfactory to the Lead Purchasers).

 

(j)          The Issuers shall repay, substantially simultaneously with the sale and purchase of the Notes, the principal amount of loans outstanding under the Credit Facility in an amount no less than $930,000,000 funded with the proceeds from the sale and purchase of the Notes and the Preferred Equity Series B Issuance.

 

(k)          Since December 31, 2014, there shall not have been any change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(l)          Upon giving effect to the Transactions contemplated to occur hereunder, no Default or Event of Default will exist under (i) any indenture to which any Breitburn Party is a party or under any notes issued pursuant thereto or (ii) the Credit Facility or ancillary document to which any Breitburn Party is a party or under any notes issued pursuant thereto.

 

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(m)          Except for those items described on Schedule 5 under the headings “ Mortgages ” and “ Control Agreements ”, which are required to be delivered within 60 days of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Lead Holder may agree in its sole discretion), all documents and instruments required to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral shall have been executed and delivered and, if applicable, be in the proper form for filing, including, without limitation, UCC-1 financing statements as described on Schedule 1(z) .

 

(n)          The Issuers shall have paid the fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent, Trustee, the Purchasers and the Lead Holder required to be paid under the terms hereof or any other Transaction Document, the Preferred Equity Series B Documentation or fee letter, including reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel thereof to the extent a written estimate has been delivered to the Partnership at least three (3) Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

 

(o)          On or prior to the Closing Date, the Breitburn Parties shall have furnished to the Lead Purchasers such further documents, instruments and certificates as the Lead Purchasers may reasonably request, including, without limitation, those set forth on the closing checklist delivered in connection herewith.

 

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Lead Purchasers.

 

8.           Notices . All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

(a)          if to the Purchasers, shall be delivered or sent by mail, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to (i) EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP c/o EIG Management Company, LLC, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006, Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, along with copies to (which shall not constitute notice) to (x) EIG Management Company, LLC, Three Allen Center, 333 Clay Street, Suite 3500, Houston, TX 77002, Attention: Clayton Taylor, (y) Richard Aftanas, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (Fax: 212-446-4900) and (z) John Pitts, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 3300, Houston, TX 77002 (Fax: 713-835-3601), (ii) Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. c/o Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., 610 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, New York, 10012 , Attn: Legal, (Fax: 212-426-4601) with a copy to (x) Ken Ziman, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 4 Times Square, New York, NY 10036, (Fax: (917) 777-3310) and (y) Michelle Gasaway, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (Fax: (213) 621-5122) and (iii) Midland National Life Insurance Company, North American Company for Life and and Health Insurance, SEI Intuitional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund, Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, Maverick Enterprises, Inc., Carey Credit Income Fund and NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC c/o Guggenheim Partners, Investment Management, LLC, 330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10017, Attn: GI Legal (Fax: 212-644-8107).

 

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(b)          if to the Lead Holder, shall be delivered or sent by mail, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP c/o EIG Management Company, LLC, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006, Attention: Niranjan Ravindran, along with copies to (which shall not constitute notice) to (x) EIG Management Company, LLC, Three Allen Center, 333 Clay Street, Suite 3500, Houston, TX 77002, Attention: Clayton Taylor, (y) Richard Aftanas, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (Fax: 212-446-4900) and (z) John Pitts, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 3300, Houston, TX 77002 (Fax: 713-835-3601); and

 

(c)          if to any of the Breitburn Parties, shall be delivered or sent by mail, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to Breitburn Energy Partners LP, 515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Gregory C. Brown (Fax: 213-225-5916), with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10103, Attention: Shelley A. Barber (Fax: 917-849-5353). Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Breitburn Parties each shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Purchasers by the Lead Holder.

 

9.           Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Purchasers, the Breitburn Parties and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Breitburn Parties contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Purchasers and each person or persons, if any, controlling any Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, (b) the expense reimbursement and indemnities contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the Related Parties of the Purchasers and Lead Holder and (c) the payment provision of Section 4(c) shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the trustee under the Indenture and the Holders. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 11 , any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein; provided , however , it is agreed that any inaccuracy of a representation or warranty and any failure of a covenant shall result in a Default or Event of Default, as the case may be, under the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

10.          Survival . The respective representations, warranties and agreements of the Breitburn Parties and the Purchasers contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Notes and shall remain in full force and effect, unless and until this agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 18 , except for the provisions set for in this Section 10 and Section 4(c) , Section 6 , Section 8 , Section 9(b) and 9(c) , Section 11 , Section 12, Section 19 and Sections 20 and 22 (as they relate to the foregoing provisions) of this Agreement, which shall survive termination.

 

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11.          Governing Law . This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York County, New York, including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in connection with any claim brought with respect to this Agreement or related matter and waives any right to claim such forum would be inappropriate, including concepts of forum non conveniens . Time is of the essence in this Agreement.

 

12.          Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the Breitburn Parties and each of the Purchasers hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

13.          Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Purchasers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Breitburn Parties, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Purchasers to properly identify their respective clients.

 

14.          Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

15.          Headings . The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

16.          Successors and Assigns .

 

(a)          This Agreement shall be binding upon the Purchasers and the Breitburn Parties and their successors and permitted assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Breitburn Parties and any of the Purchasers’ respective businesses and/or assets; provided , however , no party hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of each of the other parties hereto; provided , however , that, except as otherwise set forth below in Section 16(b) , nothing in this Section 16(a) shall restrict the ability or the right of the Purchasers to transfer or assign the Notes.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Note Document (including the Indenture), EIG shall at all times own and hold at least 50.1% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes (the “ Minimum Holding Requirement ”); provided that upon a bankruptcy or insolvency Event of Default, EIG may assign or transfer all or any portion of its Notes without regard to the Minimum Holding Requirement and without the consent of the Partnership or any other person.

 

(c)          Any assignment or transfer in violation of this Section shall be null and void ab initio .

 

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17.          Confidentiality . No Purchaser shall, directly or indirectly, disclose to any person any Confidential Information received from the Breitburn Parties, their Affiliates or their representatives in any form, whether acquired prior to or after the Closing Date, relating to the Breitburn Parties; provided , however , that Confidential Information does not include information that (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than (i) as a result of a disclosure by the Purchaser in violation of this Agreement or (ii) in violation of a confidentiality obligation to the Breitburn Parties known to the Purchaser, (b) is or becomes available to the Purchaser on a non-confidential basis from a source not known to have an obligation of confidentiality to the Breitburn Parties, (c) was already known to the Purchaser at the time of disclosure, or (d) is independently developed by the Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Purchaser may disclose any information relating to the business and operations of the Breitburn Parties (i) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, advisory committee members, investment committee members, limited partners, investors and legal counsel (the “ Permitted Recipients ”) to whom such disclosure is necessary and who in each case either (1) acknowledge that they are bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement or (2) are bound by confidentiality obligations to the Purchaser or its Affiliates that are at least as stringent as the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement, and in each case the Purchasers shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Permitted Recipients to keep any such information confidential, (ii) as required by applicable law or any securities exchange or market rule; (iii) as may be requested or required by any Governmental Authority (provided that such Purchaser first notifies the Partnership and gives the Partnership the opportunity to contest such request or requirement, in each case as permitted by applicable law; or (iv) except with prior notice of such request for disclosure to, and consent of, the Partnership (which consent may be withheld in the Partnership’s sole discretion). “ Confidential Information ” means all information received from the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Lead Holder or any Purchaser on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 17 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. “ Confidentiality Agreements ” means that certain letter agreement by and between EIG Management Company, LLC and the General Partner, dated as of January 26, 2015, and that certain letter agreement by and between Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. and the General Partner, dated as of March 3, 2015.

 

18.          Termination .

 

(a)          In the event the Closing Date does not occur by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2015 Houston, Texas time (the “ Drop Dead Date ”), this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect, except Section 6 , Section 8 , Section 9(b) , Section 10 , Section 11 , Section 12, Section 19 and Sections 20 and 22 (as they relate to the foregoing provisions) which shall survive termination.

 

(b)          In the event that the Closing Date occurs and EIG at any time holds less than 50.1% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, this agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect except as set forth in Section 10 above.

 

29
 

 

19.          Valuation of Notes .  The Partnership shall enter into or have put into effect, on or prior to the Closing Date, and shall maintain in effect at all times an agreement with an investment bank (the “ Valuation Firm ”) pursuant to which such Valuation Firm shall value the Notes, in accordance with customary market practices, on a monthly basis.  This covenant shall survive any termination of this Agreement until such time as all of Notes shall have otherwise ceased to be outstanding.

 

20.          Several and Not Joint; No Fiduciary . The parties hereto hereby agree and understand that the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder are several and not joint. The Lead Holder has no duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it.

 

21.          Dead Deal Reimbursement Amount . In the event the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated (other than on account of a Bank Condition Failure), the Purchasers agree that the Dead Deal Reimbursement Amount will be allocated (a) 75.00% to EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP and (b) 25.00% to Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P. and ACMO BBEP, L.P.

 

22.          Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may not be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto; provided that, following the Closing, Sections 1A (with respect to the waiver of a Default or Event of Default arising out of the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty), 4, 5, 8 (provided that each party hereto may amend its own contact information as set forth in Section 8 by providing written notice to each other party in accordance with Section 8 ), 16(b) , 18(b) , 19 (only if Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P., ACMO BBEP, L.P. and their respective Affiliates no longer hold any Notes) and Schedule IV (only to the extent such terms are used in, and for the purposes of, the foregoing provisions) may be amended or waived in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided , further , that Section 6 may be amended or waived by an instrument signed in writing by the Issuers and Lead Purchasers ; provided , however , no consent shall be required by any Anchorage Purchaser to the extent the Anchorage Purchasers cease to hold Notes or by any Guggenheim Purchaser to the extent the Guggenheim Purchasers or any person that is administered, advised or managed by Guggenheim Management cease to hold Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 22 may not be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto and shall not affect the ability to amend or waive any other Note Document in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Breitburn Parties and the Purchasers, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

30
 

 

Very truly yours,

 

  ISSUERS
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
     
  By: Breitburn GP LLC,
    its general partner
   
  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN OPERATING LP
   
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner
   
  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION
   
  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 
 

 

  GUARANTORS
   
  ALAMITOS COMPANY
  BEAVER CREEK PIPELINE, L.L.C.
  GTG PIPELINE LLC
  MERCURY MICHIGAN COMPANY, LLC
  PHOENIX PRODUCTION COMPANY
  QRE GP, LLC
  TERRA ENERGY COMPANY LLC
  TERRA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC
  BREITBURN GP LLC
  BREITBURN MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN FLORIDA LLC
  BREITBURN OKLAHOMA LLC
  BREITBURN SAWTELLE
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO LP LLC
     
  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    its sole member
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

  QR ENERGY, LP
     
  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
     
  QRE OPERATING, LLC
     
  By: QR Energy, LP,
    its sole member
     
  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
     
  TRANSPETCO PIPELINE COMPANY, L.P.
     
  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    on behalf of itself and as the sole member of Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, each a general partner
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

Accepted:

 

EIG REDWOOD DEBT AGGREGATOR, LP, as a Purchaser and the Lead Holder

By: EIG Redwood Aggregator GP, LLC, its general partner

By: EIG Asset Management, LLC, its sole member

 

By: /S/ Clayton Taylor  
Name: Clayton Taylor  
Title:   Managing Director  
     
By: /S/ Richard Punches  
Name: Richard Punches  
Title:   Managing Director  

   

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P., as a Purchaser  
   
By: Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., as  
  investment manager  
   
By: /S/ Natalie A. Birrell  
  Name: Natalie A. Birrell  
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer  
   
ACMO BBEP, L.P., as a Purchaser  
   
By: Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C., as  
  investment manager  
   
By: /S/ Natalie A. Birrell  
  Name: Natalie A. Birrell  
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer  

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

MIDLAND NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager  
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
NORTH AMERICAN COMPANY FOR LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager  
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
SEI INSTITUTIONAL MANAGED TRUST - MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Sub-Adviser  
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
GUGGENHEIM FUNDS TRUST - GUGGENHEIM MACRO OPPORTUNITIES FUND  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Investment Adviser    
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

MAVERICK ENTERPRISES, INC.  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Investment Manager  
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
CAREY CREDIT INCOME FUND  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Sub-Advisor    
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  
   
NZC GUGGENHEIM FUND LLC  
   
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as Manager  
     
By: /S/ William R. Hagner  
Name: William R. Hagner  
Title: Attorney-in-Fact  

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement]

 

 
 

 

 

Schedule I

Purchasers   Principal Amount of Notes  
EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP   $ 487,500,000.00  
ACMO BBEP, L.P.   $ 69,865,000.00  
Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P.   $ 43,885,000.00  
Midland National Life Insurance Company   $ 17,550,000.00  
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance   $ 9,100,000.00  
SEI Institutional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund   $ 813,00.00  
Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund   $ 5,037,00.00  
Maverick Enterprises, Inc.   $ 650,000.00  
Carey Credit Income Fund   $ 3,250,000.00  
NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC   $ 12,350,000.00  
Total   $ 650,000,000  

 

 
 

 

Schedule II

GUARANTORS

 

Alamitos Company

 

Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C.

 

Breitburn Finance Corporation

 

Breitburn Florida LLC

 

Breitburn GP LLC

 

Breitburn Management Company LLC

 

Breitburn Oklahoma LLC

 

Breitburn Operating GP LLC

 

Breitburn Sawtelle LLC

 

Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC

 

Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC

 

GTG Pipeline LLC

 

Mercury Michigan Company, LLC

 

Phoenix Production Company

 

QR Energy, LP

 

QRE GP, LLC

 

QRE Operating, LLC

 

Terra Energy Company LLC

 

Terra Pipeline Company LLC

 

Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.

 

 
 

 

Schedule III

BREITBURN ENTITIES

 

Alamitos Company

 

Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C.

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Breitburn Florida LLC

 

Breitburn GP LLC

 

Breitburn Management Company LLC

 

Breitburn Oklahoma LLC

 

Breitburn Operating GP LLC

 

Breitburn Operating LP

 

Breitburn Sawtelle LLC

 

Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC

 

Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC

 

GTG Pipeline LLC

 

Mercury Michigan Company, LLC

 

Phoenix Production Company

 

QR Energy, LP

 

QRE GP, LLC

 

QRE Operating, LLC

 

Terra Energy Company LLC

 

Terra Pipeline Company LLC

 

Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.

 

 
 

 

Schedule IV

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

 

Any defined term used herein and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or on this Schedule IV shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Description of Notes.

 

Affiliate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Anchorage Purchasers ” means ACMO BBEP, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and Anchorage Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Partnership or any of its respective subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Laws ” means any of the following (a) Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism and the associated Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulation (Title 31, Part 594 of the US Code of Federal Regulations), (b) the Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 595 of the US Code of Federal Regulations), (c) the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 596 of the US Code of Federal Regulations), (d) the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 597 of the US Code of Federal Regulations), (e) the PATRIOT Act, (f) the US Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, (g) the Bank Secrecy Act, 31 U.S.C. sections 5301 et seq. , (h) Laundering of Monetary Instruments, 18 U.S.C. Section 1956, (i) engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity, 18 U.S.C. Section 1957, (j) the Financial Recordkeeping and Reporting of Currency and Foreign Transactions Regulations (Title 31 Part 103 of the US Code of Federal Regulations), (k) any other similar federal Requirement of Law having the force of law and relating to money laundering, terrorist acts or acts of war and (l) any regulations promulgated under any of the foregoing.

 

Board of Directors ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Board Representation Agreement ” means the Board Representation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Partnership, Breitburn GP LLC, and the purchasers of the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units party thereto.

 

Business Day ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Casualty Event ” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Property of any Issuer, Guarantor or any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries with a fair market value in excess of $20,000,000.

 

 
 

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” of the Partnership means all Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are consolidated in accordance with GAAP.

 

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

Credit Facility ” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated November 19, 2014, by and among the Operating LP, as borrower, the Partnership, as parent guarantor, the subsidiary guarantors, each of the financial institutions from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified).

 

Default ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Description of Notes ” shall mean the Description of Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

EIG means one or more funds managed or advised by EIG Management Company, LLC or its controlled Affiliates and Subsidiaries.

 

Environmental Laws ” means all material federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all material administrative orders, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authorities, in each case having the force and effect of law and relating to environmental, health, and safety matters.

 

Equity Interests ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with any Issuer within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by Breitburn Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Breitburn Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate (other than pursuant to Section 4041(b) of ERISA), the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Partnership or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

IV- 2
 

 

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Excess Fee Percentage ” shall mean, as of any date on which a payment of an Additional First Lien Fee is made, the excess, if any of (x) the aggregate Fee Percentage in respect of all such Additional First Lien Fee payments made during the one-year period ending on such date less (y) 2.00%.

 

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Existing Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Fee Percentage ” means, in the context of an Additional First Lien Fee payment, a percentage determined by dividing (x) the amount of such payment by (y) the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred (and Commitments outstanding) under the Permitted Credit Facility as of the date of such payment and multiplying the result by 100% and (ii) in the context of an aggregation of such payments, the aggregate of the Fee Percentages for each Additional First Lien Fee payment made during the one-year period ending on such date.

 

First Amendment to Credit Agreement ” means the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Operating LP, the Partnership, the subsidiary guarantors, each of the financial institutions required to be a party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.

 

Foreign ” means organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

 

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

GAAP ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

General Partner ” means Breitburn GP LLC.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing and including the European Union and the European Central Bank.

 

IV- 3
 

 

Guggenheim Management ” means Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC.

 

Guggenheim Purchasers ” means Midland National Life Insurance Company, an Iowa corporation, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, an Iowa corporation, SEI Institutional Managed Trust - Multi-Asset Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust, Guggenheim Funds Trust - Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, a Iowa statutory trust, Maverick Enterprises Inc., an Iowa corporation, Carey Credit Income Fund, a Delaware statutory trust, and NZC Guggenheim Fund LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means any substance regulated or as to which liability might arise under any applicable Environmental Law, including as a “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “solid waste,” “toxic waste,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” or words of similar meaning or import, and including: (a) petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum products, petroleum substances, natural gas, oil, oil and gas waste, crude oil, and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof; and (b) radioactive materials, asbestos containing materials in a friable condition or polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

Hedging Contracts ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)         interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(2)         foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(3)         any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

 

(4)         other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates,

 

and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

 

Holder ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

IV- 4
 

 

Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.

 

Lead Purchasers ” means the Lead Holder and the Anchorage Purchasers and their successors.

 

Lien ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Margin Stock ” means “ margin stock ” as such term is defined in Regulation U or X of the FRB.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means (i) for purposes of the Closing Date (including, without limitation, for making representations and warranties on the Closing Date), any change, event or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities, results of operations, properties or business of the Breitburn Parties, taken as a whole, provided , however , that a Material Adverse Effect shall exclude any change, event or effect resulting from, arising out of or relating to (a) changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in the United States or elsewhere in the world; (b) changes or conditions generally affecting the oil and gas exploration, development and/or production industry or industries (including changes in oil, gas or other commodity prices); (c) the negotiation, execution, announcement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any adverse change in customer, distributor, supplier or similar relationships resulting therefrom; (d) the existence or occurrence of war, acts of war, terrorism or similar hostilities; (e) compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required by, this Agreement and the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement;  (f) changes in accounting requirements or principles imposed upon any Breitburn Party or their respective businesses or any changes in applicable law, or the interpretation thereof, other than a change that would result in the Partnership being treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes; and (g) changes in the market price of the Common Units (as defined in the Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement);  except to the extent such changes, events or effects in the cases of clauses (a), (b), and (d) above materially and disproportionately affect the Breitburn Parties relative to other participants in the industry or industries in which the Breitburn Parties operate (in which event the extent of such material and disproportionate effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred) and (ii) for all purposes after the Closing Date, (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the Breitburn Parties taken as a whole, including any material adverse change in reserve estimates of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Breitburn Parties taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Breitburn Party to perform its material obligations under the Transaction Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Breitburn Party (or, in the case of the Intercreditor Agreement, against any party thereto other than the trustee or collateral agent) of any material Transaction Document.

 

IV- 5
 

 

Mortgaged Property ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes without giving effect to the proviso thereto.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a “ multiemployer plan ”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which a Breitburn Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the preceding three calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.

 

Note Document ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Obligations ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

OFAC Laws ” means any laws, regulations, and executive orders relating to the economic sanctions programs administered by OFAC, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. sections 1701 et seq. ; the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 App. U.S.C. sections 1 et seq. ; and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Parts 500 et seq. (implementing the economic sanctions programs administered by OFAC).

 

Oil and Gas ” means petroleum, natural gas and other related hydrocarbons or minerals or any of them and all other substances produced or extracted in association therewith.

 

Oil and Gas Properties ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Organization Documents ” means (a) for any corporation: the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, any certificate of determination or instrument relating to the rights of the shareholders of such corporation, any shareholder rights agreement, and all applicable resolutions of the board of directors (or any committee thereof) of such corporation; (b) for any limited liability company: the articles of organization, the regulations or operating agreement, certificate of organization and all applicable resolutions of the members of such company; and (c) for any limited partnership: the limited partnership agreement and all Organization Documents for its general partner, as any of the foregoing have been amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Partnership Limited Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of the Closing Date.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.

 

Pension Plan ” means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which a Breitburn Party or any of its Subsidiaries sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

 

IV- 6
 

 

Permian Basin Properties ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Permitted Credit Facility ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Permitted Liens ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Person ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Phase I Report ” means a report detailing the findings of an environmental site assessment conducted by a qualified third party that satisfies the standards set forth in the current American Standards and Testing Materials designated protocol for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, E1527-13, or any subsequent edition thereof.

 

Plan ” means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which any Breitburn Party sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Priority Lien Document ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Priority Lien Debt ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Proper Officer ” of a Person means any chief executive officer or co-chief executive officer, president, vice president with responsibility for financial matters, chief financial officer or treasurer of (a) such Person, if such Person is a corporation or limited liability company, or (b) the general partner of such Person, if such Person is a partnership.

 

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible.

 

Quarterly Status Report ” for a fiscal quarter means a status report prepared quarterly by the Issuers in form reasonably acceptable to the Lead Holder, setting forth as of the last day of each month during such quarter (a) detailing production from the Oil and Gas Properties, the volumes of Oil and Gas produced and saved, the volumes of Oil and Gas sold, gross revenue, net income, related leasehold operating expenses, severance taxes, other taxes, capital costs and any production imbalances incurred during such period, (b) information concerning any Hedge Contracts entered into by any Issuer, Guarantor or their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, and (c) such additional information with respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties as may be reasonably requested by the Lead Holder.

 

IV- 7
 

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Partnership and the purchasers of the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units party thereto.

 

Regulation U ” and “ Regulation X ” means Regulation U and Regulation X, respectively, of the FRB from time to time in effect and shall include any successor or other regulations or official interpretations of the FRB relating to the subject matter addressed therein.

 

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, depositing, dispersing, disposing, or migrating.

 

Reportable Event ” means, any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder.

 

Requirement of Law ” means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Reserve Engineer ” means each of (a) Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc., (b) Cawley Gillespie and Associates, Inc., (c) Schlumberger Limited, (d) Miller and Lents, LTD and (e) any other independent oil and natural gas reserve engineers selected by the Issuers in accordance with the Credit Facility.

 

Reserve Report ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country or territory which itself is the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or the Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

Sanctions ” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

IV- 8
 

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Secured Parties ” means each Purchaser, the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and each other Person constituting a “secured party” pursuant to any Collateral Document.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Series B Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Partnership and the purchasers of the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units party thereto.

 

Solvent ” means, as to any Person at any time, that (a) the fair value of all of the property of such Person is greater than the amount of such Person’s liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as such value is established and liabilities evaluated for purposes of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) the present fair salable value of all of the property of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital.

 

Subsidiary ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

Transaction Documents ” means this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument delivered in connection therewith.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Description of Notes.

 

IV- 9
 

  

EXHIBIT A

 

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

 

(Please see attached)

 

 
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

 

You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading “—Certain Definitions.” In this description, the term “ Company ,” “us,” “our” or “we” refers only to Breitburn Energy Partners LP and not to any of its subsidiaries, the term “Operating Partnership” refers to Breitburn Operating LP and not any of its subsidiaries, the term “ Finance Corp .” refers to Breitburn Finance Corporation, and the term “ Issuers ” refers, collectively, to the Company, the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp. The term “ notes ” refers to the Issuers’ notes being offered hereby.

 

The Issuers will issue the notes under an indenture among themselves, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, in a private transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. See “Transfer Restrictions.”

 

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture. It does not restate the indenture in its entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, will define the rights of Holders of the notes. Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under “—Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.

 

The registered Holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders will have rights under the indenture.

 

Brief Description of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees

 

The Notes . The notes offered hereby will:

 

be general senior obligations of the Issuers;

 

be secured on a Second-Priority Basis by a Lien on the Collateral described below under “—Security for the Notes,” subject in priority to the Liens securing the Operating Partnership’s obligations under, and the Company’s and Finance Corp.’s guarantees of, the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt;

 

be effectively subordinated, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below under “—The Intercreditor Agreement,” to the extent of the value of the Collateral, to the Operating Partnership’s obligations under, and the Company’s and Finance Corp.’s guarantees of, the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt, which will be secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of the Issuers that secure the notes;

 

be equal in right of payment (without giving effect to any collateral arrangements) with all existing and future Senior Debt of any of the Issuers, including the Company’s and Finance Corp.’s outstanding obligations under, and Operating Partnership’s guarantee of, the 2020 Senior Notes and 2022 Senior Notes and the Operating Partnership’s obligations under, and the Company’s and Finance Corp.’s guarantees of, the Credit Agreement;

 

be effectively senior to any existing and future unsecured Indebtedness of any of the Issuers, to the extent of the value of the Collateral;

 

rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of any of the Issuers; and

 

be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors on a senior secured basis, which such guarantees shall be secured by a Lien on the Collateral described below under “—Security for the Notes,” on a Second-Priority Basis.

 

The Subsidiary Guarantees . Initially, the notes will be guaranteed by all of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp.) that guarantee borrowings under the Credit Agreement, which provides the Operating Partnership with a senior secured revolving credit facility.

 

Each guarantee of the notes will:

 

 
 

 

be a general senior obligation of the Guarantor;

 

be secured on a Second-Priority Basis by a Lien on the Collateral described below under “—Security for the Notes,” subject in priority to the Liens securing that Guarantor’s guarantee of, or obligations under, the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt;

 

be effectively subordinated, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below under “— The Intercreditor Agreement,” to the extent of the value of the Collateral, to that Guarantor’s guarantee of the Credit Agreement and any other Priority Lien Debt, which will be secured on a first-priority basis by the same assets of the Guarantors that secure the notes;

 

be equal in right of payment (without giving effect to any collateral arrangements) with all existing and future Senior Debt of that Guarantor, including its guarantees of the 2020 Senior Notes, the 2022 Senior Notes and the Credit Agreement;

 

be effectively senior to any existing and future unsecured Indebtedness of that Guarantor, to the extent of the value of the Collateral; and

 

rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of that Guarantor.

 

As of December 31, 2014, on an as further adjusted basis to reflect this offering, our use of proceeds therefrom and the other transactions described under “Capitalization,” the Issuers and the Guarantors would have had:

 

total Priority Lien Debt (excluding obligations under letters of credit and hedges) of approximately $ billion, consisting of Priority Lien Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement;

 

total Senior Debt (excluding obligations under letters of credit and hedges) of approximately $ billion, consisting of the notes, the 2020 Senior Notes and the 2022 Senior Notes and approximately $ billion of revolving credit Senior Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and

 

no Indebtedness contractually subordinated to the notes or the guarantees, as applicable.

 

Initially, all of our existing Subsidiaries (other than the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., Utica and East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company) will guarantee the Obligations. Under the circumstances described below under the subheading “—Certain Covenants—Additional Subsidiary Guarantees,” in the future one or more of our newly created or acquired Subsidiaries may not guarantee the notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-guarantor Subsidiaries will pay current outstanding obligations to the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us.

 

Utica does not guarantee our Credit Agreement and will not guarantee our notes. Utica owns interests in certain Michigan oil and gas leases that, as of December 31, 2014, had no associated production or proved reserves. Currently, Utica has no Indebtedness and no revenues. We may seek to monetize Utica’s assets or its Equity Interests or to develop these assets either on our own or jointly with one or more other companies. East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company does not guarantee our Credit Agreement and will not guarantee the notes. As of December 3], 2014, the book value of our 59% interest in East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company was approximately $ million. Currently, East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company has approximately $ million of outstanding indebtedness and $ million in revenues.

 

Initially, all of our Subsidiaries will be “Restricted Subsidiaries,” except for Utica and East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company. However, under the circumstances described below under the subheading “—Certain Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” we may designate certain of our other Subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the restrictive covenants in the indenture. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes.

 

2
 

 

Principal, Maturity and Interest

 

The Issuers will issue the notes in an aggregate principal amount of $650 million. The Issuers may issue additional notes from time to time after this offering to the extent permitted hereunder. Any offering of additional notes will be subject to the covenants described below under the captions “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and the Certain “—Certain Covenants—Liens”. The notes and any additional notes subsequently issued under the indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, for waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The notes will mature on May 18, 2020 (the “ Maturity Date ”). As of the Issue Date, an offering of additional notes is not permitted under the indenture.

 

Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 9.25% per annum, and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, beginning on June 30, 2015. The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holders of record on the March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 immediately preceding each interest payment date. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, additional interest will accrue on the principal amount of all notes and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Obligations outstanding (including post-petition interest in any proceeding (including any Insolvency Proceeding) under applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, whether or not allowed in such a proceeding), payable in cash on demand by the trustee at a rate that is two percent (2.00%) per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable on the notes (the “ Default Rate ”). Payment or acceptance of the Default Rate will not be a permitted alternative to timely payment and will not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the trustee or any Holder.

 

Interest on the notes will accrue from __________________, 2015 3 or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. The obligations of the Issuers hereunder will be joint and several.

 

Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

 

If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuers, the Issuers will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State of New York unless the Issuers elect to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders.

 

Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes

 

The trustee will act as the initial paying agent and registrar. The Issuers may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the notes, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. No service charge will be imposed by the Issuers, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuers will not be required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuers will not be required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.

 

Subsidiary Guarantees

 

Initially, all of our existing Subsidiaries, excluding the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., Utica and East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company, will guarantee the notes, in each case on a senior secured basis, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. In the future, the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company will be required to guarantee the notes on a senior secured basis under the circumstances described under “—Certain Covenants—Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.” These Subsidiary Guarantees will be full and unconditional, joint and several obligations of the Guarantors. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law, although this limitation may not be effective to prevent the Subsidiary Guarantees from being voided in bankruptcy.

 

 

3 The closing date.

 

3
 

 

A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person, other than, subject to the Collateral Requirements, an Issuer or another Guarantor, unless:

 

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(2) either:

 

(a) (i) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) unconditionally assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form specified in the indenture and pursuant to such other agreements as are reasonably satisfactory to the trustee and the collateral agent, as applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantee and all other obligations of such Guarantor under the notes and the other Note Documents on terms set forth therein, (ii) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) shall continue to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents subject to the Collateral Requirements, (iii) the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into such Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Guarantor shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made Collateral, in the manner, and to the extent required under the Note Documents, (iv) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) shall be engaged in the Oil & Gas Business, except to the extent permitted by the covenant set forth under the caption “—Business Activities”, (v) the Person formed by, continuing or surviving any such merger is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and, after giving effect to such transaction, shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, (vi) all Issuers and other Guarantors shall confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to a supplemental indenture and (vii) (x) the Company will, on the date of such consolidation or merger after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” or (y) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation or merger and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such consolidation or merger; or

 

(b) such transaction complies with the “Asset Sales” provisions of the indenture;

 

provided, however, in the case of a transaction pursuant to clause (2)(a), such Issuer has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture and other Note Documents (if any) comply with the indenture and Note Documents.

 

4
 

 

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:

 

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with the “Asset Sales” provisions of the indenture;

 

(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with the “Asset Sales” provisions of the indenture and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition;

 

(3) [reserved];

 

(4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as described below under the caption “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” or upon satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as described below under the caption “—Satisfaction and Discharge”; or

 

(5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred that is continuing and provided that the assets of such Guarantor are transferred to a Guarantor or Issuer subject to the Collateral Requirements upon such liquidation or dissolution or are otherwise disposed of as permitted by the indenture.

 

See “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”

 

Security for the Notes

 

The obligations of Issuers with respect to the notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantees, all other Obligations, and the performance of all Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Note Documents will be secured by Second-Priority Liens in the Collateral granted to the collateral agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations. These Liens will be junior in priority only to the Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, to the extent permitted to be incurred or to exist under the Intercreditor Agreement, and to certain other Permitted Liens.

 

Except as otherwise provided below or in the Intercreditor Agreement, the indenture will provide that the Collateral will consist of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties and substantially all other assets of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the extent such properties and assets are subject to Liens securing any of the Priority Lien Obligations, provided that the indenture shall require the Company to deliver to the trustee semi-annually on or before March 31 and September 30 in each calendar year, beginning September 30, 2015, an officers’ certificate providing a good faith estimate, as of the date of such certificate, of the percentage of the total discounted future net revenue (determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum) of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Company’s most recent Reserve Report that the Collateral represents (which, in any case, shall not be less than 80% of the total discounted future net revenue (determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum) of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Company’s most recent Reserve Report (the “ Collateral Certification ”).

 

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the indenture will provide the collateral agent and Majority Holders with the Additional Collateral Right.

 

The Collateral will not include the following (the following excluded assets collectively referred in the offering circular as the “ Excluded Assets ”):

 

(1) any permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which any Issuer or Guarantor is a party and any of its rights or interests thereunder if, and only for so long as, the grant of a security interest under the security documents (a) is prohibited by or a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Issuer or Guarantor or requires the consent of an applicable governmental authority or a third party which has not been obtained or (b) shall constitute or result in a breach of a term or provision of or termination or default under any such permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such law, rule, regulation, consent requirement, violation, term or provision would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law);

 

5
 

 

(2) property owned by any Issuer or Guarantor that is subject to a purchase money Lien or capital lease permitted under the indenture if the agreement pursuant to which such Lien is granted (or the document providing for such capital lease) prohibits, or requires the consent of any Person other than any Issuer or Guarantor which has not been obtained as a condition to, the creation of any other Lien on such property;

 

(3) any “intent-to-use” application for registration of a Trademark filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto, solely to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that issues from such intent-to-use application under applicable federal law;

 

(4) any deposit account exclusively used for trust, payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s employees; and

 

(5) certain Equity Interests, as set forth in the security documents.

 

provided, however , “Excluded Assets” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Assets).

 

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

 

The indenture will provide that the collateral agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the notes outstanding under the indenture or any other Obligations under the Note Documents, and the right of the Holders and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the collateral agent’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(1) upon satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as set forth under the caption “—Satisfaction and Discharge”;

 

(2) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the notes as set forth under the caption “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance”;

 

(3) upon payment in full and discharge of all notes outstanding under the indenture and all other Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under the indenture and the other Note Documents at the time the notes are paid in full and discharged;

 

(4) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Issuer or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with the provisions described under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” below (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such provision), at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the collateral agent’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”; provided , further , that the proceeds of such sale, transfer or other disposition shall remain subject to the Parity Lien to the extent required by the Note Documents;

 

(5) in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of notes in accordance with the provisions described below under the caption “—Amendment, Supplement and Waiver”;

 

6
 

 

(6) with respect to the assets of any Guarantor, at the time that such Guarantor is released from its Subsidiary Guarantee as described above under the caption “—Subsidiary Guarantees”; or

 

(7) if and to the extent required by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement described under the caption “—The Intercreditor Agreement—Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens; Supplemental Liens.”

 

Further Assurances; Collateral; Liens on Additional Property

 

The indenture and the security documents establishing the Parity Liens will provide that the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the collateral agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the collateral agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Note Document to become, Collateral after the notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Second-Priority Lien required under, the Note Documents.

 

In addition, from and after the date of the indenture, if any Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any property or asset that constitutes (or becomes) collateral for the Priority Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected second-priority security interest in such collateral or if any Issuer or Guarantor otherwise provides or agrees to provide any of the foregoing to the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Debt, the Company shall, or shall cause the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp. or the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but not in any event later than the date that is 10 Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the collateral agent appropriate security documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary to grant the collateral agent a perfected Second-Priority Lien on such collateral or take such other actions in favor of the collateral agent as shall be necessary to grant a perfected Second Priority Lien on such collateral to the collateral agent, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if any Issuer or any Guarantor creates any additional security interest upon any property or asset that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing security interest in Collateral, in each case for the benefit of any of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt after the date of the indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within ten (10) Business Days after such security interest is granted or other action taken, grant a Second-Priority security interest upon such property or asset, and take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Holders and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative in each case as security for the obligations of Issuers with respect to the notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantees and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Note Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this paragraph shall not be required; provided, however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in foregoing, the Issuers and Guarantors shall be required to deliver duly executed control agreements with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodity accounts to the extent required under the Note Documents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the collateral trustee, at the request of the Majority Holders, will (and the Majority Holders will) have the right to require that the Issuers and Guarantors place Mortgages on any properties of any Issuer or Guarantor acquired after the Issue Date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Oil and Gas Properties whether consisting of proved or unproved crude oil or natural gas reserves or developed or undeveloped acreage or otherwise) that are not already subject to a Mortgage (the “ Additional Collateral Right ”). The indenture will provide that the collateral trustee, at the direction of the Majority Holders, or the Majority Holders, may exercise such Additional Collateral Right by delivering notice to the Priority Lien Agent with a copy to the Company (the “ Election Notice ”) of its intent to require a Mortgage or Mortgages over the property specified in such notice (the “ Required Mortgages ”). Upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the 60th day after delivery of such notice to the Priority Lien Agent and (ii) the date the Priority Lien Agent informs the collateral trustee or Majority Holders, as applicable, that it does not intend to seek such Required Mortgages, the collateral trustee, at the direction of the Majority Holders, or the Majority Holders may deliver written notice to the Company informing the Company that it is exercising its Additional Collateral Right with respect to the Required Mortgages. The indenture will provide that the applicable Issuer or Guarantor will then have 60 days from the date of receipt of such notice (or such later date as the Majority Holders may agree to in their reasonable discretion) to deliver the duly executed and recorded Second-Priority Required Mortgages, accompanied by title information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Majority Holders, customary legal opinions and deliverables consistent with the legal opinions and deliverables delivered in connection with the Mortgaged Properties under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, however, to the extent any such property is subject to title defects that prevent the Issuers and Guarantors from placing a Mortgage thereon, the Issuers and Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cure or overcome such title defects so that Mortgages may be placed on such properties as promptly as practicable (and the Majority Holders will extend such delivery dates as reasonably determined in their discretion to accommodate the same). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will provide that with respect to any such Second-Priority Mortgage granted to the collateral agent for the benefit of the collateral agent, trustee, Holders and indemnitees, the applicable Issuer or Guarantor shall also, immediately prior to or contemporaneously therewith, deliver a first-priority Mortgage securing the Priority Lien Obligations over such property to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the secured parties under the Priority Lien Documents.

 

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Furthermore, upon the reasonable request of the collateral agent or the Majority Holders at any time and from time to time, each Issuer and each of the Guarantors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the collateral agent or Majority Holders may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Note Documents for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations ; provided , that no such security document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Issuers and the Guarantors than the Note Documents executed and delivered by the Issuers and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the notes on or about the date of the indenture.

 

Optional Redemption

 

On and after April       , 2018 4 , the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the notes (and, following acceleration of the maturity thereof, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the notes) at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes to be redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April of the years indicated below:

 

Year   Percentages  
·   2018     106.000 %
·    2019     100.000 %

 

Prior to April , 2018 5 , the Issuers may redeem all or part of the notes, at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

(1)          the principal amount thereof, plus

 

(2)          the Make-Whole Amount,

 

plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

 

4 Third anniversary of the Closing Date

5 Third anniversary of the Closing Date

 

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Selection and Notice

 

If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes for redemption as follows:

 

(1) if the notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the notes are listed; or

 

(2) if the notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (or in the case of global notes, on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable, subject to the procedures of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”)).

 

No notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of optional redemption will be sent at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that optional redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture.

 

Any such redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related equity offering. If such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the related notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived (provided that in no event shall such date of redemption be delayed to a date later than 10 Business Days after the date initially designated for redemption in such notice), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed (the “ Delayed Redemption Date ”).

 

If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of the Holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note.

 

Notes called for redemption without any condition precedent will become due on the date fixed for redemption, and at the redemption price described above. Notes called for redemption subject to conditions precedent will be become due on the date such conditions precedent are satisfied; provided such conditions precedent are satisfied prior to the Delayed Redemption Date. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on notes or portions of them called for redemption, unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price.

 

Special Mandatory Redemption

 

Invalid Debt Incurrence

 

If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness that is not permitted to be incurred by the covenant set forth under the heading “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” (an “ Invalid Debt Incurrence ”), the Company will make an offer to all holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes that may be purchased out of the portion of the net proceeds received from such Invalid Debt Incurrence incurred in violation of such covenant. Such offer shall be made within 15 business days after receipt of notice of such Invalid Debt Incurrence by the trustee or holders of at least 50.1% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes. The offer price in any such offer will be equal to the price at which the notes could have been redeemed at the time of the Invalid Debt Incurrence pursuant to the provisions set forth under the heading “—Optional Redemption” (including at the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium, if applicable), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of settlement (the “ Invalid Debt Incurrence Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Invalid Debt Incurrence Settlement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Invalid Debt Incurrence Offer and any redemption or repurchase of notes pursuant thereto will not be a permitted alternative to complying with the provisions of the indenture and will not constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the trustee, collateral agent or any Holder.

 

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The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of an Invalid Debt Incurrence. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Invalid Debt Incurrence provisions of the indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under the Invalid Debt Incurrence provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

Repurchase at the Option of Holders

 

Change of Control

 

If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of notes will have the right, except as provided below, to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s notes pursuant to a cash tender offer (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment in cash (“ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of settlement (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date.

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the notes as described under “—Optional Redemption” or one of the other two exceptions described below applies, the Company will send a notice to each Holder and the trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Settlement Date specified in the notice, which date will be no later than 30 days from the date such notice is sent, pursuant to the procedures required by the indenture and described in such notice.

 

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

On or before the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly after such acceptance, on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company will:

 

(1) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

(2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by the Company.

 

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the paying agent will mail to each Holder of notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes (or, if all the notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of DTC), and the trustee will authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided, however , that each new note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

 

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The Credit Agreement provides that certain change of control events with respect to the Company would constitute an event of default thereunder, entitling the lenders, among other things, to accelerate the maturity of all Indebtedness outstanding thereunder. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Indebtedness to which any Issuer or Guarantor becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. The indenture will provide that, prior to complying with any of the provisions of this “Change of Control” covenant, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Settlement Date, any Issuer or any Guarantor must either repay all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of notes required by this covenant (it being agreed that making such payments and obtaining such consents is not a condition precedent to complying with the provisions of this “Change of Control” covenant).

 

The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

 

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, (2) notice of redemption of all outstanding notes has been given pursuant to the indenture as described above under “—Optional Redemption,” or (3) in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “ Alternate Offer ”) any and all notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer.

 

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

 

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

 

In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above) purchase all of the notes validly tendered by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, as applicable, to redeem all of the notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

Asset Sales

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1) the Company (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of,

 

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(2) the fair market value is determined by (a) an executive officer of the General Partner if the value is less than $20 million and evidenced by an officers’ certificate delivered to the trustee, or (b) the Company’s Board of Directors if the value is $20 million or more and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an officers’ certificate delivered to the trustee;

 

(3) at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale is in the form of cash; provided, however , consideration in respect of an Asset Sale of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties from an Issuer or Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture shall be 100% in cash. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, respectively, from further liability; and

 

(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 90 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

(4) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom; and

 

(5) in the case of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales will have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

provided that no Issuer or Guarantor shall sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of the Equity Interests it owns in any Issuer or Guarantor (other than to an Issuer or Guarantor) if after giving effect to such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition, such Issuer would be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not wholly-owned by the Issuers and Guarantors.

 

Within 180 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

 

(1) (A) to repay, redeem or repurchase Priority Lien Debt or (B) to make an offer to all Holders to repay, redeem or repurchase the notes;

 

(2) to invest in Additional Assets; or

 

(3) to make capital expenditures in respect of the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Business;

 

provided, however, to the extent the assets disposed of pursuant to an Asset Sale (or casualty or condemnation event) constitute Collateral, the Additional Assets and capital expenditures to which such Net Proceeds are applied will be treated as after acquired property and will become Collateral in accordance with and to the extent required by the Note Documents.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .”

 

On the 181st day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall promptly (and, in any event, within 15 Business Days after the first date of such Event of Default) make an Asset Sale Offer with respect to all Net Proceeds from Asset Sales not yet applied pursuant to clauses (1) - (3) above as of the first date of such Event of Default, except to the extent that such Excess Proceeds are otherwise committed to be used for an Investment as of the first date of such Event of Default pursuant to a binding contract.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the foregoing, to the extent that consideration for Asset Sales together with consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents for Asset Swaps under clause (14) of the definition of “Asset Sales” and consideration received in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents for joint ventures, farm-outs and farm-ins under the definition of “Permitted Business Investments” less any amounts previously applied to prepay the notes in accordance with this provision under “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” since the date of the indenture exceeds $500 million in the aggregate, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall promptly (and, in any event, within 15 Business Days of receipt thereof) apply 75% of the Net Proceeds resulting thereafter (without the right of reinvestment) to cause the Issuers to make an Asset Sale Offer to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes that may be purchased out of such Net Proceeds. The remaining 25% of such Net Proceeds shall be applied pursuant to clauses (1) - (3) above.

 

The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer (or an offer pursuant to clause (1)(B) in the second paragraph under the heading of “Asset Sales”) will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of settlement, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of settlement, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer to Holders of notes, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer (or offer pursuant to clause (1)(B) in the second paragraph under the heading of “Asset Sales”) exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the “Asset Sales” provisions of the indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under the “Asset Sales” provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

Certain Covenants

 

Restricted Payments

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company;

 

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or constitutes Unsecured Notes (including Existing Indebtedness in the form of Unsecured Notes), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or

 

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(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”),

 

unless, in the case of clauses (3) and (4) only, (A) at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment, (B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment is not less than 2.25 to 1.0, and (C) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding “Permitted Investments” and Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph) since the Issue Date, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent Not Otherwise Applied; provided, however , that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash, plus

 

(b) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date pursuant to this first paragraph under the heading “—Restricted Payments” is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); provided, that, Issuers and Guarantors may only make Restricted Payments with such cash return of capital to the extent an Issuer or Guarantor was the recipient of such cash return of capital, plus

 

(c) the net reduction in Restricted Investments made pursuant to this first paragraph under the heading “—Restricted Payments” resulting from cash dividends, repayments of loans or advances in cash, or other transfers of cash (together, the “ cash returns ”) in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, that, Issuers and Guarantors may only make Restricted Payments with such cash returns to the extent an Issuer or Guarantor was the recipient of such cash returns; plus

 

(d) (d) the fair market value of Unrestricted Subsidiaries redesignated as Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiaries was made pursuant to this first paragraph under the heading “—Restricted Payments” as long as such redesignated Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor (items (a), (b), (c) and (d) being referred to as “ Incremental Funds ).

 

So long as no Default (except Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby (except with respect to clause (1) below under which the payment of a distribution or dividend is permitted notwithstanding that any such Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as long as there was no Default (except Reporting Default) or Event of Default occurring or continuing on the date of declaration of any such Restricted Payment)), the preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 90 days after the date of its declaration, if at the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the provisions of the indenture;

 

(2) without duplication of any Restricted Payments made pursuant to the preceding paragraph, any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Payment of the type specified in clause (1) or (2) of the first paragraph above) in exchange for, or out of (or of, in the case of a contribution of assets that were acquired in exchange for Equity Interests of the Company or with net cash proceeds of a contribution described in the following clause (a) ) the net cash proceeds of (or, in the case of any such contribution of assets, in the form of the assets so contributed) the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company (other than in respect of Disqualified Stock, but including a contribution of assets) or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with such contribution or sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such Restricted Payments occurs not more than 60 days after such contribution or sale and the proceeds of such contribution or sale (or assets contributed) are designated for such purpose pursuant to an officer’s certificate by an executive officer of the Company delivered to the trustee no later than 5 Business Days after the occurrence of such contribution or sale and are Not Otherwise Applied; provided, however , that (i) the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash and Incremental Funds and (ii) any such contributed assets shall not be required to become Collateral if such Restricted Payment if made not more than 60 days after such contribution;

 

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(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Unsecured Notes or subordinated Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of (i) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement; provided, however , that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5 million in any calendar year, with any portion of such $5 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount and (ii) the Company from former officers, directors or employees (or spouses, ex-spouses or trustees thereof) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6) the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise, exchange or conversion price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise, exchange or conversion of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests, and any cash payment in lieu of the issuance of fractional Equity Interests upon exercise, exchange or conversion;

 

(7) [Reserved];

 

(8) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Unsecured Notes of any Issuer or Guarantor (other than Unsecured Notes that are subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations) (a) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Unsecured Notes in the event of a change of control in accordance with mandatory offer provisions similar to those set forth under the heading “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” or (b) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof in accordance with mandatory offer provisions similar to those set forth under the heading “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer; or

 

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(9) the declaration and payment of (i) Permitted Distributions on Common Units and (ii) Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units by the Company.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value, on the date of the Restricted Payment, of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment, except that the fair market value of any non-cash dividend or distribution paid within 60 days after the date of its declaration shall be determined as of such date. The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined, in the case of amounts under $20 million, by an officer of the General Partner and, in the case of amounts over $20 million, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (excluding any Restricted Payment described in the preceding clause (2) , (3) , (4) , (5) , (6) or (7) ) the Company will deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this “Restricted Payments” covenant were computed.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, clauses (a) through (d) of the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (2) , (4) , or (9) of the second paragraph of this covenant may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any Restricted Payment to another Person (other than an Issuer or Guarantor) with, in the form of or in respect of the Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property).

 

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt); the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock; and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any other preferred securities; provided, however , that any Issuer and any Guarantor may incur unsecured Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or the Company may issue Disqualified Stock, if, for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or other preferred securities are issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would have been at least 2.25 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock o had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, however , any such Indebtedness in the form of Unsecured Notes shall (i) have a scheduled maturity date that is no earlier than ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date and (ii) not have any amortization in excess of 1% per annum of the original principal amount thereof.

 

The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of any Disqualified Stock described in clause (13) below (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”) or the issuance of any preferred securities described in clause (11) below:

 

(1) the incurrence by any Issuer or Guarantor of Indebtedness under Permitted Credit Facilities, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(2) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3) the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the date of the indenture;

 

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) , provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $30 million or (b) .8% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

 

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(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clause (2) or (3) of this paragraph or this clause (5) ;

 

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that:

 

(a) if an Issuer is the obligor on such Indebtedness and an Issuer or a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither any Issuer nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations; and

 

(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6) ;

 

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts;

 

(8) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant;

 

(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

 

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(11) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however , that:

 

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11) ;

 

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of liability in respect of the Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture but only to the extent that such liability is the result of the Company’s or any such Restricted Subsidiary’s being a general partner of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and not as guarantor of such Indebtedness and provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (12) and then outstanding does not exceed $25 million;

 

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(13) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness; and

 

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (14) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $60 million or (b) 1.6% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this “Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (14) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant; provided that any Indebtedness under any Permitted Credit Facility on the date of the indenture shall be considered incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and may not later be reclassified.

 

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this covenant, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.

 

Liens

 

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness (including Attributable Debt) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired.

 

Restrictive Agreements

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of (a) any Issuer or Guarantor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien in favor of the Holders in respect of the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees upon any of its property, assets or revenues constituting Collateral as and to the extent contemplated by the Notes Documents or (b) any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1) agreements as in effect on the date of the indenture and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of the indenture, as long as, in each case, no such agreement or amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing thereof would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(2) the Note Documents;

 

(3) applicable law;

 

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person or other agreement acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock or agreement was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of the indenture to be incurred;

 

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

 

(6) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

 

(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption “—Liens” that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other agreements described in the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11) any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the date of the indenture, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisitions;

 

(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13) the issuance of preferred securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred securities is permitted pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and the terms of such preferred securities do not expressly restrict the ability of such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred securities prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

 

(14) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was incurred if either (a) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (b) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive;

 

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(15) arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any Asset Sale permitted or not prohibited by covenant under the caption “—Asset Sales” and applicable solely to the assets under such Asset Sale;

 

(16) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted by the covenant under the caption “—Liens”, but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness; and

 

(17) any other agreement governing Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred by the covenant described under “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”; provided, however , that such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the indenture or the Credit Agreement as it exists on the date of the indenture.

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

None of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

 

(1) either: (a) such Issuer is the survivor; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however , that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement; provided, however , the Company shall not convert (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) into a corporation;

 

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the notes and the other Note Documents to which such Issuer is a party, as applicable, and all other Issuers and Guarantors confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to a supplemental indenture;

 

(3) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

(4) (a)          the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made will, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”; or

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company (or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made), will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions;

 

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(5) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, subject to the Collateral Requirements;

 

(6) the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into such Issuer, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the security documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Issuer shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the perfected Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents;

 

(7) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, except to the extent permitted by the covenant, under the caption “—Business Activities”; and

 

(8) such Issuer has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture and other Note Documents (if any) comply with the indenture and Note Documents.

 

Notwithstanding the restrictions described in the foregoing clause (4) , any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Operating Partnership or Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company without complying with the preceding clause (4) in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.

 

Notwithstanding the second preceding paragraph, the Company is permitted to reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:

 

(1) the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law; provided, however , the Company shall not convert (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) into a corporation;

 

(2) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(3) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the notes and other Note Documents pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee and the collateral agent, as applicable, and all other Issuers and Guarantors confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee and the collateral agent, as applicable;

 

(4) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, subject to the Collateral Requirements;

 

(5) immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(6) such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the notes (for purposes of this clause (6) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law);

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions described under “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” will be subject to the prior notice requirements set forth in the security documentation and Note Documents (if any).

 

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of a Person.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary (or, in a transaction between an Issuer or Guarantor, on the one hand, and a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, on the other hand, to such Issuer or Guarantor) than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

(2) the Company delivers to the trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an officers’ certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:

 

(1) any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2) transactions between or among any of the Issuers and Guarantors;

 

(3) transactions by and among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Holders of the notes as of the Issue Date and their Affiliates, on the other hand;

 

(4) transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are identified in the indenture, in each case as such agreements are in effect on the date of the indenture, and any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Company in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;

 

(5) customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

 

(6) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company;

 

(7) Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments under clause (7) or (8) of the definition thereof) or Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption “—Restricted Payments”;

 

(8) in the case of contracts for buying and selling Hydrocarbons or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and unrelated third parties; and

 

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(9) transactions between or among any of the Issuers and Guarantors, on the one hand, and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, on the other hand; provided, that (a) such transaction is for the provision of goods, sales or services in the nature of overhead at no less than cost in the ordinary course of business or (b) the aggregate consideration paid for all such transactions not otherwise covered by clause (a) does not exceed $10 million in any fiscal year.

 

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

 

As long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Board of Directors of the Company may designate any newly-formed Subsidiary of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the date of the indenture pursuant to an Acquisition permitted under the provisions governing Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if, in either case, that designation would not cause a Default. Any such designation shall be made on or promptly after the date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (and, in any case, within 30 days of the formation or acquisition thereof). If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “Restricted Payments” or represent (and will reduce the amount available for) Permitted Investments under clause (10) of the definition thereof as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

Additional Subsidiary Guarantees

 

If, after the date of the indenture, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor or an Issuer guarantees (or is a co-borrower, co-issuer or co-direct obligor of) any other Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor, then in either case that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the trustee within 10 Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be; provided, however , that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

In the event (a) the Priority Lien Debt is paid-off or otherwise discharged or the guaranty-related provisions thereunder are otherwise made materially less restrictive on the Issuers and Guarantors than the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date of the indenture, the indenture shall provide for customary guaranty-related provisions substantially consistent with those in effect under the Priority Lien Debt on the date of the indenture or (b) the Priority Lien Collateral Agent or holders of the Priority Lien Debt fail to require, fail to take any action to obtain or otherwise waive the right to receive a guaranty from a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such guaranty would be required (or could be required upon reasonable request or otherwise) under the Priority Lien Documentation as in effect on the Issue Date, the collateral trustee, at the request of the Majority Holders, or the Majority Holders, will have the right to require the Issuers and Guarantors to take reasonable actions to cause such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a supplemental indenture (if any) within 60 days of the date of such request (or such later date as the Majority Holders may reasonably determine).

 

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Business Activities

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Operating Partnership) to, engage in any business other than the Oil and Gas Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Finance Corp. may not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company is a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company as permitted under the covenant described about under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.” Finance Corp. may not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Anti-Layering

 

No Issuer or Guarantor will incur or suffer to exist any (i) Indebtedness (including Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted hereunder) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Issuer or Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees on substantially identical terms or (ii) Indebtedness that is secured by Liens that are contractually subordinated or junior to other Liens securing such Indebtedness (or contractually subordinated or junior to Liens securing other Indebtedness) of any Issuer, or Guarantor unless such Liens are also contractually subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees on substantially identical terms.

 

Reports

 

Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing), and the Company will furnish to the trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the Holders or Beneficial Owners of notes, within five Business Days of filing, or attempting to file, the same with the Commission:

 

(1) all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

The availability of the foregoing information or reports on the SEC’s website will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery requirements.

 

If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding, they will furnish to the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors in the notes, upon their request the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

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Corporate Existence

 

Subject to “—Subsidiary Guarantees” and “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(1) its limited partnership, limited liability company or corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the existence of the Issuers), if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the notes.

 

Insurance

 

The Company will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company shall cause the lender loss payable, mortgagee or additional insured clauses or provisions in said insurance policy or policies, insuring any of the Collateral or providing for general liability insurance (and any other policies with respect to which the Priority Lien Agent has received or will receive an endorsement or “lender loss payee”, “mortgagee” or “additional insured” status), as applicable, to be endorsed in favor of the collateral agent as its interests may appear and such policies shall name the collateral agent as a “lender loss payee”, “mortgagee” or “additional insured” and provide that the insurer will endeavor to give at least 30 days prior notice of any cancellation to the collateral agent (or 10 days prior notice of any cancellation in the event of non-payment). Such insurance policies or endorsements thereto will provide, and the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries will agree in the indenture, that the insurer will waive any right of subrogation against the collateral agent, the trustee and each Holder of the notes.

 

Amendments to Priority Lien Debt

 

The Issuers and Guarantors shall not amend, waive, modify or supplement and shall not consent to any amendment, waiver, modification or supplement to the Priority Lien Debt if the effect thereof would be to (i) prohibit or restrict any payment of principal, interest or otherwise with respect to the Obligations in a manner that is more restrictive than as of the Issue Date, (ii) subordinate in right of payment any Priority Lien Debt to any other Indebtedness or subordinate the Liens securing Priority Lien Debt to any other Lien or (iii) add any restrictions on amendments, waivers, modifications or supplements to the Note Documents that are materially more restrictive than the restrictions set forth in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

Events of Default and Remedies

 

Each of the following is an Event of Default:

 

(1) default for 5 Business Days in the payment when due of interest on the notes;

 

(2) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium (including the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium), if any, on the notes;

 

(3) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described under the captions “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Invalid Debt Incurrence,” “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales,” “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” or “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;

 

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(4) failure by the Company for 120 days after notice to comply with the provisions described under “—Certain Covenants—Reports” ( provided that if beginning on the 61 st day the Company is not in compliance with such covenant, additional interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum shall accrue and be payable (in the same manner and at the same time as regular interest payments));

 

(5) any representation or warranty by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries made in any Note Document, or which is contained in any certificate furnished at any time under any Note Document, is incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

 

(6) failure by the Company or any Guarantor for 30 days after the earlier of (i) knowledge by an executive officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) receipt of notice by the trustee or holders of 50.1% of the principal amount of notes to comply with any of its other agreements in the indenture or any other Note Document;

 

(7) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the indenture, if that default:

 

(a) is caused by a failure to make any payment on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “ Payment Default ”); or

 

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity,

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $40 million or more; provided, however , that if any such Payment Default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; provided, further, in the event any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Unsecured Notes outstanding as of the Issue Date has terms that are materially more burdensome or restrictive on the Issuers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, than those in the Unsecured Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced (it being agreed that the existence of a financial maintenance covenant in any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will constitute terms that are materially more burdensome or restrictive on the Issuers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, than those in the Unsecured Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced), then the occurrence of any default under any indenture or instrument under which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be issued or evidenced which gives the agent, trustee, collateral agent or any holder or holders thereunder the right to accelerate will constitute an Event of Default under the indenture;

 

(8) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $40 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(9) except as permitted by the indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(10) the occurrence of any of the following:

 

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(a) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any security document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (10)(a) if the sole result of the failure of one or more security documents to be fully enforceable is that any Lien purported to be granted under such security documents on any Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $10 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Second-Priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the General Partner, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure (including by notice thereof sent by trustee, collateral agent or any Holder), which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(b) except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Liens purported to be granted under any security document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Second-Priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the General Partner, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure (including by notice thereof sent by trustee, collateral agent or any Holder), which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(c) any Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of any Issuer or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Security Document establishing Parity Liens;

 

(d) Any other Note Document is partially or wholly revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect other than in accordance with its terms or the terms of the indenture, or a Guarantor or any other Person on behalf of a Guarantor contests in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or any Issuer or Guarantor denies that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any such Note Document; or

 

(11) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the indenture with respect to the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company.

 

In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with respect to the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, all outstanding notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium, if applicable. If the maturity of the notes is accelerated (under any provision of this “Events of Default and Remedies” or otherwise) a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium (in each case, determined as if the notes were redeemed at the time of such acceleration at the option of the Issuers pursuant to the terms of “Optional Redemptions” hereunder) will, if applicable, become due and payable immediately without further action or notice, and the Issuers will pay such premium, as compensation to the Holders for the loss of their investment opportunity and not as a penalty, whether or not an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced, and (if an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced) without regard to whether such Insolvency Proceeding is voluntary or involuntary, or whether payment occurs pursuant to a motion, plan of reorganization, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the notes and other Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether or not by power of judicial proceeding), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. Without limiting the foregoing, any redemption of the notes in or in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding shall constitute an optional redemption thereof under the terms of “Optional Redemptions” and, if applicable, require the immediate payment of the Make-Whole Amount and Prepayment Premium.

 

If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the Holders of at least 50.1% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may declare all the notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, as applicable, to be due and payable immediately (and such amounts shall become immediately due and payable).

 

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Holders of the notes may not enforce the indenture, the notes or any other Note Documents except as provided in the indenture and the Note Documents. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may direct the collateral agent or trustee in its exercise of any trust or power, including any powers arising under the indenture and any other Note Document. The trustee may withhold notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default from Holders of the notes (other than any Holder or affiliated Holders holding notes in an amount equal to or in excess of 50.1% of the principal amount of the Notes) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding by notice to the trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium (including the Make-Whole Amount and Prepayment Premium), if any, on, the notes.

 

The Issuers will be required to deliver prompt notice to the trustee and collateral agent upon an executive officer’s knowledge of any Default or Event of Default hereunder (and, in any case, no later than five Business Days after notice thereof), which notice shall specify such Default or Event of Default. The Issuers will be required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the indenture.

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders

 

No director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the notes, the indenture, any other Note Document or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have all of their obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes and all obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to their Subsidiary Guarantees (“ Legal Defeasance ”), except for:

 

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, and interest or premium, if any, on, such notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

 

(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the indenture.

 

In addition, the Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have their obligations released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the indenture and the other Note Documents (“ Covenant Defeasance ”) and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events) described under “—Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes. If the Issuers exercise either their Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and all Collateral (other than the trust) will be released.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

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(5) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the outstanding notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(6) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that:

 

(a) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(b) since the date of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(7) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(8) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness) and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

 

(9) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(10) the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders of notes over the other creditors of the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuers or others; and

 

(11) the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

 

Except as provided in the next three succeeding paragraphs, the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes).

 

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Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the notes (other than provisions relating to minimum required notice of optional redemption or those provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any note;

 

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(5) make any note payable in currency other than that stated in the notes;

 

(6) make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the notes (other than as permitted in clause (7) below);

 

(7) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any note (other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders”);

 

(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the indenture, except in accordance with the terms of “Subsidiary Guarantees” as set forth in the indenture, or amend any provision or term of “Subsidiary Guarantees” as set forth in the indenture affecting the release of any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the indenture; or

 

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions or the other provisions of this “Amendment, Supplement and Waiver”.

 

In addition, any amendment or supplement to, or waiver of, the provisions of the indenture or any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens that has the effect of releasing or subordinating all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the notes will require the consent of Holders of at least 50.1% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of notes, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the trustee and the collateral agent may amend or supplement any of the Note Documents:

 

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;

 

(3) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s or Guarantor’s properties or assets permitted under the indenture;

 

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Note Documents of any such Holder;

 

(5) with respect to the security documents establishing Parity Liens, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(6) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the indenture;

 

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(7) to add any additional Guarantor or Collateral or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee or the release of any Liens, in each case as provided in the indenture or the other Note Documents, as applicable;

 

(8) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the indenture or any of the security documents establishing Parity Liens;

 

(9) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(10) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture of a successor trustee.

 

In addition, the trustee and collateral agent, as applicable, may enter into additional intercreditor and subordination agreements or amend, supplement or waive the Intercreditor Agreement or any such additional intercreditor or subordination agreements with the consent of Holders of 50% of the principal amount of the notes; provided, however, the trustee and collateral agent, as applicable, may, without the consent of any Holder, execute or countersign joinders and other acknowledgements in connection with the Intercreditor Agreement to give effect to the joinder of any Priority Lien Debt to the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent permitted under the indenture.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

The indenture and the other Note Documents will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued thereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the notes and as otherwise specified in the indenture), when:

 

(1) either:

 

(a) all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of fixed maturity or redemption;

 

(2) in respect of clause (1)(b) above, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing or securing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument (other than the agreements or instruments governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(3) the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the indenture; and

 

(4) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Issuers must deliver an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

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Concerning the Trustee

 

The trustee under the indenture, U.S. Bank National Association, also serves as trustee under the indenture for the 2020 Senior Notes and the 2022 Senior Notes and is a lender under our bank credit facility.

 

If the trustee becomes a creditor of an Issuer or any Guarantor, the indenture will limit its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act) after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as trustee or resign.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain exceptions. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its powers, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any Holder of notes, unless such Holder has offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

The indenture will provide that the trustee can be replaced and a new trustee appointed at the direction of the Majority Holders without the consent of any Issuer or Guarantor.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture, the notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Intercreditor Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

 

The notes are being offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”) in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”). Notes also may be offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”). Except as set forth below, notes will be issued in registered, global form. Notes will be issued at the closing of this offering only against payment in immediately available funds.

 

Rule 144A Notes initially will be represented by one or more permanent global notes in registered form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”). Regulation S Notes initially will be represented by one or more permanent global notes in registered form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Notes”). The Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes are collectively referred to herein as the “Global Notes.”

 

The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), , and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be held through the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and the Clearstream System(“Clearstream”) (as indirect participants in DTC). Beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes or vice versa at any time except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchanges Between Regulation S Notes and Rule 144A Notes.”

 

The Global Notes may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in registered, certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.”

 

Global Notes (including beneficial interests in the Global Notes) will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer and will bear a restrictive legend as described under “Transfer Restrictions.” In addition, transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time.

 

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Depository Procedures

 

The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. We take no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the initial purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.

 

DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures established by it:

 

(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the initial purchasers with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and

 

(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes).

 

Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants in DTC’s system may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants in such system. Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the Global Notes on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in their respective names on the books of their depositories, which are Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V, as operator of Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking, S.A., as operator of Clearstream. All interests in a Global Note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems.

 

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

 

Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be considered the registered owners or “Holders” thereof under the indenture for any purpose.

 

Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered Holder under the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the trustee will treat the Persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Issuers, the Guarantors, the trustee nor any agent of an Issuer or the trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for:

 

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(1) any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or

 

(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.

 

DTC has advised us that its current practice, at the due date of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes, is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment due on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the notes as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or the Issuers. Neither the Issuers nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and the Issuers and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.

 

Subject to the transfer restrictions set forth under “Transfer Restrictions,” transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

 

Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the notes described herein, crossmarket transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its depository; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a Holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for Certificated Notes, and to distribute such notes to its Participants.

 

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time. None of the Issuers, the trustee or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

 

A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, if:

 

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(1) DTC (a) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Note or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and in either event the Issuers fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days; or

 

(2) there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default and DTC notifies the trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Note for Certificated Notes.

 

Beneficial interests in a Global Note may also be exchanged for Certificated Notes in the other limited circumstances permitted by the indenture, including if an affiliate of ours acquires such interests. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures) and will bear the restrictive legend referred to in “Transfer Restrictions,” unless that legend is not required by the indenture.

 

Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes

 

Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note, except in the limited circumstances provided in the indenture.

 

Exchanges Between Regulation S Notes and Rule 144A Notes

 

Until the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the notes and the original issue date of the notes (such period, the “Distribution Compliance Period”), a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Rule 144A Global Note only if the transferor first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the indenture) to the effect that such transfer is being made to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes is purchasing for its own account or accounts as to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that such Person is a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction. After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, such certification requirements will not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes.

 

Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the indenture) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

 

Transfers involving exchanges of beneficial interests between the Regulation S Global Notes and the Rule 144A Global Notes will be effected in DTC by means of an instruction originated by the trustee through the DTC Deposit/Withdraw at Custodian system. Accordingly, in connection with any such transfer, appropriate adjustments will be made to reflect a decrease in the principal amount of a Regulation S Global Note and a corresponding increase in the principal amount of a Rule 144A Global Note or vice versa, as applicable. Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and will become an interest in another Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for so long as it remains such an interest.

 

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

 

The Issuers will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note Holder. The Issuers will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes in the manner described under “—Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes.” The notes represented by the Global Notes are eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. We expect that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.

 

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Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised us that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

 

Certain Definitions

 

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

 

Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

 

Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

Acquisition ” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in  the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business unit or division of a Person or  the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock of a corporation (or similar entity), which stock has ordinary voting power for the election of the members of such entity’s board of directors or persons exercising similar functions (other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the partnership interests or equity of any Person not a corporation which acquisition gives the acquiring Person the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person.

 

Additional Assets ” means:

 

any assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, other than Indebtedness or Capital Stock;

 

the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Guarantor as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by any Issuer or Guarantor; or

 

Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such Person becomes a Guarantor;

 

provided, however , that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (2) or (3) is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

 

Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” of a specified Person means (without duplication), as of the date of determination:

 

the sum of:

 

discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal or other income taxes, as estimated by such Person in the latest Reserve Report with an effective date of January 1 or July 1 based on the Strip Price as of the effective date of the Reserve Report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue from:

 

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estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such Reserve Report, which reserves were not reflected in such Reserve Report, and

 

estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the semi-annual Reserve Report most recently delivered under the Note Purchase Agreement),

 

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue attributable to:

 

estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Reserve Report produced or disposed of since the date of such Reserve Report, and

 

reductions in the estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Reserve Report since the date of such Reserve Report due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the semi-annual Reserve Report most recently delivered under the Note Purchase Agreement); provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (A) and (B) above, such increases and decreases shall be estimated in good faith by the Company’s petroleum engineers based upon assumptions believed in good faith to be reasonable at the time made;

 

the capitalized costs that are attributable to crude oil and natural gas properties of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are attributable, based on such Person’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent);

 

the Net Working Capital of such Person as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent); and

 

the greater of:

 

the net book value of other tangible assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent), and

 

the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (provided that such Person shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed);

 

minus

 

the sum of:

 

Minority Interests;

 

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to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any net natural gas balancing liabilities of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Person’s latest audited financial statements;

 

to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the semi-annual Reserve Report most recently delivered under the Note Purchase Agreement), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties;

 

to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the semi-annual Reserve Report most recently delivered under the Note Purchase Agreement), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

 

the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in clause (1)(a) above, would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however , that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

Asset Sale ” means:

 

the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Production Payment or a sale and leaseback transaction); provided, however , that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and/or the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and not by the provisions of the Asset Sales covenant; and

 

the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets to the extent the aggregate fair market value of all such transactions in any fiscal year does not exceed $10 million;

 

a transfer of properties or assets between or among  any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Issuers or Guarantors  between Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Issuers or Guarantors and  by any Restricted Subsidiary to any Issuer or Guarantor.;

 

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an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a  Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or Issuer to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary and  Guarantor or Issuer (other than the Company) to any other Guarantor or Issuer;

 

the sale, lease or other disposition of  inventory,  products,  accounts receivable or  equipment and other properties or assets (other than Oil and Gas Properties and acreage) in the ordinary course of business;

 

the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

 

a disposition of properties or assets that constitutes (or results in by virtue of the consideration received for such disposition) either a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments” or a Permitted Investment;

 

a disposition of Hydrocarbons or mineral products inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

[reserved];

 

the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person in the ordinary course of business; provided , that, this clause (9) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture.

 

the creation or perfection of a Lien that is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Liens”;

 

disposition in connection with Permitted Liens (other than a disposition of property with a fair market value in excess of $25 million in the aggregate);

 

surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind in the ordinary course of business;

 

the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property;

 

an Asset Swap; provided , that, this clause (14) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture; and

 

transfers of property subject to casualty or condemnation proceedings (including in lieu thereof) upon the receipt of the net cash proceeds therefor; provided such net cash proceeds are deemed to be Net Proceeds (calculated in accordance with the definition thereof) and are applied in accordance with the second paragraph under “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”.

 

Asset Swap ” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 60 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any Oil and Gas Properties customary in the Oil & Gas Business between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person in the ordinary course of business; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

 

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Attributable Debt ” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

 

Available Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

Banking Services ” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Issuer or Guarantor by any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any Affiliate thereof:  commercial credit cards,  stored value cards and  treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Obligations ” means any and all obligations of any Issuer or Guarantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq .), as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have correlative meanings. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed not to Beneficially Own securities that are the subject of a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until consummation of the transaction or, as applicable, series of related transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Board of Directors ” means:

 

with respect to Finance Corp., its board of directors;

 

with respect to the Company, the board of directors of the General Partner or any authorized committee thereof;

 

with respect to the Operating Partnership, the board of directors of the Operating General Partner or any authorized committee thereof; and

 

with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the trustee.

 

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.

 

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Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

United States dollars;

 

securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

 

marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A-” or better from S&P or A3 or better from Moody’s;

 

certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) , (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

 

money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);

 

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the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company; or the failure of the Company to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests in Finance Corp., the Operating Partnership, the Operating General Partner or the General Partner;

 

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), (excluding the Qualifying Owners), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like;

 

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like;

 

the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner are not Continuing Directors; or

 

a “change of control” (or similar defined term) under any Permitted Credit Facility or Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $70 million.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, a Change of Control under clause (6) shall be determined by reference to the Permitted Credit Facility or Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $70 million without giving effect to operation of this paragraph.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Collateral ” means all property wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the date of the indenture by any Issuer or any Guarantor as to which a Lien is granted under the security documents to secure the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, but excluding any Excluded Assets.

 

Collateral Requirements ” means, in connection with any transaction or event between or amongst Issuers and Guarantors, the requirement that the Issuer or Guarantor receiving (by way of Asset Sale, Investment, merger, consolidation, reorganization, dividend, distribution, assignment, sale, lease, transfer or other disposition) Collateral from an Issuer or Guarantor shall substantially concurrent with such transaction or event execute and deliver such documentation (including, without limitation, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, other supplemental security documentation, supplemental indentures and any other agreements, documents or other instruments) to provide for the grant of a Parity Lien thereon and perfection thereof in accordance with and to the extent required by the Note Documents.

 

Commission or “ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means “Common Unit” as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

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Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:

 

an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

depreciation, depletion and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion and amortization, impairment and other non-cash items that were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense; minus

 

non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business; and minus

 

to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of  the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and  amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments,

 

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

 

the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

 

the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

 

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the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale and leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

 

any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

 

unrealized losses and gains under Hedging Contracts included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815, will be excluded; and

 

any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Debt ” means all Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a Lien on the assets of any Issuer or Guarantor (other than  property or assets held in a defeasance or similar trust or arrangement for the benefit of the Indebtedness secured thereby and  such Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the notes and Subsidiary Guarantees), minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuers and Guarantors subject to a perfected Second-Priority Lien in favor of the collateral agent for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to a control agreement delivered in accordance with the indenture and the other Note Documents.

 

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, who:

 

was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the indenture; or

 

was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among the Operating Partnership, as borrower, the Company, as parent guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto (the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, in each case, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that, the Credit Agreement and any amendment, restated, modification, renewal, refund, replacement or refinancing thereof must satisfy the Credit Facility Criteria (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) and the terms thereof must satisfy the requirements under the heading “Amendments to Priority Lien Debt” as if such amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, refund, replacement or refinancing were an amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate ” has the meaning set forth under the heading “Principal, Maturity and Interest”.

 

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.”

 

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Dollar-Denominated Production Payments ” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and all of whose outstanding Capital Stock is Beneficially Owned by the Company.

 

East Salt Water Texas Disposal Company ” means East Salt Water Texas Disposal Company, a Texas corporation.

 

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock until so converted).

 

“Excluded Assets ” has the meaning set forth under the heading “—Security for the Notes.”

 

Existing Indebtedness ” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, which is considered incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt,” Indebtedness represented by the notes under the indenture, which is considered incurred under clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and other than intercompany Indebtedness) in existence on the date of the indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

 

The term “ fair market value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in the case of amounts of $20 million or more and otherwise by an officer of the General Partner.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such interest Hedging Contract is less than 12 months, then such interest Hedging Contract shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of such Person, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by such Person. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as such Person may designate.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

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acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in the Oil and Gas Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the General Partner (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);

 

the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

 

the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at all times during such four-quarter period;

 

any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at any time during such four-quarter period; and

 

interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included.

 

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

 

the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on any series of preferred securities of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends payable solely in Equity Interests of the payor (other than Disqualified Stock) or to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person,

 

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in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that  is not a Domestic Subsidiary and  has 50% or more of its consolidated assets located outside the United States or any territory thereof.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.

 

General Partner ” means Breitburn GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Company.

 

The term “ guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

 

Guarantors ” means each of:

 

the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp., executing the indenture as initial Guarantors; and

 

any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.

 

and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

Hedging Contracts ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

 

other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates;

 

and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

 

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests ” means leasehold and other interests in or under oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases wherever located, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, and production payment interests relating to oil, gas or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons wherever located, including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature.

 

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Hydrocarbons ” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

in respect of borrowed money;

 

evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;

 

in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

 

representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

 

representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

 

representing deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, holdbacks, earn-outs and other contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations) (other than trade payables on ordinary and customary terms and customary indemnities); provided , that, earn-outs and other contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets and similar obligations shall constitute Indebtedness only to the extent no longer contingent,

 

in each case, if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP .

 

In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment).

 

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

 

the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

Insolvency Proceeding ” means  any case, action or proceeding relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or  any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors, undertaken under U.S. federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement among the collateral agent, the trustee, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties from time to time party thereto, to be entered into on the date of the indenture, as it may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the indenture and the terms thereof.

 

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding  commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and  advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, Acquisitions together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” It is agreed and understood that any transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets for less than fair market value shall be deemed an “Investment”.

 

Issue Date ” means the first date upon which the notes are issued under the indenture.

 

Joint Venture ” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

 

Majority Holders ” means the Holders of at least 50.1% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes.

 

Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to a note at the time of computation, the excess, if any, of  the present value at such time of  the redemption price of such note at April       , 2018 plus  any required interest payments due on such note through April       , 2018 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over  the principal amount of such note.

 

Minority Interest ” means the percentage interest represented by any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Mortgaged Property ” means any property owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor that is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Mortgages; provided, however, “Mortgaged Property” also includes any property that is required to become subject to a Mortgage after the Issue Date in accordance with the Note Purchase Agreement and any property acquired after the Issue Date for which the Additional Collateral Right may be exercised unless such exercise has not occurred within 60 days after notice of such acquisition has been provided pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not impact the Majority Holders Additional Collateral Right in any manner.  

 

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Mortgages ” means all mortgages, deeds of trust and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on Oil and Gas Properties and other related assets to secure payment of the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees or any part thereof.

 

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with:  any Asset Sale; or  the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

 

any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

 

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

 

the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale;

 

taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements;

 

amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale; and

 

any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

 

Net Working Capital ” means, with respect to any specified Person,  all current assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less  all current liabilities of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except  current liabilities included in Indebtedness,  current liabilities associated with asset retirement obligations relating to oil and gas properties and  any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815).

 

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Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

 

as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries  provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness),  is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or  is the lender;

 

no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

 

as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” above, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Note Documents ” means the indenture, the notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, the security documents and mortgages establishing Parity Liens and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Note Purchase Agreement ” means that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 27, 2015 by and among the Issuers, Guarantors and initial Holders of the notes, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the indenture and the terms thereof.

 

Not Otherwise Applied ” means, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount was not previously applied to  make Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments,  purchase, redeem, defease, acquire or retire any subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Notes of any Issuer or Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company and  make any Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units.

 

Obligations ” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), any make-whole payment (including, without limitation, the Make-Whole Amount), repayment premium (including the Prepayment Premium), change of control premium, other premiums, penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the Note Documents or in respect thereto.

 

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

 

the acquisition, exploration, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other Hydrocarbon properties;

 

the gathering, marketing, treating, processing (but not refining), storing, distributing, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties;

 

any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of, oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith;

 

any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

 

any activity that is ancillary, complementary or incidental to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

 

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Oil and Gas Properties ” means Hydrocarbon Interests and contracts executed in connection therewith and all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances, and properties belonging, affixed or incidental to such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all property, real or personal, and situated upon or to be situated upon, and used, built for use, or useful in connection with the operating, working or developing of such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all petroleum and/or natural gas wells, buildings, structures, field separators, liquid extractors, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, pipelines, tank and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, liters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, taping, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes, and all additions, substitutions, replacements for, and fixtures and attachments thereto.

 

Operating General Partner ” means Breitburn Operating GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Operating Partnership or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Operating Partnership.

 

Operating Partnership ” means Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership and any successor thereto.

 

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by a security document to the collateral agent, at any time, upon any property of any Issuer or any Guarantor to secure the Obligations for the benefit of the collateral agent, trustee, the holders of the notes and indemnitees.

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company dated as of the Issue Date, as amended and in effect on the date of the indenture and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Permian Basin Properties ” means Oil and Gas Properties and undeveloped acreage owned by any Issuer or Guarantor located in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.

 

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time  such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or  such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, either

 

immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” or

 

immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, including investments or expenditures for actively exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including without limitation:

 

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direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbon properties or any interest therein, gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems, or ancillary real property interests and interests therein; and

 

the entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business;

 

provided that, (i) the foregoing may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any Investment in another Person (other than any Issuer or Guarantor) with or in the form of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property); (ii) in the case of a joint venture, farm-in agreement or farm-out agreement involving the conveyance or other disposition of assets with a fair market value in excess of $10 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year, the consideration therefor shall be (a)(x) for fair market value and (y) 100% in the form of cash or carry, and (b) the net cash proceeds thereof (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, carried amounts) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds and subject to the provisions of “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”, other than the first paragraph thereof; and (iii) that “Permitted Business Investments” shall exclude Investments in corporations and publicly traded Persons.

 

Permitted Credit Facility ” means one or more credit facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) providing for loans and letters of credit secured by Oil and Gas Properties and other customary Property of the Issuers and the Guarantors, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, at all times subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and satisfying the Credit Facility Criteria (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof).

 

Permitted Distributions on Common Units ” means, to the extent permitted under Delaware State Law and the organizational documents of the Company, and subject to the covenant under the caption “—Restricted Payments,” (x) dividends, distributions or other payments (other than on account of a redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value) by the Company on account of its Common Units or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Common Units in their capacity as such and (y) beginning with the 18th month anniversary of the Issue Date, any purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Common Units of the Company, up to the following aggregate amounts:

 

until the 18th month anniversary of the Issue Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $0.50 per Common Unit on an annualized basis; and

 

thereafter, in an unlimited amount so long as the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.50 to 1.00 as of the date of such calculation measured on a pro forma basis to give effect to any dividend, distribution or other payment by the Company on account of its Common Units and any purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement of the Company’s Common Units as if such dividend, distribution or such other payment and such purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement had occurred on the date of calculation of such ratio. Such Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested semi-annually on the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date and will govern the Permitted Distributions on Common Units for the succeeding 6 months following the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date.

 

Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units ” means, to the extent permitted under Delaware State Law and the organizational documents of the Company, and subject to the covenant under the caption “—Restricted Payments,” dividends, distributions, other payments (other than on account of a redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value) and any Preferred Change of Control Redemption by the Company on account of its Preferred Units or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Preferred Units in their capacity as such, up to the following aggregate amounts:

 

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if immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” the sum of Available Cash with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter, plus 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), in each case, to the extent so designated for such dividend, distribution or other payment in an officer’s certificate delivered to the trustee by an executive officer of the Company within 10 Business Days after such contribution, issuance, sale, conversion or exchange and to the extent Not Otherwise Applied , minus without duplication, Permitted Distributions on Common Units that have occurred during such fiscal quarter; or

 

if immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company would not be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” an amount equal to Available Cash with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter minus , without duplication, Permitted Distributions on Common Units that have occurred during such fiscal quarter, but in no event shall the amount of any dividends, distributions or other payments made by the Company on account of its Preferred Units pursuant to this clause (ii) exceed $70 million in any fiscal year; provided that such amounts must be paid to the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Units and Series B Convertible Preferred Units on a pro rata basis based on the amount of dividend or distribution obligations (including accrued but unpaid obligations) thereon at such time.

 

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

any Investment  by any Issuer or any Guarantor in any Issuer or any Guarantor, subject to the Collateral Requirements,  by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor,  by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in any Issuer or any Guarantor (so long as no Capital Stock of any Issuer or Guarantor is transferred to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in connection with such Investment) or  by any Issuer or any Guarantor in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in an amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $25 million or (b) 0.65% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

 

any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if as a result of such Investment:

 

either

 

on the date of such Acquisition after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company will be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”; or

 

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immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions;

 

such Person and its Subsidiaries becomes Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company (or, in the case of such Person, such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) and all of the Equity of such Person is acquired;

 

other than as set forth in the proviso below, such Person and its Subsidiaries become Guarantors and grant a Lien on their assets in accordance with and to the extent required by the provisions under the heading “Further Assurances; Collateral; Liens on Additional Property”; and

 

such Person and its Subsidiaries are, taken as a whole, principally engaged in the same business as the Issuers and Guarantors; and

 

any Investment held by such Person; provided , that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

 

provided that with respect to any Acquisition the amount of consideration paid or provided by any Issuer or any Guarantor (including the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness assumed in connection with such Acquisition and the fair market value of non-cash consideration) with respect to any Person or Persons that shall not be or, after giving effect to such Acquisition, shall not become a Guarantor or shall not transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Issuer or a Guarantor, shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such Acquisition at such time;

 

any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales,” including pursuant to clause (9) or (14) of the items deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale”;

 

any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

Hedging Contracts;

 

Permitted Business Investments;

 

Investments in Utica having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $25 million or 0.65% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

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other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $50 million or 1.30% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Guarantor at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Guarantor after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Guarantor;

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, clauses (1) , (3) , (9) and (10) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any contribution to any Person (other than an Issuer or a Guarantor) with (or Investment in the form of) the Permian Basin Properties or other Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property).

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

any Priority Lien with respect to any Permitted Credit Facility incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors securing claims in which the collateral agent has a perfected Second-Priority Lien and that are junior in priority to the Parity Liens; provided, however, such Liens must be immediately released upon assignment or transfer to a Person that is not an Issuer or Guarantor;

 

Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than the property of such Person that secured such Lien at the time such Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any other assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof);

 

any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation; provided, that the principal amount of such Capital Lease Obligation is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the indenture;

 

Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business, in each case, to the extent permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”; provided that:

 

the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under clause (4) under the heading “Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

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Liens existing on the date of the indenture (other than Liens permitted under clause (1) and clause (17) );

 

customary Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

 

customary Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, which Liens shall be limited to the property that is the subject of such Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

 

Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

customary Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

 

Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by the covenant “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”;

 

Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees issued as of the Issue Date;

 

Liens to secure performance of Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

Liens arising from royalties, overriding royalties, revenue interests, net revenue interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests, production payments, preferential rights of purchase, working interests and other similar interests, all as ordinarily exist with respect to properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or otherwise as are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

other Liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money) not exceeding at any time, in the aggregate, the greater of $30 million or .8% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

any Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that  the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith and  no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness), provided that:

 

the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded and, in the case of any extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, defeasance or refunding of the notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date and amortization of no more than 1.00% per annum of the original principal amount thereof;

 

if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Operating Partnership or Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

such Indebtedness is not secured by a Lien on any assets other than the collateral securing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or with a priority that is senior to the Lien securing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded ( provided any extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, defeasance or refunding of the notes and Subsidiary Guarantees shall be on an unsecured basis); and

 

such Indebtedness is not recourse to any Person that is liable on account of such Indebtedness immediately after giving effect to such incurrence other than those Persons which were obligated on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced or refunded.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Preferred Change of Control Redemption ” means the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of the Series B Preferred Units (as such term is defined in the Parent’s Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as in effect on the Issue Date) in accordance with Section 17.4 of Parent’s Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as in effect on the Issue Date; provided, however, such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall only constitute a “Preferred Change of Control Redemption” as long as prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer.

 

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Prepayment Premium ” means, with respect to the principal amount of any note, the extent to which the redemption price for such note is in excess of 100.000% of the principal amount of such note, as set forth under the heading “Optional Redemption”.

 

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by an Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of any Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, or if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Debt ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof; provided, that the terms of Priority Lien Debt must satisfy the requirements of the provision under the heading “Amendments to Priority Lien Debt” as if the Priority Lien Debt were an amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Documents ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Production Payments ” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Proved Developed Producing Reserves ” means Proved Reserves which are categorized as both “Developed” and “Producing” in the Reserve Definitions.

 

Proved Reserves ” means “ Proved Reserves ” as defined in the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves (the “ Reserve Definitions ”) promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

 

Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio of the (i) PV10 of the Proved Reserves of the Issuers’ and Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties as of the latest Reserve Report to (ii) the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of the date such ratio is calculated. The Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year (the “ Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date ”) and will govern the distribution for the succeeding 6 months following the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the April 1 Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested based on the January 1 Reserve Report with Strip Pricing as of March 15 and the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of April 1. In addition, the October 1 Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested based on the July 1 Reserve Report with Strip Pricing as of September 15 and the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of October 1.

 

Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio”.

 

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PV10 ” means, in respect of the Proved Reserves of any Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s Oil and Gas Properties, the net present value of future cash flows (discounted at a rate of ten percent per annum) on a pre-income tax basis calculated by the Company based on the information from the most recent Reserve Report that is available and taking into account all other factors which are reasonably deemed by the Company to be material, but provided that each calculation of such expected future cash flow shall be made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, provided that in any event  reasonable adjustments as determined in good faith by management shall be made for management’s projections of (a) operating, gathering, transportation and marketing costs required for the production and sale of such reserves, (b) capital expenditures required to maintain and develop such reserves and (c) basis differentials,  reasonable adjustments as determined in good faith by management shall be made for the acquisition and sale of reserves since the date of such Reserve Report (with such adjustments being based on the Strip Price as of March 15 or September 15, as applicable, or a date that is mutually agreed by the Company and the Majority Holders) and  the pricing assumptions used in determining PV10 for any particular reserves shall be based upon the Strip Price as of March 15 or September 15, as applicable, or a date that is mutually agreed by the Company and the Majority Holders; provided that, for purposes of calculating PV10 for purposes of the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio for all purposes hereunder, no more than 40% of such amount may be attributable to Proved Reserves described in the applicable Reserve Report other than Proved Developed Producing Reserves. PV10 shall be adjusted to give effect to Hedging Contracts as in effect on the date of determination.

 

Qualifying Owners ” means, collectively, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Reporting Default ” means a Default described in clause (4) under “—Events of Default and Remedies.”

 

Reserve Definitions ” has the meaning set forth for such term in the definition of “Proved Reserves” herein.

 

Reserve Report ” means a report as of January 1 or July 1 of each year covering proved developed and proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and setting forth with respect thereto  the total quantity of proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves (separately classified as to producing, non-producing, shut-in, behind pipe, and undeveloped),  the estimated future net revenues and cumulative estimated future net revenues and  the present discounted value of future net revenues; provided, however, that the January 1 reserve report is provided by a nationally recognized third party reserve engineer and any succeeding reserve report for the same year is prepared by the Company.

 

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in the indenture to the contrary, the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp. shall be Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

S&P ” refers to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Second-Priority” or “Second-Priority Basis ” means, with respect to any Lien, a Lien that is second priority to Priority Lien Debt, in each instance, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens.

 

Senior Debt ” means:

 

all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under any Permitted Credit Facility and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

 

any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of the indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

 

all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2) .

 

60
 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

 

any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

 

any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the indenture.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of the indenture.

 

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled (including interest payments to be paid in accordance with applicable interest periods) to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Strip Price ” means, as of any date of the determination thereof with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties included in the then most recent Reserve Report,  the average of the closing midpoint contract prices on a monthly basis for each month through the eighth anniversary of the then most recent Reserve Report (the “ Initial Strip ”) and  thereafter, the average of such midpoint contract prices for the last twelve (12) months of such Initial Strip period escalated at 2.0% per annum for five years, in each case as quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “ NYMEX ”) for WTI oil and Henry Hub gas prices and the ICE Futures Europe (“ ICE ”) for Brent oil prices; provided, however, that lease operating costs will be escalated at 1% per annum for the same period that WTI oil prices are escalated. If NYMEX and/or ICE no longer provides such futures midpoint contract quotes or has ceased to operate, the Company shall designate another nationally recognized commodities exchange to replace the NYMEX and/or ICE for purposes of the references to the NYMEX and ICE herein.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company  the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person, or  if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

 

Subsidiary Guarantee ” means any guarantee by a Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under the indenture and on the notes.

 

61
 

 

Treasury Rate ” means, in respect of any redemption date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such time (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to March       , 2018; provided, however , that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to March          , 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will  calculate the Treasury Rate no later than the second Business Day (and no earlier than the fourth Business Day) preceding the applicable redemption date (or, in the case of any redemption in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture, on the business day preceding such event) and  prior to such redemption date file with the trustee a statement setting forth the Make-Whole Amount and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means  Utica,  East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company and  any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp., the Operating Partnership or the General Partner) that is designated (and permitted to be designated under the indenture) by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that Utica, East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company or such Subsidiary:

 

has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that would be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation  to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or  to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officers’ certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the indenture and any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant described under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” or such Liens are not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Liens” the Company will be in default of such covenant.

 

Unsecured Notes ” means unsecured notes, loans or other instruments evidencing Indebtedness for borrowed money issued by any Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary in a capital markets, bank or syndicated loan financing or similar financing prior to or after the Issue Date.

 

Utica ” means Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, a Delaware limited liability company indirectly wholly-owned by the Company on the date of the indenture.

 

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Volumetric Production Payments ” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all related undertakings and obligations.

 

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

the sum of the products obtained by multiplying  the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by  the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

63

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

BREITBURN OPERATING LP

 

BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

AND

 

THE GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF

 

 

 

9.25% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of April 8, 2015

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

As Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 
 

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
 
Contents
     
Article 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION  BY REFERENCE 1
Section 1.01 Definitions 1
Section 1.02 Other Definitions 40
Section 1.03 [RESERVED] 40
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction 41
     
Article 2 THE NOTES 41
Section 2.01 Form and Dating 41
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication 41
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent 42
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 43
Section 2.05 Noteholder Lists 43
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange 44
Section 2.07 Replacement Notes 44
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes 44
Section 2.09 Temporary Notes 45
Section 2.10 Cancellation 45
Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest 45
Section 2.12 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers 46
Section 2.13 Issuance of Additional Notes 46
     
Article 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT 46
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee 46
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to be Redeemed 47
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption 47
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption 48
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price 49
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part 49
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption 49
Section 3.08 Offer to Purchase Upon Invalid Debt Incurrence 50
Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase 51
     
Article 4 COVENANTS 53
Section 4.01 Payment of Notes 53
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency 53
Section 4.03 Reports 54
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate 55
Section 4.05 Taxes 55
Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 55
Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments 55
Section 4.08 Restrictive Agreements 59
Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock 62
Section 4.10 Limitation on Asset Sales 65

 

ii
 

 

Section 4.11 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates 67
Section 4.12 Limitation on Liens 68
Section 4.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees 69
Section 4.14 Corporate Existence 69
Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control 69
Section 4.16 [ Reserved .] 72
Section 4.17 Business Activities 72
Section 4.18 [RESERVED] 73
Section 4.19 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries 73
Section 4.20 Anti-Layering 73
Section 4.21 Insurance 74
Section 4.22 Amendments to Priority Lien Debt 74
     
Article 5 SUCCESSORS 74
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets 74
Section 5.02 Successor Substituted 77
     
Article 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 77
Section 6.01 Events of Default 77
Section 6.02 Acceleration 81
Section 6.03 Other Remedies 81
Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults 81
Section 6.05 Control by Majority 82
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits 82
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment 82
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee 83
Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 83
Section 6.10 Priorities 83
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs 84
     
Article 7 TRUSTEE 84
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee 84
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee 85
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee 87
Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer 87
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults 87
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes 87
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity 87
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee 88
Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 89
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification 90
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers 90
     
Article 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 90
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 90
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge 90
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance 91
Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance 91

 

iii
 

 

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 92
Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers 93
Section 8.07 Reinstatement 93
Section 8.08 Discharge 94
     
Article 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER 95
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes 95
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes 96
Section 9.03 [Reserved] 98
Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers 98
Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes 98
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. 98
     
Article 10 GUARANTEES OF NOTES 99
Section 10.01 Subsidiary Guarantees 99
Section 10.02 [Reserved] 100
Section 10.03 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 100
Section 10.04 Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees 101
Section 10.05 [Reserved] 101
Section 10.06 Limitation on Guarantor Liability 101
     
Article 11 MISCELLANEOUS 102
Section 11.01 [Reserved] 102
Section 11.02 Notices 102
Section 11.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes 103
Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 103
Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 103
Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents 104
Section 11.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders 104
Section 11.08 Governing Law 104
Section 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 104
Section 11.10 Successors 104
Section 11.11 Severability 104
Section 11.12 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 105
Section 11.13 Counterparts 105
Section 11.14 Acts of Holders 105
Section 11.15 Patriot Act 106
     
Article 12 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY 107
Section 12.01 Security Interest 107
Section 12.02 Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property 107
Section 12.03 Intercreditor Agreement 110
Section 12.04 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes 110

 

iv
 

 

APPENDIX, SCHEDULE AND ANNEX

 

RULE 144A/ REGULATION S/ IAI APPENDIX App - 1
Exhibit 1 to the Appendix  
Exhibit 2 to the Appendix  
     
SCHEDULE I Agreements with Affiliates S - 1
     
ANNEX A Form of Supplemental Indenture A – 1

 

v
 

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

This Indenture, dated as April 8, 2015, is among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Operating Partnership ”), Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors listed on the signatures page hereof (each, a “ Guarantor ” and, collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”) and collateral agent (in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

The Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuers’ Initial Notes and Additional Notes:

 

Article 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01         Definitions.

 

Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)         Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

 

(2)         Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

Acquisition ” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business unit or division of a Person or (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock of a corporation (or similar entity), which stock has ordinary voting power for the election of the members of such entity’s board of directors or persons exercising similar functions (other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the partnership interests or equity of any Person not a corporation which acquisition gives the acquiring Person the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person.

 

Additional Assets ” means:

 

(1)         any assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, other than Indebtedness or Capital Stock;

 

(2)         the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Guarantor as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by any Issuer or Guarantor; or

 

1
 

 

(3)          Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such Person becomes a Guarantor;

 

provided , however , that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (2) or (3) is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

 

Additional Interest ” means all Default Rate interest then owing pursuant to Section 4.01(b) and Section 6.01(d). Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references to “interest” in this Indenture or the Notes shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest.

 

Additional Notes ” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12, 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued from time to time after the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09 or Section 3.06 of this Indenture).

 

Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” of a specified Person means (without duplication), as of the date of determination:

 

(1)          the sum of:

 

(a)          discounted future net revenue from proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal or other income taxes, as estimated by such Person in the latest Reserve Report with an effective date of January 1 or July 1 based on the Strip Price as of the effective date of the Reserve Report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue from:

 

(i)          estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to acquisitions consummated since the date of such Reserve Report, which reserves were not reflected in such Reserve Report, and

 

(ii)         estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the latest semi-annual Reserve Report,

 

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenue attributable to:

 

2
 

 

(A)         estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Reserve Report produced or disposed of since the date of such Reserve Report, and

 

(B)         reductions in the estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Reserve Report since the date of such Reserve Report due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the latest semi-annual Reserve Report); provided , however , that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (A) and (B) above, such increases and decreases shall be estimated in good faith by the Company’s petroleum engineers based upon assumptions believed in good faith to be reasonable at the time made;

 

(b)          the capitalized costs that are attributable to crude oil and natural gas properties of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are attributable, based on such Person’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent);

 

(c)          the Net Working Capital of such Person as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent); and

 

(d)          the greater of:

 

(i)          the net book value of other tangible assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (whichever is more recent), and

 

(ii)         the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of such Person’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements (provided that such Person shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed);

 

minus

 

(e)          the sum of:

 

(i)          Minority Interests;

 

(ii)         to the extent not otherwise taken into account in determining Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any net natural gas balancing liabilities of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such Person’s latest audited financial statements;

 

3
 

 

(iii)        to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the latest semi-annual Reserve Report), attributable to reserves subject to participation interests, overriding royalty interests or other interests of third parties, pursuant to participation, partnership, vendor financing or other agreements then in effect, or which otherwise are required to be delivered to third parties;

 

(iv)         to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenue calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the latest semi-annual Reserve Report), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto; and

 

(v)          the discounted future net revenue, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenue specified in clause (1)(a) above, would be necessary to satisfy fully the obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

 

For purposes of this defined term “Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets”, until such time as the Note Purchase Agreement is terminated, the Reserve Report shall refer to the latest semi-annual Reserve Report delivered pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided , however , that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

Agent ” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Agent Members ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

4
 

 

Applicable Law ,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

 

Asset Sale ” means:

 

(1)         the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a Production Payment or a Sale and Leaseback Transaction); provided, however , that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10; and

 

(2)         the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

(1)         the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets to the extent the aggregate fair market value of all such transactions in any fiscal year does not exceed $10.0 million;

 

(2)         a transfer of properties or assets between or among (i) any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Issuers or Guarantors (ii) between Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Issuers or Guarantors and (iii) by any Restricted Subsidiary to any Issuer or Guarantor;

 

(3)         an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a (i) Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or Issuer to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) Guarantor or Issuer (other than the Company) to any other Guarantor or Issuer;

 

(4)         the sale, lease or other disposition of (i) inventory, (ii) products, (iii) accounts receivable or (iv) equipment and other properties or assets (other than Oil and Gas Properties and acreage) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5)         the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)         a disposition of properties or assets that constitutes (or results in by virtue of the consideration received for such disposition) either a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment;

 

(7)         a disposition of Hydrocarbons or mineral products inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

5
 

 

(8)         [RESERVED];

 

(9)         the farm-out, lease or sublease of developed or undeveloped crude oil or natural gas properties owned or held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for crude oil and natural gas properties owned or held by another Person in the ordinary course of business; provided , that, this clause (9) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a Joint Venture;

 

(10)        the creation or perfection of a Lien that is permitted by Section 4.12;

 

(11)        disposition in connection with Permitted Liens (other than a disposition of property with a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million in the aggregate);

 

(12)        surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)        the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property;

 

(14)        an Asset Swap provided , that, this clause (14) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture; and

 

(15)        transfers of property subject to casualty or condemnation proceedings (including in lieu thereof) upon the receipt of the net cash proceeds therefor; provided such net cash proceeds are deemed to be Net Proceeds (calculated in accordance with the definition thereof) and are applied in accordance with Section 4.10(b).

 

Asset Swap ” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 60 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any Oil and Gas Properties customary in the Oil & Gas Business between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person in the ordinary course of business; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

 

Attributable Debt ” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

 

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Available Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq.), as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have correlative meanings. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed not to Beneficially Own securities that are the subject of a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until consummation of the transaction or, as applicable, series of related transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Board of Directors ” means:

 

(1)         with respect to Finance Corp., the board of directors of Finance Corp.;

 

(2)         with respect to the Company, the board of directors of the General Partner or any authorized committee thereof;

 

(3)         with respect to the Operating Partnership, the board of directors of the Operating General Partner or any authorized committee thereof; and

 

(4)         with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Capital Stock means:

 

(1)         in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2)         in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)         in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4)         any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Cash Equivalents means:

 

(1)         United States dollars;

 

(2)         securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)         marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A-1” or better from S&P or P-1 or better from Moody’s;

 

(4)         certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(5)         repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

(6)         commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

 

(7)         money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

 

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Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)         the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);

 

(2)         (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company; or (ii) the failure of the Company to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests in Finance Corp., the Operating Partnership, the Operating General Partner or the General Partner;

 

(3)         the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (excluding the Qualifying Owners), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like;

 

(4)         the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like;

 

(5)         the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner are not Continuing Directors; or

 

(6)         a “change of control” (or similar defined term) under any Permitted Credit Facility or Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $70 million.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, a Change of Control under clause (6) shall be determined by reference to the Permitted Credit Facility or Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $70 million without giving effect to operation of this paragraph.

 

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Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Collateral ” means all property wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the Issue Date by any Issuer or any Guarantor as to which a Lien is granted under the Security Documents to secure the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, but excluding any Excluded Assets.

 

Collateral Agent ” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

Collateral Requirements ” means, in connection with any transaction or event between or amongst Issuers and Guarantors, the requirement that the Issuer or Guarantor receiving (by way of Asset Sale, Investment, merger, consolidation, reorganization, dividend, distribution, assignment, sale, lease, transfer or other disposition) Collateral from an Issuer or Guarantor shall substantially concurrent with such transaction or event execute and deliver such documentation (including, without limitation, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, other supplemental security documentation, supplemental indentures and any other agreements, documents or other instruments) to provide for the grant of a Parity Lien thereon and perfection thereof in accordance with and to the extent required by the Note Documents.

 

Commission or “ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means “Common Unit” as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Company Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuers by Officers of the Issuers, who must be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Controller of an Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:

 

(1)         an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(2)         provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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(3)         consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(4)         depreciation, depletion and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, depletion and amortization, impairment and other non-cash items that were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(5)         unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(6)         all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense; minus

 

(7)         non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business; and minus

 

(8)         to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments,

 

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

 

(1)         the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

 

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(2)         the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;

 

(3)         the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(4)         any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

 

(5)         any asset impairment writedowns on oil and gas properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines will be excluded;

 

(6)         unrealized losses and gains under Hedging Contracts included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815, will be excluded; and

 

(7)         any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded.

 

Consolidated Senior Secured Debt ” means all Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a Lien on the assets of any Issuer or Guarantor (other than (i) property or assets held in a defeasance or similar trust or arrangement for the benefit of the Indebtedness secured thereby and (ii) such Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees), minus unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuers and Guarantors subject to a perfected Second-Priority Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to a control agreement delivered in accordance with this Indenture and the other Note Documents.

 

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the General Partner who:

 

(1)         was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue Date; or

 

(2)         was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

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Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee is principally administered, which at the date of this Indenture is located at the offices of U.S. Bank National Association; Corporate Trust; 950 17th Street - 12th Floor; Denver, CO 80202; Attention: Corporate Trust Administration and for purposes of Section 2.03 and Section 4.02, such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286; Attention: Bond Operations - 7E or such other addresses as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, or the principal corporate trust office in the City of New York of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers).

 

Credit Agreement ” means the Existing Credit Agreement, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, in each case, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the terms hereof; provided, that, the Credit Agreement and any amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, refund, replacement or refinancing thereof must satisfy the Credit Facility Criteria (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) and the terms thereof must satisfy the requirements under Section 4.22 as if such amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, refund, replacement or refinancing were an amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Default ” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Depository ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07.

 

Dollar-Denominated Production Payments ” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and all of whose outstanding Capital Stock is Beneficially Owned by the Company.

 

DTC ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

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East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company ” means East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company, a Texas corporation.

 

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock until so converted).

 

Euroclear ” means the Euroclear System or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Assets ” means:

 

(1)          any permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which any Issuer or Guarantor is a party and any of its rights or interests thereunder if, and only for so long as, the grant of a security interest under the Security Documents (A) is prohibited by or a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Issuer or Guarantor or requires the consent of an applicable governmental authority or a third party which has not been obtained or (B) shall constitute or result in a breach of a term or provision of or termination or default under any such permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such law, rule, regulation, consent requirement, violation, term or provision would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law);

 

(2)          property owned by any Issuer or Guarantor that is subject to a purchase money Lien or capital lease permitted under this Indenture if the agreement pursuant to which such Lien is granted (or the document providing for such capital lease) prohibits, or requires the consent of any Person other than any Issuer or Guarantor which has not been obtained as a condition to, the creation of any other Lien on such property;

 

(3)          any “intent-to-use” application for registration of a Trademark filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto, solely to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that issues from such intent-to-use application under applicable federal law;

 

(4)          any deposit account exclusively used for trust, payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s employees; and

 

(5)          certain Equity Interests, as set forth in the Security Documents.

 

provided, however , “Excluded Assets” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Assets).

 

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Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Issuer, (b) any Foreign Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, (c) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (d) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not permitted by law or regulation to guarantee the Obligations or that would be required to obtain governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to guarantee the Obligations with respect to the Notes (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received) and (e) any Restricted Subsidiary that is prohibited from guaranteeing the Obligations by any contractual obligation in existence on the Issue Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition but not entered into in contemplation thereof).

 

Existing Indebtedness ” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, which is considered incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt,” Indebtedness represented by the Notes under this Indenture, which is considered incurred under clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and other than intercompany Indebtedness) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

 

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among the Operating Partnership, as borrower, the Company, as parent guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto.

 

The term “ fair market value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the General Partner in the case of amounts of $20.0 million or more and otherwise by an officer of the General Partner.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such interest Hedging Contract is less than 12 months, then such interest Hedging Contract shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of such Person, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by such Person. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as such Person may designate.

 

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In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(1)         acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in the Oil and Gas Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the General Partner (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);

 

(2)         the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

 

(3)         the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

(4)         any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at all times during such four-quarter period;

 

(5)         any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at any time during such four-quarter period; and

 

(6)         interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included.

 

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

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(1)         the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

 

(2)         the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

(3)         any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

(4)         all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on any series of preferred securities of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends payable solely in Equity Interests of the payor (other than Disqualified Stock) or to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person,

 

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, if all or substantially all of the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary consist of equity or debt of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries described in clause (i) and (iii) any Subsidiary of a Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (i).

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.

 

General Partner ” means Breitburn GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Company.

 

Global Note ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

 

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The term “ guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

 

Guarantors ” means each of (a) the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp., executing this Indenture as initial Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplement to this Indenture in accordance with Section 4.13 or Section 10.03 hereof and (c) the respective permitted successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries, as required under Article 10 hereof, in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 8.02, Section 8.03 or Section 10.04 hereof.

 

Hedging Contracts” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)         interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(2)         foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(3)         any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

 

(4)         other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates,

 

and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.

 

Holder ” or “ Noteholder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

Hydrocarbons ” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests ” means leasehold and other interests in or under oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases wherever located, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, and production payment interests relating to oil, gas or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons wherever located, including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature.

 

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Immaterial Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that in the aggregate with each other Subsidiary that is designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary (a) has assets with an aggregate fair market value of less than $20 million as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Company and (b) has aggregate revenues less than $20 million for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended. Any Subsidiary so designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary that fails to meet the foregoing as of the last day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended shall continue to be deemed an “Immaterial Subsidiary” hereunder until the date that is 60 days following the delivery of annual or quarterly financial statements pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof with respect to such period (or the last quarter thereof, as applicable).

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

(1)         in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2)         evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

(3)         in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;

 

(4)         in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

(5)         representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions;

 

(6)         representing deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, holdbacks, earn-outs and other contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations) (other than trade payables on ordinary and customary terms and customary indemnities); provided , that, earn-outs and other contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets and similar obligations shall constitute Indebtedness only to the extent no longer contingent; or

 

(7)         representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

 

in each case, if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment, but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment).

 

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The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

(1)         the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

(2)         in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

 

(3)         the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

Indenture means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Initial Notes ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

Insolvency Proceeding ” means (a) any case, action or proceeding relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors, undertaken under U.S. federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.

 

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement among the Collateral Agent, the Trustee, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties from time to time party thereto, dated as of April 8, 2015, as it may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Indenture and the terms thereof.

 

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities and Acquisitions together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. It is agreed and understood that any transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets for less than fair market value shall be deemed an “Investment”.

 

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Issue Date ” means April 8, 2015.

 

“Joint Venture” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under Applicable Law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

 

Lead Holder ” has the meaning specified in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

Majority Holders ” mean the Holders of at least 50.1% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to a Note at the time of computation, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption or acceleration price applicable to such Note at April 8, 2018 plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through April 8, 2018 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date (or, in the case of an acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02, such acceleration date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Make-Whole Amount” shall be due and payable, without limitation, in accordance with the terms of Section 6.02.

 

Minority Interest ” means the percentage interest represented by any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Mortgaged Property ” means any property owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor that is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Mortgages; provided , however , “Mortgaged Property” also includes any property that is required to become subject to a Mortgage after the Issue Date in accordance with the Note Purchase Agreement and any property acquired after the Issue Date for which the Additional Collateral Right may be exercised unless such exercise has not occurred within 60 days after notice of such acquisition has been provided pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not impact the Majority Holders Additional Collateral Right in any manner.

 

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Mortgages ” means all mortgages, deeds of trust and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on Oil and Gas Properties and other related assets to secure payment of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees or any part thereof.

 

Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

(1)         any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

 

(2)         any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

 

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

 

(1)         the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale,

 

(2)         taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements,

 

(3)         amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, and

 

(4)         any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

 

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Net Working Capital ” means, with respect to any specified Person, (a) all current assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, less (b) all current liabilities of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except (i) current liabilities included in Indebtedness, (ii) current liabilities associated with asset retirement obligations relating to oil and gas properties and (iii) any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815).

 

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

 

(1)         as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) is the lender;

 

(2)         no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

 

(3)         as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Not Otherwise Applied ” means, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount was not previously applied to (a) make Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments, (b) purchase, redeem, defease, acquire or retire any subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Notes of any Issuer or Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company and (c) make any Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units.

 

Note Documents ” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Security Documents and Mortgages establishing Parity Liens and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Note Purchase Agreement ” means that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 27, 2015 by and among the Issuers, Guarantors and initial Holders of the Notes, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with this Indenture and the terms thereof.

 

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Notes ” has the meaning specified in the Appendix.

 

Notes Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01(a).

 

Obligations ” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), any make-whole payment (including, without limitation, the Make-Whole Amount), repayment premium (including the Prepayment Premium), change of control premium, other premiums, penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the Note Documents or in respect thereto.

 

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp. by two of its Officers, one of whom, in the case of any Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.04, must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, or the principal accounting officer of the Company, the Operating Partnership or Finance Corp., as the case may be, that, in each case, meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.

 

Oil and Gas Business ” means:

 

(1)         the acquisition, exploration, development, production, operation and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other Hydrocarbon properties;

 

(2)         the gathering, marketing, treating, processing (but not refining), storing, distributing, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties;

 

(3)         any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of, oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith;

 

(4)         any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

 

(5)         any activity that is ancillary, complementary or incidental to or necessary or appropriate for the activities described in clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

 

Oil and Gas Properties ” means Hydrocarbon Interests and contracts executed in connection therewith and all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances, and properties belonging, affixed or incidental to such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all property, real or personal, and situated upon or to be situated upon, and used, built for use, or useful in connection with the operating, working or developing of such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all petroleum and/or natural gas wells, buildings, structures, field separators, liquid extractors, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, pipelines, tank and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, liters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, taping, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes, and all additions, substitutions, replacements for, and fixtures and attachments thereto.

 

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Operating General Partner ” means Breitburn Operating GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Operating Partnership or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Operating Partnership.

 

Operating Partnership ” means Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership and any successor thereto.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be counsel to the Issuers.

 

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of any Issuer or any Guarantor to secure the Obligations for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, Trustee, the Holders of the Notes and indemnitees.

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company dated as of the Issue Date, as amended and in effect on the Issue Date and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

Permian Basin Properties ” means Oil and Gas Properties and undeveloped acreage owned by any Issuer or Guarantor located in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.

 

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time (a) such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, either

 

(1)         immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a), or

 

(2)         immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

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Permitted Business Investments ” means Investments made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business, including investments or expenditures for actively exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting Hydrocarbons through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risk or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including without limitation:

 

(1)         direct or indirect ownership of crude oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbon properties or any interest therein, gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems, or ancillary real property interests and interests therein; and

 

(2)         the entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, processing agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, production sharing agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business;

 

provided that, (i) the foregoing may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any Investment in another Person (other than any Issuer or Guarantor) with or in the form of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property); (ii) in the case of a joint venture, farm-in agreement or farm-out agreement involving the conveyance or other disposition of assets with a fair market value in excess of $10.0 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year, the consideration thereof shall be (a)(x) for fair market value and (y) 100% in the form of cash or carry, and (b) the net cash proceeds thereof (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, carried amounts) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds and subject to Section 4.10, other than Section 4.10(a) thereof; and (iii) that “Permitted Business Investments” shall exclude Investments in corporations and publicly traded Persons.

 

Permitted Credit Facility ” means one or more credit facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) providing for loans and letters of credit secured by Oil and Gas Properties and other customary Property of the Issuers and the Guarantors, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, at all times subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and satisfying the Credit Facility Criteria (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof).

 

Permitted Distributions on Common Units ” means, to the extent permitted under Delaware State Law and the organizational documents of the Company, and subject to Section 4.07, (x) dividends, distributions or other payments (other than on account of a redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value) by the Company on account of its Common Units or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Common Units in their capacity as such and (y) beginning with the 18th month anniversary of the Issue Date, any purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Common Units of the Company, up to the following aggregate amounts:

 

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(i)          until the 18th month anniversary of the Issue Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $0.50 per Common Unit on an annualized basis; and

 

(ii)         thereafter, in an unlimited amount so long as the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.50 to 1.00 as of the date of such calculation measured on a pro forma basis to give effect to any dividend, distribution or other payment by the Company on account of its Common Units and any purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement of the Company’s Common Units as if such dividend, distribution or such other payment and such purchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement had occurred on the date of calculation of such ratio. Such Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested semi-annually on the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date and will govern the Permitted Distributions on Common Units for the succeeding six months following the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date.

 

Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units ” means, to the extent permitted under Delaware State Law and the organizational documents of the Company, and subject to Section 4.07, dividends, distributions, other payments (other than on account of a redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value) and any Preferred Change of Control Redemption by the Company on account of its Preferred Units or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Preferred Units in their capacity as such, up to the following aggregate amounts:

 

(i)          if immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a), the sum of Available Cash with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter, plus 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), in each case, to the extent so designated for such dividend, distribution or other payment in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the trustee by an executive officer of the Company within 10 Business Days after such contribution, issuance, sale, conversion or exchange and to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, minus without duplication, Permitted Distributions on Common Units that have occurred during such fiscal quarter; or

 

(ii)         if immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company would not be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a), an amount equal to Available Cash with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter minus, without duplication, Permitted Distributions on Common Units that have occurred during such fiscal quarter, but in no event shall the amount of any dividends, distributions or other payments made by the Company on account of its Preferred Units pursuant to this clause (ii) exceed $70 million in any fiscal year; provided that such amounts must be paid to the holders of the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units on a pro rata basis based on the amount of dividend or distribution obligations (including accrued but unpaid obligations) thereon at such time.

 

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Permitted Investments ” means:

 

(1)         any Investment (a) by any Issuer or any Guarantor in any Issuer or any Guarantor, subject to the Collateral Requirements, (b) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor, (c) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in any Issuer or any Guarantor (so long as no Capital Stock of any Issuer or Guarantor is transferred to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in connection with such Investment) or (d) by any Issuer or any Guarantor in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor in an amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $25 million or (b) 0.65% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

 

(2)         any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

(3)         (a) as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if as a result of such Investment:

 

(i)          either

 

(A)         on the date of such Acquisition after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company will be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); or

 

(B)         immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions;

 

(ii)         such Person and its Subsidiaries become Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company (or, in the case of such Person, such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) and all of the Equity Interests of such Person is acquired;

 

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(iii)        other than as set forth in the proviso below, such Person and its Subsidiaries become Guarantors and grant a Lien on their assets in accordance with and to the extent required by Section 12.02; and

 

(iv)         such Person and its Subsidiaries are, taken as a whole, principally engaged in the same business as the Issuers and Guarantors; and

 

(b)          any Investment held by such Person; provided , that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;

 

provided that with respect to any Acquisition the amount of consideration paid or provided by any Issuer or any Guarantor (including the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness assumed in connection with such Acquisition and the fair market value of non-cash consideration) with respect to any Person or Persons that shall not be or, after giving effect to such Acquisition, shall not become a Guarantor or shall not transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any Issuer or a Guarantor, shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such Acquisition at such time;

 

(4)         any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10, including pursuant to clause (9) or (14) of the items deemed not to be Asset Sales under the definition of “Asset Sale”;

 

(5)         any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

(6)         any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(7)         Hedging Contracts;

 

(8)         Permitted Business Investments;

 

(9)         Investments in Utica having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $25 million or 0.65% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(10)        other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $50 million or 1.30% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Guarantor at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Guarantor after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Guarantor;

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, clauses (1), (3), (9) and (10) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any contribution to any Person (other than an Issuer or a Guarantor) with (or Investment in the form of) the Permian Basin Properties or other Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property).

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(1)         any Priority Lien with respect to any Permitted Credit Facility incurred under clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

(2)         Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors securing claims in which the Collateral Agent has a perfected Second-Priority Lien and that are junior in priority to the Parity Liens; provided , however , such Liens must be immediately released upon assignment or transfer to a Person that is not an Issuer or Guarantor;

 

(3)         Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than the property of such Person that secured such Lien at the time such Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)         Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any other assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof);

 

(5)         any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation; provided , that the principal amount of such Capital Lease Obligation is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(6)         Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business, in each case, to the extent permitted under clause (4) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”; provided that:

 

(a)          the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(4) and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

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(b)          such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

(7)         Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens permitted under clause (1) and clause (15));

 

(8)         customary Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9)         Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

 

(10)        customary Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, which Liens shall be limited to the property that is the subject of such Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

(11)        Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

 

(12)        Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas and related Hydrocarbons and minerals, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(13)        customary Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases;

 

(14)        Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09;

 

(15)        Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees issued as of the Issue Date;

 

(16)        Liens to secure performance of Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(17)        Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

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(18)        Liens arising from royalties, overriding royalties, revenue interests, net revenue interests, net profit interests, reversionary interests, production payments, preferential rights of purchase, working interests and other similar interests, all as ordinarily exist with respect to properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or otherwise as are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(19)        other Liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money) not exceeding at any time, in the aggregate, the greater of $30 million or 0.8% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(20)        any Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (other than any extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, defeasance or refunding of the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees), provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith and (b) no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness), provided that:

 

(1)         the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)         such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded and, in the case of any extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, defeasance or refunding of the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date and amortization of no more than 1.00% per annum of the original principal amount thereof;

 

(3)         if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

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(4)         such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Operating Partnership or Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

(5)         such Indebtedness is not secured by a Lien on any assets other than the collateral securing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or with a priority that is senior to the Lien securing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (provided any extension, refinancing, renewal, replacement, defeasance or refunding of the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees shall be on an unsecured basis); and

 

(6)         such Indebtedness is not recourse to any Person that is liable on account of such Indebtedness immediately after giving effect to such incurrence other than those Persons which were obligated on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced or refunded.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

Preferred Change of Control Redemption ” means the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of the Series B Preferred Units (as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) in accordance with Section 17.4 of Parent’s Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as in effect on the Issue Date; provided, however , such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall only constitute a “Preferred Change of Control Redemption” as long as prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer.

 

Prepayment Premium ” means, with respect to the principal amount of any Note, the extent to which the redemption price for such note is in excess of 100.000% of the principal amount of such Note, as set forth in Section 3.07.

 

Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by an Issuer or any Guarantor in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of any Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, or if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Debt ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof; provided , that the terms of Priority Lien Debt must satisfy the requirements of Section 4.22 as if the Priority Lien Debt were an amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

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Priority Lien Documents ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Priority Lien Obligations ” has the meaning given such term in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Production Payments ” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar denominated), partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Proved Developed Producing Reserves ” means Proved Reserves which are categorized as both “Developed” and “Producing” in the Reserve Definitions.

 

Proved Reserves ” means “Proved Reserves” as defined in the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves (the “Reserve Definitions”) promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

 

Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio of the (i) PV10 of the Proved Reserves of the Issuers’ and Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties as of the latest Reserve Report to (ii) the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of the date such ratio is calculated. The Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year (the “ Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date ”) and will govern the distribution for the succeeding six months following the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the April 1 Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested based on the January 1 Reserve Report with Strip Pricing as of March 15 and the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of April 1. In addition, the October 1 Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio will be tested based on the July 1 Reserve Report with Strip Pricing as of September 15 and the Consolidated Senior Secured Debt as of October 1.

 

Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio Date ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio”.

 

Purchasers ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

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PV10 ” means, in respect of the Proved Reserves of any Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s Oil and Gas Properties, the net present value of future cash flows (discounted at a rate of ten percent per annum) on a pre-income tax basis calculated by the Company based on the information from the most recent Reserve Report that is available and taking into account all other factors which are reasonably deemed by the Company to be material, but provided that each calculation of such expected future cash flow shall be made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, provided that in any event (i) reasonable adjustments as determined in good faith by management shall be made for management’s projections of (a) operating, gathering, transportation and marketing costs required for the production and sale of such reserves, (b) capital expenditures required to maintain and develop such reserves and (c) basis differentials, (ii) reasonable adjustments as determined in good faith by management shall be made for the acquisition and sale of reserves since the date of such Reserve Report (with such adjustments being based on the Strip Price as of March 15 or September 15, as applicable, or a date that is mutually agreed by the Company and the Majority Holders) and (iii) the pricing assumptions used in determining PV10 for any particular reserves shall be based upon the Strip Price as of March 15 or September 15, as applicable, or a date that is mutually agreed by the Company and the Majority Holders; provided that, for purposes of calculating PV10 for purposes of the Proved Reserves Coverage Ratio for all purposes hereunder, no more than 40% of such amount may be attributable to Proved Reserves described in the applicable Reserve Report other than Proved Developed Producing Reserves. PV10 shall be adjusted to give effect to Hedging Contracts as in effect on the date of determination.

 

Qualifying Owners ” means, collectively, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Reporting Default ” means a Default described in Section 6.01(d).

 

Reserve Definitions ” has the meaning set forth for such term in the definition of “Proved Reserves” herein.

 

Reserve Report ” means a report as of January 1 or July 1 of each year covering proved developed and proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and setting forth with respect thereto (a) the total quantity of proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves (separately classified as to producing, non-producing, shut-in, behind pipe, and undeveloped), (b) the estimated future net revenues and cumulative estimated future net revenues and (c) the present discounted value of future net revenues; provided, however , that the January 1 reserve report is provided by a nationally recognized third party reserve engineer and any succeeding reserve report for the same year is prepared by the Company.

 

Responsible Officer, ” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Restricted Global Note ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the Operating Partnership and Finance Corp. shall be Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

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Rule 144A ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

 

SEC ” or “ Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers and Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

 

Second-Priority ” or “ Second-Priority Basis ” means, with respect to any Lien, a Lien that is second priority to Priority Lien Debt, in each instance, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Liens.

 

Security Documents ” means the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by any Issuer or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.

 

Senior Debt ” means

 

(1)         all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under any Permitted Credit Facility and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

 

(2)         any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and

 

(3)         all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

 

(a)          any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

 

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(b)          any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Series A Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Series B Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled (including interest payments to be paid in accordance with applicable interest periods) to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Strip Price ” means, as of any date of the determination thereof with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties included in the then most recent Reserve Report, (a) the average of the closing midpoint contract prices on a monthly basis for each month through the eighth anniversary of the then most recent Reserve Report (the “ Initial Strip ”) and (b) thereafter, the average of such midpoint contract prices for the last twelve (12) months of such Initial Strip period escalated at 2.0% per annum for five years, in each case as quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “ NYMEX ”) for WTI oil and Henry Hub gas prices and the ICE Futures Europe (“ ICE ”) for Brent oil prices; provided , however , that lease operating costs will be escalated at 1% per annum for the same period that WTI oil prices are escalated. If NYMEX and/or ICE no longer provides such futures midpoint contract quotes or has ceased to operate, the Company shall designate another nationally recognized commodities exchange to replace the NYMEX and/or ICE for purposes of the references to the NYMEX and ICE herein.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)         any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2)         any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

 

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Subsidiary Guarantees ” means the joint and several guarantees issued by all of the Guarantors pursuant to Article 10 hereof.

 

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities ” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

Treasury Rate ” means, in respect of any redemption date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such time (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to April 8, 2018; provided , however , that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to April 8, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate no later than the second Business Day (and no earlier than the fourth Business Day) preceding the applicable redemption date (or, in the case of any redemption in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, on the business day preceding such event) and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the trustee a statement setting forth the Make-Whole Amount and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

Trustee ” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) Utica, (b) East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company and (c) any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp., the Operating Partnership or the General Partner) that is designated (and permitted to be designated under this Indenture) by the Board of Directors of the General Partner as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that Utica, East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company or such Subsidiary:

 

(1)         has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(2)         is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that would be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

(3)         is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(4)         has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 or such Liens are not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.12, the Company will be in default of such Section.

 

Unsecured Notes ” means unsecured notes, loans or other instruments evidencing Indebtedness for borrowed money issued by any Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary in a capital markets, bank or syndicated loan financing or similar financing prior to or after the Issue Date.

 

Utica ” means Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, a Delaware limited liability company indirectly wholly-owned by the Company on the Issue Date.

 

Volumetric Production Payments ” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all related undertakings and obligations.

 

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

(1)         the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

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(2)         the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or local ownership shares) is owned by the Company or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

 

Section 1.02         Other Definitions.

 

Term   Defined in Section
     
“Act”   Section 11.14
“Affiliate Transaction”   Section 4.11
“Alternate Offer”   Section 4.15(e)(3)
“Appendix”   Section 2.01
“cash returns”   Section 4.07(a)
“Change of Control Offer”   Section 4.15
“Change of Control Payment”   Section 4.15
“Change of Control Settlement Date”   Section 4.15
“Covenant Defeasance”   Section 8.03
“Default Rate”   Section 4.01
“Delayed Redemption Date”   Section 3.04(b)
“Discharge”   Section 8.08
“Event of Default”   Section 6.01
“Excess Proceeds”   Section 4.10(c)
“Incremental Funds”   Section 4.07(a)
“incur”   Section 4.09
“Invalid Debt Incurrence”   Section 3.08(a)
“Invalid Debt Incurrence Settlement Date”   Section 3.08(a)
“Legal Defeasance”   Section 8.02
“Offer Amount”   Section 3.09
“Offer to Purchase”   Section 3.09
“Offer Period”   Section 3.09
“Paying Agent”   Section 2.03
“Payment Default”   Section 6.01
“Permitted Debt”   Section 4.09
“Registrar”   Section 2.03
“Restricted Payments”   Section 4.07(a)
“Settlement Date”   Section 3.09
“Termination Date”   Section 3.09

 

Section 1.03         [RESERVED].

 

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Section 1.04         Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)          a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(2)          an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)          “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4)          words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5)          the meanings of the words “will” and “shall” are the same when used to express an obligation;

 

(6)          references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time; and

 

(7)          “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision

 

Article 2
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01         Form and Dating.

 

Provisions relating to the Initial Notes are set forth in the Rule 144A/ Regulation S/ IAI Appendix attached hereto (the “ Appendix ”) which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication therefor shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which an Issuer is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of the terms of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.02         Execution and Authentication.

 

An Officer shall sign the Notes on behalf of each Issuer by manual, facsimile or .pdf signature.

 

If an Officer of an Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

 

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. A Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $650.0 million of 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in a Company Order of the Issuers and compliance by Issuers with Section 11.04. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuers. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

In case any Issuer or any Guarantor, pursuant to Article 5 or Section 10.03, as applicable, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation or surviving such merger, or into which either Issuer or any Guarantor shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article 5, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may (but shall not be required), from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate to reflect such successor Person, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon the Company Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section 2.02 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

Section 2.03         Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “ Registrar ”) and an office or agency in New York, New York where Notes may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

 

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The Issuers initially appoint DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture and the Issuers may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders, but upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuers and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee and the passage of any waiting or notice periods required by DTC procedures or (ii) written notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. If the Trustee is no longer the Registrar and Paying Agent, the Issuers shall provide the Trustee with access to inspect the Note register at all times and with copies of the Note register.

 

Section 2.04         Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal of, premium (including, without limitation, the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium), if any, or interest on any Note, an Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium (including, without limitation, the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium), if any, or interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Noteholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Issuers or Guarantors in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

 

Section 2.05         Noteholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Noteholders and the principal amounts and number of Notes.

 

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Section 2.06         Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer. When a Note is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall promptly register the transfer as requested if the requirements of this Indenture and Section 8-401(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any taxes, assessments or similar governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 2.02, 2.09, 3.06, 4.10, 4.15 or 9.05).

 

All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

Section 2.07         Replacement Notes.

 

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue (and shall issue a Company Order to the Trustee to authenticate a replacement Note) and the Trustee upon receipt of such Company Order shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers and the Trustee to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note. In the event any such Note shall have matured, instead of issuing a new Note, the Issuers may direct the Trustee to pay the same without surrender thereof upon the Holder furnishing the Issuers and the Trustee with indemnity satisfactory to them and complying with such other reasonable regulations as the Issuers may prescribe and paying such reasonable expenses as the Issuer and the Trustee may incur in connection therewith.

 

Every replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.07, in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuers, any Guarantor and any other obligor upon the Notes, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08         Outstanding Notes.

 

Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee, any provider of an indemnity bond and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a redemption date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on them cease to accrue.

 

Section 2.09         Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at any office or agency maintained by the Issuers for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an order from the Issuers, authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor, one or more definitive Notes representing an equal principal amount of Notes. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of definitive Notes.

 

Section 2.10         Cancellation.

 

An Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of such Notes in accordance with its internal policies and customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act. Upon written request, the Trustee will deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Issuers unless the Issuers direct the Trustee to deliver canceled Notes to the Issuers instead. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.11         Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

 

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Section 2.12         CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.

 

The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

 

Section 2.13         Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and the date from which interest begins to accrue. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.12, as in effect on the Issue Date, does not permit the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(1)         the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(2)         the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes; and

 

(3)         whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Appendix to this Indenture.

 

Article 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01         Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 3.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price, and (v) whether it requests the Trustee to give notice of such redemption. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to the mailing of notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

 

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Section 3.02         Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes as follows: (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (or in the case of Global Notes, on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable, subject to the procedures of the Depository). In the event of partial redemption other than on a pro rata basis, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, not less than three (3) Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) prior to the giving of notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs of this Section 3.02 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a Global Note, whether such Global Note is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Global Note shall be in an authorized denomination.

 

Section 3.03         Notice of Redemption.

 

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, the Issuers shall deliver electronically or mail by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address or, in the case of Global Notes, send such notice of redemption in accordance with the procedures of the Depository.

 

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)          the redemption date;

 

(b)          the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

 

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(c)          if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(d)          the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(e)          that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f)           that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(g)          the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

 

(h)          that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

 

(i)           any conditions to redemption.

 

If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global Note, then the Issuers shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to redemption.

 

If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided, however , that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 3.01, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the second preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04         Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)         Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become, except as provided in Section 3.04(b), irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date, at the redemption price.

 

(b)         Any such redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related equity offering. If such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the related notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived (provided that in no event shall such date of redemption be delayed to a date later than 10 Business Days after the date initially designated for redemption in such notice), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed (the “ Delayed Redemption Date ”). Notes called for redemption subject to conditions precedent will be become due on the date such conditions precedent are satisfied; provided such conditions precedent are satisfied prior to the Delayed Redemption Date.

 

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(c)         If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03, the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice.

 

Section 3.05         Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.04 hereof) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Paying Agent by an Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest and Additional Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of an Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest and Additional Interest, if any, not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06         Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note upon cancellation of the original Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. In the case of a Global Note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof.

 

Section 3.07         Optional Redemption.

 

(a)         Except as set forth in clauses (c) and (d) of this Section 3.07, the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to April 8, 2018. On or after April 8, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time (and, following any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes on or after April 8, 2018, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the Notes (and all such Notes shall become due and payable)) at the redemption or acceleration prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption or acceleration date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption or acceleration date), if redeemed or accelerated during the twelve-month period beginning on April 8 of the years indicated below:

 

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YEAR   PERCENTAGE  
2018     106.000 %
2019     100.000 %

 

(b)         [RESERVED].

 

(c)         Prior to April 8, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or part of the Notes (and, following any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes prior to April 8, 2018, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the Notes (and all such Notes shall become due and payable)) at a redemption or acceleration price equal to the sum of:

 

(1)          100% of the principal amount thereof, plus

 

(2)          accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption or acceleration date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption or acceleration date), plus

 

(3)          the Make-Whole Amount.

 

(d)         The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15(f).

 

(e)          Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through Section 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 3.08          Offer to Purchase Upon Invalid Debt Incurrence.

 

(a)          If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness that is not permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 (an “ Invalid Debt Incurrence ”), the Company will make an offer to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the portion of the net proceeds received from such Invalid Debt Incurrence incurred in violation of Section 4.09. Such offer shall be made within 15 Business Days after receipt of notice of such Invalid Debt Incurrence by the Trustee or Majority Holders. The offer price in any such offer will be equal to the price at which the Notes could have been redeemed at the time of the Invalid Debt Incurrence pursuant to Section 3.07 (including at the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium, if applicable), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of settlement (the “ Invalid Debt Incurrence Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Invalid Debt Incurrence Settlement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Invalid Debt Incurrence Offer and any redemption or repurchase of Notes pursuant thereto shall not be a permitted alternative to complying with the provisions of the Indenture and shall not constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Trustee, Collateral Agent or any Holder.

 

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(b)         The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of an Invalid Debt Incurrence. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 3.08, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Section 3.08 by virtue of such conflict.

 

Section 3.09         Offer to Purchase.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 3.08 or Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Offer to Purchase ”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Offer to Purchase shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by Applicable Law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Settlement Date”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 3.08 or Section 4.10, as applicable, hereof (the “ Offer Amount ”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn), all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in response to the Offer to Purchase. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the manner prescribed in the Notes.

 

Upon the commencement of an Offer to Purchase, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Offer to Purchase shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Offer to Purchase, shall state:

 

(a)         that the Offer to Purchase is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 3.08 or Section 4.10, as applicable, hereof and the length of time the Offer to Purchase shall remain open, including the time and date the Offer to Purchase will terminate or expire (the “ Termination Date ”);

 

(b)         the Offer Amount and the purchase price;

 

(c)         that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

 

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(d)          that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Settlement Date;

 

(e)          that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

 

(f)           that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Offer to Purchase shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

 

(g)           that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(h)           that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Trustee shall select the Notes, as applicable, to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased); and

 

(i)           that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

If any of the Notes subject to an Offer to Purchase is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases.

 

Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Offer to Purchase in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 3.08 or Section 4.10 hereof, as applicable, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09 and Section 3.08 or Section 4.10, as applicable. Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note (and the Issuers shall issue a Company Order to the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such Note to such Holder), and the Trustee, upon receipt of such Company Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Offer to Purchase on or before the Settlement Date.

 

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Article 4
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01         Payment of Notes.

 

(a)         The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by an Issuer or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, then due.

 

(b)         Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Additional Interest will accrue on the principal amount of all Notes and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Obligations outstanding (including post-petition interest in any proceeding (including any Insolvency Proceeding) under applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, whether or not allowed in such a proceeding), payable in cash on demand by the Trustee at a rate that is two percent (2.00%) per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable on the Notes (the “ Default Rate ”). Payment or acceptance of the Default Rate will not be a permitted alternative to timely payment and will not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

Section 4.02         Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) in New York, New York where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and they shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency in the City of New York where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, the Issuers shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency in the City of New York, in order that the Notes shall at all times be payable in the City of New York. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03. In addition, Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee set forth in Section 11.02.

 

Section 4.03         Reports.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and, within five Business Days of filing, or attempting to file, the same with the SEC, furnish to the Trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes:

 

(1)          all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants; and

 

(2)          all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

The availability of the foregoing information or reports on the SEC’s website will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery requirements.

 

(b)         The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Notes, prospective purchasers of the Notes and securities analysts, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(c)         If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by Section 4.03(a) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(d)         Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein.

 

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Section 4.04         Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)        The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restri cted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)         The Issuers shall deliver prompt notice to the Trustee and Collateral Agent upon an executive officer’s knowledge of any Default or Event of Default hereunder (and, in any case, no later than five Business Days after knowledge thereof), which notice shall specify such Default or Event of Default.

 

Section 4.05         Taxes.

 

The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.06         Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

Each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.07         Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

(a)         The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

(1)          declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

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(2)          purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company;

 

(3)          make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or constitutes Unsecured Notes (including Existing Indebtedness in the form of Unsecured Notes), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or

 

(4)          make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”),

 

unless, in the case of clauses (3) and (4) only, (A) at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment, (B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment is not less than 2.25 to 1.0, and (C) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding “Permitted Investments” and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b)) since the Issue Date, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(A)          100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale after the Issue Date of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent Not Otherwise Applied; provided, however , that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash, plus

 

(B)          to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date pursuant to this Section 4.07(a) is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); provided , that, Issuers and Guarantors may only make Restricted Payments with such cash return of capital to the extent an Issuer or Guarantor was the recipient of such cash return of capital, plus

 

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(C)          the net reduction in Restricted Investments made pursuant to this to this Section 4.07(a) resulting from cash dividends, repayments of loans or advances in cash, or other transfers of cash (together, the “ cash returns ”) in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided , that, Issuers and Guarantors may only make Restricted Payments with such cash returns to the extent an Issuer or Guarantor was the recipient of such cash returns; plus

 

(D)          the fair market value of Unrestricted Subsidiaries redesignated as Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiaries was made pursuant to this Section 4.07(a) as long as such redesignated Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor (items (A), (B), (C) and (D) of this Section 4.07(a) being referred to as “ Incremental Funds ”).

 

(b)         So long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby (except with respect to clause (1) of this Section 4.07(b) under which the payment of a distribution or dividend is permitted notwithstanding that any such Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as long as there was no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default occurring or continuing on the date of declaration of any such Restricted Payment)), Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit:

 

(1)          the payment of any dividend or distribution within 90 days after the date of its declaration, if at the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture;

 

(2)          without duplication of any Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Payment of the type specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 4.07(a)) in exchange for, or out of (or of, in the case of a contribution of assets that were acquired in exchange for Equity Interests of the Company or with net cash proceeds of a contribution described in the following clause (A)) the net cash proceeds of (or, in the case of any such contribution of assets, in the form of the assets so contributed) the substantially concurrent (A) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company (other than in respect of Disqualified Stock, but including a contribution of assets) or (B) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with such contribution or sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such Restricted Payments occurs not more than 60 days after such contribution or sale and the proceeds of such contribution or sale (or assets contributed) are designated for such purpose pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate by an executive officer of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than 5 Business Days after the occurrence of such contribution or sale and are Not Otherwise Applied; provided , however , that (i) the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash and Incremental Funds and (ii) any such contributed assets shall not be required to become Collateral if such Restricted Payment if made not more than 60 days after such contribution;

 

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(3)          the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Unsecured Notes or subordinated Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4)          the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5)          the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of (A) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement; provided, however , that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5 million in any calendar year, with any portion of such $5 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount and (B) the Company from former officers, directors or employees (or spouses, ex-spouses or trustees thereof) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)          the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise, exchange or conversion price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise, exchange or conversion of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests, and any cash payment in lieu of the issuance of fractional Equity Interests upon exercise, exchange or conversion;

 

(7)          [Reserved];

 

(8)          the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Unsecured Notes of any Issuer or Guarantor (other than Unsecured Notes that are subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations) (A) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Unsecured Notes in the event of a change of control in accordance with mandatory offer provisions similar to those set forth in Section 4.15 or (B) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof in accordance with mandatory offer provisions similar to those set forth in Section 4.10; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer or Offer to Purchase, as applicable, and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Offer to Purchase; or

 

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(9)          the declaration and payment of (i) Permitted Distributions on Common Units and (ii) Permitted Distributions on Preferred Units by the Company.

 

(c)         The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value, on the date of the Restricted Payment, of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment, except that the fair market value of any non-cash dividend or distribution paid within 60 days after the date of its declaration shall be determined as of such date. The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section will be determined, in the case of amounts under $20 million, by an officer of the General Partner and, in the case of amounts over $20 million, by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (excluding any Restricted Payment described in clause (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) of Section 4.07(b)) the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, clauses (A) through (D) of Section 4.07(a) and clauses (2), (4) and (9) of Section 4.07(b) may not be used by any Issuer or Guarantor to make any Restricted Payment to another Person (other than an Issuer or Guarantor) with, in the form of or in respect of the Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties (or Equity Interests of any Person that owns any Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Property).

 

Section 4.08         Restrictive Agreements.

 

(a)         The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of:

 

(1)          any Issuer or Guarantor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien in favor of the Holders in respect of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees upon any of its property, assets or revenues constituting Collateral as and to the extent contemplated by the Notes Documents or

 

(2)          any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(A)          pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(B)          make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

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(C)          transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)         However, the restrictions of Section 4.08(a) will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1)          agreements as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Issue Date, as long as, in each case, no such agreement or amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing thereof would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)          the Note Documents;

 

(3)          Applicable Law;

 

(4)          any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person or other agreement acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock or agreement was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(5)          customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

 

(6)          Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in Section 4.08(a)(2)(C);

 

(7)          any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

 

(8)          Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

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(9)           Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

(10)        provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other agreements described in the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)         any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the Issue Date, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisitions;

 

(12)         restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)         the issuance of preferred securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred securities is permitted by Section 4.09 and the terms of such preferred securities do not expressly restrict the ability of such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred securities prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

 

(14)         with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was incurred if either (a) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (b) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, whose determination shall be conclusive;

 

(15)         arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any Asset Sale permitted or not prohibited by Section 4.10 and applicable solely to the assets under such Asset Sale;

 

(16)         negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted by Section 4.12, but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness; and

 

(17)        any other agreement governing Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred by Section 4.09; provided , however , that such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture or the Credit Agreement as it exists on the Issue Date.

 

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Section 4.09         Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

 

(a)         The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt); the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any other preferred securities; provided , however , that any Issuer and any Guarantor may incur unsecured Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or the Company may issue Disqualified Stock, if, for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or other preferred securities are issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would have been at least 2.25 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided, however , any such Indebtedness in the form of Unsecured Notes shall (1) have a scheduled maturity date that is no earlier than ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date and (2) not have any amortization in excess of 1% per annum of the original principal amount thereof.

 

(b)         Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock described in clause (13) below (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”) or the issuance of any preferred securities described in clause (11) below:

 

(1)          the incurrence by any Issuer or Guarantor of Indebtedness under Permitted Credit Facilities, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(2)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3)          the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued on the Issue Date;

 

(4)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $30 million or (b) 0.8% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

 

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(5)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.09(b) or this clause (5);

 

(6)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , however , that:

 

(a)   if an Issuer is the obligor on such Indebtedness and an Issuer or a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither any Issuer nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations; and

 

(b)   (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

 

(7)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts;

 

(8)          the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

 

(9)          the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

 

(10)         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(11)         the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however , that:

 

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(a)   any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(b)   any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11);

 

(12)         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of liability in respect of the Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture but only to the extent that such liability is the result of the Company’s or any such Restricted Subsidiary’s being a general partner of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and not as guarantor of such Indebtedness and provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (12) and then outstanding does not exceed $25.0 million;

 

(13)         Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness; and

 

(14)         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (14) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $60.0 million or (b) 1.6% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

(c)         For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (14) of Section 4.09(b), or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that any Indebtedness under any Permitted Credit Facility on the Issue Date shall be considered incurred under Section 4.09(b)(1) and may not later be reclassified.

 

(d)         The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.

 

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Section 4.10         Limitation on Asset Sales.

 

(a)         The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

 

(1)          the Company (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of;

 

(2)          the fair market value is determined by (a) an executive officer of the General Partner if the value is less than $20.0 million and evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, or (b) the Company’s Board of Directors if the value is $20.0 million or more and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee;

 

(3)          at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale is in the form of cash; provided, however , consideration in respect of an Asset Sale of Permian Basin Properties or Mortgaged Properties from an Issuer or Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor, an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture shall be 100% in cash. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(a)           any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, respectively, from further liability; and

 

(b)           any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 90 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

(4)          no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom; and

 

(5)          in the case of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales will have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

provided that no Issuer or Guarantor shall sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of the Equity Interests it owns in any Issuer or Guarantor (other than to an Issuer or Guarantor) if after giving effect to such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition, such Issuer or Guarantor would be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not wholly-owned by the Issuers and the Guarantors.

 

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(b)         Within 180 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

 

(1)          (A) to repay, redeem or repurchase Priority Lien Debt or (B) to make an offer to all Holders to repay, redeem or repurchase the Notes;

 

(2)          to invest in Additional Assets; or

 

(3)          to make capital expenditures in respect of the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Business;

 

provided , however , to the extent the assets disposed of pursuant to an Asset Sale (or casualty or condemnation event) constitute Collateral, the Additional Assets and capital expenditures to which such Net Proceeds are applied will be treated as after acquired property and will become Collateral in accordance with and to the extent required by the Note Documents.

 

(c)         Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.10(b) will constitute “ Excess Proceeds ”.

 

(d)         On the 181st day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will make an Offer to Purchase to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall promptly (and, in any event, within 15 Business Days after the first date of such Event of Default) make an Offer to Purchase with respect to all Net Proceeds from Asset Sales not yet applied pursuant to clauses (1)-(3) of Section 4.10(b) as of the first date of such Event of Default, except to the extent that such Excess Proceeds are otherwise committed to be used for an Investment as of the first date of such Event of Default pursuant to a binding contract.

 

(e)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 4.10, to the extent that consideration for Asset Sales together with consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents for Asset Swaps under clause (14) of the definition of “Asset Sales” and consideration received in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents for joint ventures, farm-outs and farm-ins under the definition of “Permitted Business Investments” less any amounts previously applied to prepay the Notes in accordance with this Section 4.10 since the date of the Indenture exceeds $500 million in the aggregate, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall promptly (and, in any event, within 15 Business Days of receipt thereof) apply 75% of the Net Proceeds resulting thereafter (without the right of reinvestment) to cause the Issuers to make an Offer to Purchase to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Net Proceeds. The remaining 25% of such Net Proceeds shall be applied pursuant to clauses (1)-(3) of Section 4.10(b).

 

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(f)         The offer price in any Offer to Purchase (or an offer pursuant to Section 4.10(b)(1)(B)) pursuant to this Section will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Offer to Purchase to Holders of the Notes, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered into such Offer to Purchase (or offer pursuant to Section 4.10(b)(1)(B) exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis as set forth in Section 3.09(h) of this Indenture. Upon completion of each Offer to Purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

(g)         The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10 or Section 3.09, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

 

Section 4.11         Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)         The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”), unless:

 

(1)          the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary (or, in a transaction between an Issuer or Guarantor, on the one hand, and a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, on the other hand, to such Issuer or Guarantor) than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

(2)          the Company delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the General Partner set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

(b)         The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a):

 

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(1)          any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)          transactions between or among any of the Issuers and Guarantors;

 

(3)          transactions by and among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Holders of the Notes as of the Issue Date and their Affiliates, on the other hand;

 

(4)          transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are identified in Schedule I to this Indenture, in each case as such agreements are in effect on the Issue Date, and any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Company in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;

 

(5)          customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

 

(6)          sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company;

 

(7)          Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments under clause (7) or (8) of the definition thereof) or Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07;

 

(8)          in the case of contracts for buying and selling Hydrocarbons or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and unrelated third parties; and

 

(9)          transactions between or among any of the Issuers and Guarantors, on the one hand, and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or Guarantor, on the other hand; provided , that (a) such transaction is for the provision of goods, sales or services in the nature of overhead at no less than cost in the ordinary course of business or (b) the aggregate consideration paid for all such transactions not otherwise covered by clause (a) does not exceed $10 million in any fiscal year.

 

Section 4.12         Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness (including Attributable Debt) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired.

 

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Section 4.13         Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

The Company shall cause each Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) that is formed or acquired following the Issue Date to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Annex A to this Indenture within 60 days of such formation or acquisition pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall fully and unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Notes and all other obligations under this Indenture and the other Note Documents, on the terms set forth in Article 10; provided that if, notwithstanding the foregoing, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (regardless of whether such Restricted Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary) that is not already a Guarantor or an Issuer guarantees (or is a co-borrower, co-issuer or co-direct obligor of) any other Indebtedness of any Issuer or Guarantor, then in either case such Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering to the Trustee within ten Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be, together with an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.06; provided, however , that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.14         Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Section 5.01 and Section 10.03, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(a)           its limited partnership, limited liability company or corporate existence, and the corporate partnership or other existence of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(b)           the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the existence of the Issuers), if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.15         Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

 

(a)          Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make a cash tender offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes, except as provided in Section 4.15(e) below, at a purchase price (the “ Change of Control Payment ”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the date of settlement (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Within 30 days following a Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 or Section 4.15(e)(1) or Section 4.15(e)(3) applies, the Company shall send a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction that constitutes the Change of Control and stating:

 

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(1)          that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

 

(2)          the purchase price and the Change of Control Settlement Date, which shall be no later than 30 days from the date such notice is sent;

 

(3)          that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Purchase Price for all Notes accepted for purchase promptly after such acceptance on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

 

(4)          that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

 

(5)          that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Change of Control Settlement Date;

 

(6)          that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer;

 

(7)          that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(8)          that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

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If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to repurchases. Further, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

 

(b)         On or before the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly after such acceptance, on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company shall:

 

(1)          deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered (and not validly withdrawn); and

 

(2)          deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depository), the Issuers shall issue a Company Order and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon such Company Order, and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however , that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

 

(c)         The Change of Control provisions of this Section 4.15 shall be applicable whether or nor any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

 

(d)         Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.15, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company or any Guarantor must either repay all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15 (it being agreed that making such payments and obtaining such consents is not a condition precedent to complying with the provisions of this Section 4.15).

 

(e)         The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if:

 

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(1)         a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)          a notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.07; or

 

(3)          in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “ Alternate Offer ”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer.

 

(f)         In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice as provided in Section 3.03, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, as applicable, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

(g)         A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

 

Section 4.16         [ Reserved .]

 

Section 4.17         Business Activities.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Operating Partnership) to, engage in any business other than the Oil and Gas Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company is a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company as permitted under Section 4.09. Finance Corp. shall not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.18         [RESERVED].

 

Section 4.19         Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)         As long as no Default (other than a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Board of Directors of the General Partner may designate any newly-formed Subsidiary of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date pursuant to an Acquisition permitted under the provisions governing Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if, in either case, that designation would not cause a Default. Any such designation shall be made on or promptly after the date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (and, in any case, within 30 days of the formation or acquisition thereof). If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will, to the extent not constituting a “Permitted Investment” under clause (5) of the definition thereof, be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a) or represent and will reduce the amount available for Permitted Investments under clause (10) of the definition thereof as determined by the Company. That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)         The Board of Directors of the General Partner may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

Section 4.20         Anti-Layering.

 

No Issuer or Guarantor will incur or suffer to exist any (i) Indebtedness (including Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted hereunder) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Issuer or Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees on substantially identical terms or (ii) Indebtedness that is secured by Liens that are contractually subordinated or junior to other Liens securing such Indebtedness (or contractually subordinated or junior to Liens securing other Indebtedness) of any Issuer, or Guarantor unless such Liens are also contractually subordinated or junior to the Liens securing the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees on substantially identical terms.

 

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Section 4.21         Insurance.

 

The Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company shall cause the lender loss payable, mortgagee or additional insured clauses or provisions in said insurance policy or policies, insuring any of the Collateral or providing for general liability insurance (and any other policies with respect to which the Priority Lien Agent has received or will receive an endorsement or “lender loss payee”, “mortgagee” or “additional insured” status), as applicable, to be endorsed in favor of the Collateral Agent as its interests may appear and such policies shall name the Collateral Agent as a “lender loss payee”, “mortgagee” or “additional insured” and provide that the insurer will endeavor to give at least 30 days prior notice of any cancellation to the Collateral Agent (or 10 days prior notice of any cancellation in the event of non-payment). Such insurance policies or endorsements thereto will provide, and the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries agree that the insurer will waive any right of subrogation against the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and each Holder of the Notes.

 

Section 4.22         Amendments to Priority Lien Debt.

 

The Issuers and Guarantors shall not amend, waive, modify or supplement and shall not consent to any amendment, waiver, modification or supplement to the Priority Lien Debt if the effect thereof would be to (i) prohibit or restrict any payment of principal, interest or otherwise with respect to the Obligations in a manner that is more restrictive than as of the Issue Date, (ii) subordinate in right of payment any Priority Lien Debt to any other Indebtedness or subordinate the Liens securing Priority Lien Debt to any other Lien or (iii) add any restrictions on amendments, waivers, modifications or supplements to the Note Documents that are materially more restrictive than the restrictions set forth in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Article 5
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01         Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

 

(a)           None of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly, (x) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor), or (y) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

 

(1)          either (A) such Issuer is the survivor or (B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided , however , (i) Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement and (ii) the Company shall not convert (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) into a corporation;

 

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(2)          the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes and the other Note Documents to which such Issuer is a party, as applicable, and all other Issuers and Guarantors confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the Notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to a supplemental indenture;

 

(3)          immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

(4)         

 

(A)          the Company or (if such transaction involves the Company) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, on the date of such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); or

 

(B)          immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Company’s most recently ended four full quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of the transactions, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or (if such transaction involves the Company) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions;

 

(5)          any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, subject to the Collateral Requirements;

 

(6)          the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into such Issuer, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Issuer shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the perfected Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents;

 

(7)          the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is engaged in the Oil and Gas Business, except to the extent permitted by Section 4.17; and

 

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(8)          such Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture and other Note Documents (if any) comply with this Indenture and Note Documents.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding the restrictions described in Section 5.01(a)(4), any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Operating Partnership or Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or the Operating Partnership without complying with Section 5.01(a)(4) in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.

 

(c)         Notwithstanding Section 5.01(a), the Company may reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:

 

(1)          the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law; provided, however , the Company shall not convert (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) into a corporation;

 

(2)          the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(3)          the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and other Note Documents pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, and all other Issuers and Guarantors confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the Notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable;

 

(4)          any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, subject to the Collateral Requirements

 

(5)          immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(6)          such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (6) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).

 

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(d)         For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions described under this Section 5.01 will be subject to the prior notice requirements set forth in the Security Documents and Note Documents (if any).

 

Section 5.02         Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as such Issuer herein and shall be substituted for such Issuer (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company”, “Finance Corp.” or “Operating Partnership,” as the case may be, shall refer instead to the successor and not to the Company, Finance Corp. or Operating Partnership, as the case may be); and thereafter, if an Issuer is dissolved following a transfer of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in accordance with this Indenture, it shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such Issuer.

 

Article 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01         Events of Default.

 

An “ Event of Default ” occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

 

(a)         an Issuer defaults in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest, if any, with respect to, the Notes, and such default continues for a period of five (5) Business Days;

 

(b)         an Issuer defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium (including the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium), if any, on the Notes when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

(c)         the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 3.08, Section 3.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.15 or Section 5.01 hereof;

 

(d)         the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.03 or Section 5(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement for 120 days ( provided that if beginning on the 61 st day the Company is not in compliance with Section 4.03 or Section 5(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement, additional interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum shall accrue and be payable (in the same manner and at the same time as regular interest payments));

 

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(e)         failure by the Company or any Guarantor for 30 days after the earlier of (i) knowledge by an executive officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) receipt by the Company of notice from the Trustee or Holders of 50.1% of the principal amount of Notes to comply with any other agreement in this Indenture or any other Note Document;

 

(f)         any representation or warranty by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries made in any Note Document, or which is contained in any certificate furnished at any time under any Note Document, is incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

 

(g)         a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, if such default:

 

(1)          is caused by a failure to make any payment on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “ Payment Default ”); or

 

(2)          results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $40.0 million or more; provided , however , that if any such Payment Default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; provided , further , in the event any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Unsecured Notes outstanding as of the Issue Date has terms that are materially more burdensome or restrictive on the Issuers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, than those in the Unsecured Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced (it being agreed that the existence of a financial maintenance covenant in any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will constitute terms that are materially more burdensome or restrictive on the Issuers and Guarantors, taken as a whole, than those in the Unsecured Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced), then the occurrence of any default under any indenture or instrument under which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be issued or evidenced which gives the agent, trustee, collateral agent or any holder or holders thereunder the right to accelerate will constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture;

 

(h)         the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $40.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

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(i)         except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(j)         the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)          except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Security Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this Section 6.01(j)(1) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Security Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Lien purported to be granted under such Security Documents on any Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $10.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Second-Priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure (including by notice thereof sent by Trustee, Collateral Agent or any Holder), which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(2)          except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Liens purported to be granted under any Security Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Second-Priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure (including by notice thereof sent by Trustee, Collateral Agent or any Holder), which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(3)          any Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of any Issuer or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Security Document establishing Parity Liens;

 

(4)          Any other Note Document is partially or wholly revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect other than in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, or a Guarantor or any other Person on behalf of a Guarantor contests in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or any Issuer or Guarantor denies that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any such Note Document;

 

(k)         the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

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(1)          commences a voluntary case,

 

(2)          consents in writing to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(3)          consents in writing to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(4)          makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(5)          admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

 

(l)         a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(1)          is for relief against the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case;

 

(2)          appoints a Custodian of the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

(3)          orders the liquidation of the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

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Section 6.02         Acceleration.

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Majority Holders in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, if applicable, to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(k) or Section 6.01(l) occurs with respect to the Company, the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp., any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, all outstanding Notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium, if applicable, shall become due and payable without further action or notice. If the maturity of the Notes is accelerated, a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium (in each case, determined as if the Notes were redeemed at the time of such acceleration at the option of the Issuers pursuant to the terms of Section 3.07 hereunder) will, if applicable, become due and payable immediately without further action or notice, and the Issuers will pay such premium, as compensation to the Holders for the loss of their investment opportunity and not as a penalty, whether or not an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced, and (if an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced) without regard to whether such Insolvency Proceeding is voluntary or involuntary, or whether payment occurs pursuant to a motion, plan of reorganization, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the Notes and other Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether or not by power of judicial proceeding), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. Without limiting the foregoing, any redemption of the Notes in or in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding shall constitute an optional redemption thereof at such time under the terms of Section 3.07 and, if applicable, require the immediate payment of the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium. Upon any such declaration, the Notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, if applicable, shall become due and payable immediately. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest, premium (including the Make-Whole Amount and Prepayment Premium) or Additional Interest, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03         Other Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04         Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 6.05         Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes (it being understood that the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not any direction is unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability provided further , that the Trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any directions received from Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.05.

 

Section 6.06         Limitation on Suits.

 

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

 

(a)          the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b)          the Majority Holders make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)          such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d)          the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

(e)          during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

 

Section 6.07         Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of and premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.08         Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and the Guarantors for the whole amount of principal of, premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and Additional Interest, if any, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09         Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10         Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

(A)          to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Trustee’s costs and expenses of collection;

 

(B)          to the recipients set forth in Section 6 of the Note Purchase Agreement for amounts due under Section 6 of the Note Purchase Agreement;

 

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(C)          to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium (including the Make-Whole Amount and Prepayment Premium, if applicable), interest and Additional Interest, if any, and amounts due under Section 4(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium (including the Make-Whole Amount and Prepayment Premium, if applicable), interest and Additional Interest, if any, and amounts due under Section 4(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement, if any, respectively;

 

(D)          to the Holders, Trustee and Collateral Agent on account of any other unpaid Obligations; and

 

(E)          to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.11         Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

Article 7
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01         Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)         If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(b)         Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(1)          the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(2)          in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c)         The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(1)          this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

 

(2)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof; and

 

(4)          no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)         Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

 

(e)         The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with an Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.02         Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)         The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b)         Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

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(c)           The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(e)           Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

 

(f)           The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g)           The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants in Article 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except: (1) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) hereof; or (2) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

 

(h)           The permissive right of the Trustee to act hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

 

(i)           The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, including as Collateral Agent, and in each of its capacities hereunder under any other agreement executed in connection with this Indenture to which the Trustee is a party.

 

(j)           In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(k)           The Trustee and the agents appointed pursuant to this Indenture shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee or such agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility), it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

(l)           The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

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Section 7.03         Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA), it must (i) eliminate such conflict within 90 days of acquiring such conflicting interest, (ii) apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or (iii) resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04         Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for any Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to an Issuer or upon any Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05         Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice to the Holders of the Notes (other than any Holder or affiliated Holders holding Notes in an amount equal to or in excess of 50.1% of the principal amount of the Notes) if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 7.06         Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the Issue Date, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).

 

Section 7.07         Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as the Issuers and the Trustee may agree in writing for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

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The Issuers and the Guarantors shall indemnify the Trustee, jointly and severally, against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by an Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if they assume the Trustee’s defense with counsel acceptable to and approved by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) and there is no conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Trustee in connection with such defense. The Issuers and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Neither the Issuers nor the Guarantors need reimburse the Trustee for any expense or indemnity against any liability or loss of the Trustee to the extent such expense, liability or loss is attributable to the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Trustee.

 

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(k) or Section 6.01(l) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

Section 7.08         Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign in writing upon 30 days notice at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing and may appoint a successor trustee. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

 

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(a)          the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

(b)          the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c)          a receiver, Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d)          the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

 

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuers or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, any Holder, who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.09       Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Issuers and the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 7.10         Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11         Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

Article 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01         Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Issuers may, at the option of their respective Boards of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, exercise their rights under either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.02         Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Subsidiary Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee, this Indenture and the other Note Documents (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09 and Section 4.02 hereof and the Appendix, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

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If the Issuers exercise their Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

Section 8.03         Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Article 4 (other than those in Section 4.01, Section 4.02, Section 4.06 and Section 4.14), Section 5.01(a)(4) and in the other Note Documents on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers and any Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(g) through Section 6.01(j) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

If the Issuers exercise their Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

Section 8.04         Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(a)         the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

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(b)         in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

(1)          the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(2)          since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c)         in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d)         no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness) and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

 

(e)         such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(f)         the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Issuers or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuers or others; and

 

(g)         the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

Section 8.05         Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

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Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 or 8.08 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, as the case may be.

 

Section 8.06         Repayment to Issuers.

 

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by an Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, interest or Additional Interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their written request or (if then held by an Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or non-callable Government Securities, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the written direction and expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.

 

Section 8.07         Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided, however , that, if an Issuer makes any payment of principal of or premium, interest, Additional Interest, if any, on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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Section 8.08         Discharge.

 

This Indenture and the other Note Documents shall be satisfied and discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except for (x) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (a)(2) of this Section 8.08, and as more fully set forth in such clause (a)(2), payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (y) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.09 and Section 4.02 hereof and the Appendix and (z) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith), when:

 

(a)         either:

 

(1)          all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(2)          all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of fixed maturity or redemption;

 

(b)         in respect of Section 8.08(a)(2), no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing or securing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument (other than the agreements or instruments governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

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(c)           the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture;

 

(d)           the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and

 

(e)           the Issuers have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (“Discharge”) have been satisfied.

 

Article 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01           Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement any of the Note Documents without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

 

(a)           to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)           to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(c)           to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of Notes pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 hereof;

 

(d)           to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Note Documents of any such Holder;

 

(e)           [reserved];

 

(f)           to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(g)           to add any additional Guarantor or Collateral with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee or the release of any Liens, in each case in accordance with Article 10 hereof or the other Note Documents, as applicable;

 

(h)           to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the Security Documents establishing Parity Liens;

 

(i)           to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or

 

(j)           to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee.

 

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Upon the request of the Company authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

In addition, the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as applicable, may enter into additional intercreditor and subordination agreements or amend, supplement or waive the Intercreditor Agreement or any such additional intercreditor or subordination agreements with the consent of Holders of 50.1% of the principal amount of the Notes; provided, however , the Trustee and Collateral Agent, as applicable, may, without the consent of any Holder, execute or countersign joinders and other acknowledgements in connection with the Intercreditor Agreement to give effect to the joinder of any Priority Lien Debt to the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent permitted under the indenture.

 

After an amendment or supplement under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement under this Section 9.01.

 

Section 9.02         With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided above in Section 9.01 and below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(a)           reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)           reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (other than provisions relating to minimum required notice of optional redemption or except as provided in Section 3.08, Section 3.09, Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 hereof);

 

(c)           reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(d)           waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

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(e)           make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(f)           make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes (except as permitted in clause (g) below);

 

(g)           waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 3.08, Section 3.09, Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 hereof);

 

(h)           release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with Article 10 of this Indenture, or amend any provision or term of Article 10 of this Indenture affecting the release of any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture; or

 

(i)           make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions or the other amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

 

In addition, any amendment or supplement to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture or any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens that has the effect of releasing or subordinating all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes will require the consent of the Majority Holders.

 

The Trustee and Collateral Agent, as applicable, may enter into additional intercreditor and subordination agreements or amend, supplement or waive the Intercreditor Agreement or any such additional intercreditor or subordination agreements with the consent of Holders of 50.1% of the principal amount of the Notes.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amendment or waiver of the specific provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be limited by Section 22 thereof.

 

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing their execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

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After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver.

 

Section 9.03         [Reserved].

 

Section 9.04         Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or a subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (i) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

 

Section 9.05         Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.06         Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and all conditions precedent are satisfied.

 

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Article 10
GUARANTEES OF NOTES

 

Section 10.01         Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees, on a senior secured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes held thereby and the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder, thereunder and under the Note Documents, that: (a) the principal of and premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and premium, (to the extent permitted by law) interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder, thereunder and under the Note Documents will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture, the Notes or Note Documents shall constitute an event of default under the Subsidiary Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Issuers.

 

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against an Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of an Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and the other Note Documents.

 

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to an Issuer, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by an Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

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Section 10.02         [Reserved].

 

Section 10.03         Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

 

(a)           No Guarantor shall sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other than an Issuer or another Guarantor, subject to the Collateral Requirements), unless immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists and either (i) (1) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) unconditionally assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Annex A hereto and pursuant to such other agreements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantee and all other obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes and the other Note Documents on terms set forth therein, (2) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) shall continue to constitute Collateral under the Note Documents subject to the Collateral Requirements, (3) the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into such Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Note Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and such Guarantor shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made Collateral, in the manner, and to the extent required under the Note Documents, (4) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) shall be engaged in the Oil & Gas Business, except to the extent permitted by Section 4.17, (5) the Person formed by, continuing or surviving any such merger is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and, after giving effect to such transaction, shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, (6) all Issuers and other Guarantors shall confirm and reaffirm all their obligations under the notes and other Note Documents to which such Issuer or Guarantor is a party pursuant to a supplemental indenture, (7)(x) the Company will, on the date of such consolidation or merger after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) or (y) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation or merger and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such consolidation or merger and (8) such Person has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture and other Note Documents (if any) comply with this Indenture and the other Note Documents, or (ii) such transaction complies with the provisions of Section 4.10.

 

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(b)           In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

 

Section 10.04         Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released: (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with Section 4.10; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with Section 4.10 and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition; (3) [Reserved]; (4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in accordance with Article 8; or (5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred that is continuing; and provided that the assets of such Guarantor are transferred to a Guarantor or Issuer subject to the Collateral Requirements upon such liquidation or dissolution or are otherwise disposed of as permitted by this Indenture.

 

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that any of the events described in the foregoing clauses (1) – (5) has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

 

Section 10.05         [Reserved].

 

Section 10.06         Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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Article 11
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.01      [Reserved].

 

Section 11.02      Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by an Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing (in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 South Flower Street

Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No.: 213-225-5917

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 26 th Floor

New York, New York 10103

Attention: Shelley Barber

Telecopier No.: 917-849-5353

 

If to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

Corporate Trust
950 17th Street - 12th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

Attention: Corporate T rust Administration

Telecopier No.: 303-585-6865

 

Notices and deliveries from any Issuer or Guarantor shall also be subject to the Note Purchase Agreement. An Issuer, any of the Guarant ors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery in each case to the address shown above.

 

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Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If either of the Issuers mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 11.03       Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 11.04       Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by an Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)          an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(b)          an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 11.05       Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(a)          a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)          a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

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(c)          a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(d)          a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 11.06       Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 11.07       No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders.

 

No director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Indenture or the Note Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

Section 11.08       Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 11.09       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 11.10       Successors.

 

All agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. The Issuers and Guarantors shall not assign any of their rights or obligations hereunder (including the Obligations and Note Obligations) or under any other Note Document except as expressly permitted hereunder without the consent of the Majority Holders and any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void ab initio .

 

Section 11.11      Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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Section 11.12       Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 11.13       Counterparts.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 11.14       Acts of Holders.

 

(a)          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and may be given or obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, outstanding Notes; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers if made in the manner provided in this Section 11.14.

 

(b)          The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.14, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 2.03.

 

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(d)          If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuers may, at their option, by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

(e)          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration or transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or an Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

(f)          Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

(g)          For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders that may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Section 11.15       Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information within their possession or control as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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Article 12
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

Section 12.01         Security Interest.

 

(a)           The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest if any, on the Notes and the other Obligations of Guarantors and Issuers under the Guarantees and other Note Documents, when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any (to the extent permitted by law), on the Notes and the Obligations of the Guarantors and Issuers under the Guarantees and other Note Documents and performance of all other obligations of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under the Note Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder (collectively, the “ Notes Obligations ”), are secured, as provided in the Security Documents. The Issuers and each of the Guarantors consent and agree to be bound by the terms of the Security Documents to which they are parties, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time, and agree to perform their obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. The Issuers and each of the Guarantors hereby agree that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of itself, as Collateral Agent and Trustee, and all of the Holders of Notes.

 

(b)           Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof and of the Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and appoints U.S. Bank National Association as the Collateral Agent. Each Holder of Notes directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof. The Collateral Agent and each Holder of Notes, by accepting the Notes and the Guarantees of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the holders of Obligations, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Agent, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

 

Section 12.02         Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

 

(a)           Each Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Note Document to become, Collateral after the Issue Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Second-Priority Lien required under, the Note Documents.

 

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(b)           Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or the Majority Holders at any time and from time to time, each Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent or Majority Holders may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Note Documents for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations ; provided , that no such security document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Issuers and the Guarantors than the Note Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered pursuant to Section 5(o), Section 5(p), or Section 5(q) of the Note Purchase Agreement) by the Issuers and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Notes on or about the Issue Date.

 

(c)           In addition, from and after the Issue Date, if any Issuer or any Guarantor acquires any property or asset that constitutes (or becomes) collateral for the Priority Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document requires any supplemental security document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected security interest in such collateral or if any Issuer or Guarantor otherwise provides or agrees to provide any of the foregoing to the Priority Lien Agent or any holder of Priority Lien Debt, the Company shall, or shall cause the Operating Partnership, Finance Corp. or the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but not in any event later than the date that is 10 Business Days after which such supplemental security documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent appropriate Security Documents (or amendments or supplements thereto, as applicable) in such form as shall be reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent and as shall be necessary to grant the Collateral Agent a perfected Second-Priority Lien on such collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Agent as shall be necessary to grant a perfected Second-Priority Lien on such collateral to the Collateral Agent, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if any Issuer or any Guarantor creates any additional security interest upon any property or asset that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing security interest in Collateral, in each case for the benefit of any of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt after the date of this Indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within ten (10) Business Days after such security interest is granted or other action taken, grant a Second-Priority Lien upon such property or asset, and take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, Trustee and the Holders, and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative in each case as security for the obligations of Issuers with respect to the Notes, the obligations of the Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantees and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Note Documents, including, without limitation, all Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this paragraph shall be deemed complied with if and for so long as (i) the Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect and (ii) the Priority Lien Collateral Agent shall have such possession or control for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and as bailee or sub-agent of the Collateral Agent as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in foregoing, the Issuers and Guarantors shall be required to deliver duly executed control agreements with respect to deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodity accounts to the extent required under the Note Documents.

 

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(d)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall, at the written direction of the Majority Holders, and the Majority Holders shall have the right to require that the Issuers and Guarantors place Mortgages on any properties of any Issuer or Guarantor acquired after the Issue Date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Oil and Gas Properties whether consisting of proved or unproved crude oil or natural gas reserves or developed or undeveloped acreage or otherwise) that are not already subject to a Mortgage (the “ Additional Collateral Right ”). The Collateral Agent shall, at the written direction of the Majority Holders, and the Majority Holders, may exercise such Additional Collateral Right by delivering notice to the Priority Lien Agent with a copy to the Company (the “ Election Notice ”) of its intent to require a Mortgage or Mortgages over the property specified in such notice (the “ Required Mortgages ”). Upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the 60th day after delivery of such notice to the Priority Lien Agent and (ii) the date the Priority Lien Agent informs the Collateral Agent or Majority Holders, as applicable, that it does not intend to seek such Required Mortgages, the Collateral Agent shall, at the written direction of the Majority Holders, and the Majority Holders may deliver written notice to the Company informing the Company that it is exercising its Additional Collateral Right with respect to the Required Mortgages. The applicable Issuer or Guarantor shall, within 60 days from the date of receipt of such notice (or such later date as the Majority Holders may agree to in their reasonable discretion), deliver the duly executed and recorded Second-Priority Required Mortgages, accompanied by title information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lead Holder and Collateral Agent, a customary Opinion of Counsel and customary deliverables consistent with such Opinion of Counsel and deliverables delivered in connection with the Mortgaged Properties under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, however, to the extent any such property is subject to title defects that prevent the Issuers and Guarantors from placing a Mortgage thereon, the Issuers and Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cure or overcome such title defects so that Mortgages may be placed on such properties as promptly as practicable (and the Collateral Agent will, at the written direction of the Majority Holders, and the Majority Holders will, extend such delivery dates as reasonably determined in their discretion to accommodate the same). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any such Required Mortgage granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, Trustee, Holders and indemnitees, the applicable Issuer or Guarantor shall also, immediately prior to or contemporaneously therewith, deliver a first-priority Mortgage securing the Priority Lien Obligations over such property to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the secured parties under the Priority Lien Documents (unless the Priority Lien Agent declines such Mortgage).

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Note Documents to the contrary, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be required to grant a security interest in, and the Collateral shall not include, any Excluded Asset.

 

109
 

 

(f)         The Company will, deliver to the Collateral Agent semi-annually on or before March 31 and September 30 in each calendar year, beginning September 30, 2015, an Officers’ Certificate, providing a good faith estimate, as of the date of such certificate, of the percentage of the total discounted future net revenue (determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum) of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Company’s most recent Reserve Report that the Collateral represents (which, in any case, shall not be less than 80% of the total discounted future net revenue (determined by a discount factor of 10% per annum) of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Company’s most recent Reserve Report (the “ minimum collateral requirement ”), together with (i) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Agent, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the minimum collateral requirement to be satisfied, (ii) satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith), and (iii) local counsel Opinion(s) of Counsel (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Agent has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to the real property that is subject to the applicable Mortgage.

 

Section 12.03       Intercreditor Agreement.

 

This Article 12 and the provisions of each other Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. Each Issuer and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 12.04       Release of Liens in Respect of Notes.

 

The Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Obligations under the Note Documents, and the right of the Holders and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Agent’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(1)          upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

 

(2)          upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

 

110
 

 

(3)          upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all other Notes Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture and the other Note Documents at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged;

 

(4)          as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Issuer or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with Section 4.10 (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such provision), at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Agent’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to Section 5.01; provided, further , that the proceeds of such sale, transfer or other disposition shall remain subject to the Parity Lien to the extent required by the Note Documents;

 

(5)          in whole or in part, with the written consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with Article 9 hereof;

 

(6)          with respect to the assets of any Guarantor, at the time that such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with Section 10.04; or

 

(7)          if and to the extent required by Section 4.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

111
 

 

  Issuers
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

  By: Breitburn GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN OPERATING LP

 

  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

  /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 
 

 

  GUARANTORS
   
  ALAMITOS COMPANY
  BEAVER CREEK PIPELINE, L.L.C.
  GTG PIPELINE LLC
  MERCURY MICHIGAN COMPANY, LLC
  PHOENIX PRODUCTION COMPANY
  QRE GP, LLC
  TERRA ENERGY COMPANY LLC
  TERRA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC
  BREITBURN GP LLC
  BREITBURN MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN FLORIDA LLC
  BREITBURN OKLAHOMA LLC
  BREITBURN SAWTELLE
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO LP LLC

 

  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    its sole member
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 
 

 

  QR ENERGY, LP

 

  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  QRE OPERATING, LLC

 

  By: QR Energy, LP,
    its sole member
     
  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  TRANSPETCO PIPELINE COMPANY, L.P.

 

  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    on behalf of itself and as the sole member of
    Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, each a
    general partner

 

  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
      Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 
 

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  as Trustee

 

  By:  /S/ Leland Hansen
    Name: Leland Hansen
    Title: Vice President

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  as Collateral Agent

 

  By:  /S/ Leland Hansen
    Name: Leland Hansen
    Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

  

 
 

 

RULE 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES

 

1. Definitions

 

1.1 Definitions .

 

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

“Depository” means DTC, its nominees and their respective successors.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

“IAI Notes” means Initial Notes resold to Institutional Accredited Investors in reliance on an exemption from registration under the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S.

 

“Initial Notes” means (1) $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued on the Issue Date and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

“Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institutional “accredited investor,” as defined in Rule 501(a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

“Notes” means the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, treated as a single class.

 

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to (i) a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee and (ii) a Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

 

“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

“Regulation S Notes” means Initial Notes resold to QIBs in reliance on Regulation S.

 

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 144A Notes” means Initial Notes resold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereof.

 

1.2 Other Definitions .

 

Term   Defined in Section:
“Agent Members”   2.1(b)
“Distribution Compliance Period”   2.1(b)
“Global Note”   2.1(a)
“Restricted Global Note”   2.1(a)

 

App. - 1
 

 

2. The Notes .

 

2.1           (a) Form and Dating . The Initial Notes will be offered and sold by the Issuers pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement. Initial Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global Notes legend and restricted Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a “Restricted Global Note”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository (or with such other custodian as the Depository may direct), and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Initial Notes sold in reliance on either Rule 144A or Regulation S or sold to Institutional Accredited Investors in reliance on an exemption from registration under the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S may be held through Euroclear or Clearstream, as indirect participants in the Depository. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

(b)           Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

 

The Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository. If such Global Notes are Restricted Global Notes, then separate Global Notes shall be issued to represent Rule 144A Notes, Regulation S Notes and IAI Notes so long as required by law or the Depository.

 

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository or under such Global Note, and the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Holder as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

 

App. - 2
 

 

Until the 40th day after the Issue Date (such period, the “Distribution Compliance Period”), a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes or IAI Notes, as applicable, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that (x) in the case of Rule 144A Notes, such transfer is being made to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes is purchasing for its own account or accounts as to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that such Person is a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction or (y) in the case of IAI Notes, the interest in the Restricted Global Note Representing IAI Notes is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor acquiring securities for its own account or for the account of another Institutional Accredited Investor. After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes.

 

Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Notes or IAI Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Notes, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in Exhibit 1 hereto) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

 

(c)          Certificated Notes . Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes. Certificated Notes shall not be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Notes, except with the consent of the Company.

 

2.2          Authentication . The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $650.0 million 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 and (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the Company Order of the Issuers pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture, in each case upon a Company Order of the Issuers. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 and Section 4.12 of the Indenture.

 

2.3          Transfer and Exchange .

 

(a)           Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes .

 

(i)          The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

 

App. - 3
 

 

(ii)         Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix, a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

 

(iii)        In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

 

(b)           Legends .

 

(i)          Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), or unless such legend has been removed as provided in such legend, each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (the “Restricted Notes Legend”):

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE, NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), EXCEPT THAT THE NOTES MAY BE TRANSFERRED (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”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’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR TRANSFER (1) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (2) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF A HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

App. - 4
 

 

(ii)         The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the legend set forth in paragraph (i) above from any Transfer Restricted Security at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Security. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for such Transfer Restricted Security, a Note without such legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt of a Company Order given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than the Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Note as directed in such order.

 

(c)           Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, or if any certificated Note is exchanged for such a beneficial interest, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced or increased, as appropriate, and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction or increase, as the case may be.

 

(d)           Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes .

 

(i)          To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

 

App. - 5
 

 

(ii)         No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 and of the Indenture).

 

(iii)        The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

(iv)         Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(v)          All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

(e)           No Obligation of the Trustee or any Agent .

 

(i)          Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of optional redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee and the Agents may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

(ii)         Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under Applicable Law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

App. - 6
 

 

2.4          Certificated Notes .

 

(a)          A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Notes Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and in either event a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, and notwithstanding any contrary indication in Section 2.3(b), beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for certificated Notes only with the consent of the Company, including if an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company acquires such interests.

 

(b)          Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository or the Notes Custodian to the Trustee located at its Corporate Trust Office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000 and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

(c)          Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

 

(d)          In the event of the occurrence of any of the circumstances specified in Section 2.4(a), the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

App. - 7
 

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

EXHIBIT 1 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

 

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

 

[Global Notes Legend]

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO AN ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

[Restricted Notes Legend]

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE, NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), EXCEPT THAT THE NOTES MAY BE TRANSFERRED (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR TRANSFER (1) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (2) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF A HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 1
 

 

[Original Issue Discount Legend]

 

THIS NOTE IS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. A HOLDER MAY OBTAIN THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY FOR SUCH NOTES BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR SUCH INFORMATION TO THE ISSUERS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, 515 SOUTH FLOWER STREET, SUITE 4800, LOS ANGELES, CA 90071.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 2
 

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

BREITBURN OPERATING LP

 

BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

No. [    ] $[                ]

 

CUSIP No. [                 ]

 

ISIN No. [                 ]

 

9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to __________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ Dollars on May 18, 2020 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]. 1

 

Interest Payment Dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

 

Record Dates: March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.

 

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

 

1 If this Note is a Global Note, add this provision.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 3
 

 

  Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

  By: Breitburn GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

  Breitburn Operating LP

 

  By: Breitburn Operating GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

  BreitBurn Finance Corporation

 

  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 4
 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

 

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Trustee, certifies that

this is one of the Notes

referred to in the Indenture.

 

By    
  Authorized Signatory  

 

Dated:

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 5
 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

 

9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020

 

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.    Interest . Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Operating Partnership”), Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9.25% per annum from April 8, 2015 until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest payable pursuant to the Indenture. The Issuers will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing June 30, 2015, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Additional Interest shall be payable in cash on demand by the Trustee. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is the rate then in effect; they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.    Method of Payment . The Issuers will pay interest on the Note to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 immediately preceding applicable the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 4.01(b) and Section 6.01(d) of the Indenture with respect to Additional Interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, due at maturity. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Additional Interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to any amounts due on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 6
 

 

3.    Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee and Collateral Agent under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.    Indenture . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 8, 2015 (“Indenture”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all the terms set forth in the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. The Notes are senior secured second lien obligations of the Issuers limited to $650.0 million aggregate principal amount in the case of Notes issued on the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture).

 

5.    Optional Redemption .

 

(a)          Except as set forth in subparagraphs (c) and (d) of this Paragraph 5, the Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to April 8, 2018. On or after April 8, 2018, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, upon prior notice as set forth in Paragraph 7 (and, following any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes on or after April 8, 2018, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the Notes (and all such Notes shall become due and payable)), at the redemption or acceleration prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption or acceleration date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption or acceleration date), if redeemed or so accelerated during the twelve-month period beginning on April 8 of the years indicated below:

 

YEAR   PERCENTAGE  
2018     106.000 %
2019     100.000 %

 

(b)          [RESERVED].

 

(c)          Prior to April 8, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or part of the Notes (and, following any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes prior to April 8, 2018, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the Notes (and all such Notes shall become due and payable)) at a redemption or acceleration price equal to the sum of: (1) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (2) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption or acceleration date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption or acceleration date), plus (3) the Make-Whole Amount (and, following acceleration of the maturity thereof, in connection with an Event of Default and/or in connection with a voluntary or involuntary Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, shall redeem all of the Notes).

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 7
 

 

(d)          The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.15(f) of the Indenture.

 

6.    Repurchase at Option of Holder . In connection with an Invalid Debt Incurrence, the Company shall make an Offer to Purchase as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.08 and 3.09 of the Indenture.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Company shall make an Offer to Purchase as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.09 and 4.10 of the Indenture.

 

7.    Notice of Redemption . Notice of redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge) before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. If sent in the manner provided for in Section 3.03 of the Indenture, the notice of optional redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest and Additional Interest, if any, cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

8.    Guarantees . The payment by the Issuers of the principal of and premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior secured second lien basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

9.    Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes due on transfer or exchange. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, they need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

10.  Persons Deemed Owners . The registered holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.  Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes and the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Majority Holders, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Documents may be waived with the consent of the Majority Holders in accordance with the terms of Section 9.02 of the Indenture. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes and the Note Documents may be amended or supplemented as provided in Section 9.01 of the Indenture.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 8
 

 

12.  Defaults and Remedies . If an Event of Default (other than certain Events of Default relating to bankruptcy events as provided in the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Majority Holders, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, if applicable, to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of an Event of Default arising from such events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in Section 6.01(k) or 6.01(l) of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes and all other Obligations (including, without limitation, any Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, if applicable) will become due and payable without further action or notice. If the maturity of the Notes is accelerated, a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium (in each case, determined as if the Notes were redeemed at the time of such acceleration at the option of the Issuers pursuant to the terms of Section 3.07 of the Indenture) will, if applicable, become due and payable immediately without further action or notice, and the Issuers will pay such premium, as compensation to the Holders for the loss of their investment opportunity and not as a penalty, whether or not an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced, and (if an Insolvency Proceeding has commenced) without regard to whether such Insolvency Proceeding is voluntary or involuntary, or whether payment occurs pursuant to a motion, plan of reorganization, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the Notes and other Obligations are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether or not by power of judicial proceeding), deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. Without limiting the foregoing, any redemption of the Notes in or in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding shall constitute an optional redemption thereof at such time under the terms of Section 3.07 and, if applicable, require the immediate payment of the Make-Whole Amount or Prepayment Premium. Upon any such declaration, the Notes and Obligations, including accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the Make-Whole Amount and/or Prepayment Premium, if applicable, shall become due and payable immediately. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, the Majority Holders may direct the Collateral Agent or Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes (other than any Holder or affiliated Holders holding Notes in an amount equal to or in excess of 50.1% of the principal amount of the Notes) notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, interest, premium or Additional Interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Majority Holders by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuers are required upon certain Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

13.  Defeasance and Discharge . The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 9
 

 

14.  No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, the Indenture or the Note Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

15.  Authentication . This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

16.  Abbreviations . Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

17.  CUSIP and ISIN Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

18.  Governing Law . THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

19.  Successors . In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of an Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, such Issuer will be released from all such obligations.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

515 South Flower Street

Suite 4800

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 10
 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

 
Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
 
(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint __________________ agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:       Your Signature:      
  Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

   
(Signature must be guaranteed)

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to one year after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes (or the date of any subsequent reopening of the Notes) and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by an Issuer or any Affiliate of an Issuer (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

  (1) ¨ to an Issuer; or
       
  (2) ¨ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
       
  (3) ¨ to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 11
 

 

  (4) ¨ outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
       
  (5) ¨ to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or
       
  (6) ¨ pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4), (5) or (6) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

   
  Signature

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 12
 

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers and any Guarantors as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:      
      Notice:  To be executed by an executive officer

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 13
 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.08, Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

  ¨   Section 3.08 ¨   Section 4.10 ¨   Section 4.15

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.08, Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) you elect to have purchased: $____________

 

Date:     Your Signature:    
        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:    

 

Signature Guarantee:    
  (Signature must be guaranteed)  

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 14
 

 

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date     Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
    Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
    Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
    Signature of
authorized
officer
of Trustee or
Notes Custodian
 
                                     
                                     

 

Ex. 1 to App. - 15
 

 

EXHIBIT 2 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

 

Form of Transferee Letter of Representation

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP

Breitburn Operating LP

Breitburn Finance Corporiation

515 South Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, CA 90071

In care of

[                    ]

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[        ] principal amount of the 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”) of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Operation LP and Breitburn Finance Corp (collectively, the “Issuers”).

 

Upon transfer, the Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:

 

Address:

 

Taxpayer ID Numbers:

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

 

We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Company or any affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (c) for so long as the notes are eligible for resale pursuant to rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a person it reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on rule 144A, (d) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional investor acquiring the securities for its own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act, (e) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, or (f) pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject to the Issuers’ and the Trustee’s right prior to any such offer, sale, or transfer (1) pursuant to clause (e) prior to the end of the 40-day distribution compliance period within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or pursuant to clause (f) prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification, and/or other information satisfactory to each of them, and (2) in each of the foregoing cases, to require that a certificate of transfer in the form appearing on this note is completed and delivered by the transferor to the trustee.

 

Ex. 2 to App. - 1
 

 

  TRANSFEREE:
   
   
  Name:
  Title:

 

Ex. 2 to App. - 2
 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

AGREEMENT WITH AFFILIATES

 

Each of the following is an agreement referred to in paragraph (4) of Section 4.11:

 

1. Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2006, by and among Pro GP Corp., Pro LP Corp., BreitBurn Energy Corporation, BreitBurn Energy Company L.P., BreitBurn Management Company, LLC, BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P., BreitBurn Operating GP, LLC and BreitBurn Operating L.P.

 

2. Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2006, by and among Pro GP Corp., Pro LP Corp., BreitBurn Energy Corporation, BreitBurn Energy Company L.P., and BreitBurn Management Company, LLC.

 

3. Contribution Agreement, dated June 17, 2008, by and among BreitBurn Management Company LLC, BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Energy Corporation and BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.

 

4. Third Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement, dated May 8, 2012, by and between Pacific Coast Energy Company LP (formerly BreitBurn Energy Company L.P.) and Breitburn Management Company LLC (as amended).

 

5. Omnibus Agreement, dated August 26, 2008, by and among BreitBurn Energy Holdings LLC, BEC (GP) LLC, BreitBurn Energy Company L.P, BreitBurn GP, LLC, BreitBurn Management Company, LLC and BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (as amended)

 

6. Operations and Proceeds Agreement relating to the Dominguez Field and dated October 10, 2006 and Amendment No. 1 to the Operations and Proceeds Agreement entered into on June 17, 2008, by and between BreitBurn Energy Company L.P. and BreitBurn Operating L.P.

 

7. Surface Operating Agreement dated October 10, 2006 and Amendment No. 1 to the Surface Operating Agreement entered into on June 17, 2008, by and between BreitBurn Energy Company L.P. and its predecessor BreitBurn Energy Corporation and BreitBurn Operating L.P.

 

8. Arrangement pursuant to which Quicksilver buys natural gas from the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in Michigan.

 

9. Assignment of Oil and Gas Leases, dated as of September 24, 2010, by and between BreitBurn Operating LP and BreitBurn Collingwood Utica LLC.

 

10. Assignment of Oil and Gas Leases, dated as of September 24, 2010, by and between Terra Energy Company LLC and BreitBurn Collingwood Utica LLC.

 

11. Contribution Agreement, effective as of September 24, 2010, by and among BreitBurn Operating LP, Terra Energy Company LLC and BreitBurn Collingwood Utica LLC relating to the Assignments of Oil and Gas Leases immediately above.

 

S - 1
 

 

ANNEX A

 

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP

 

BREITBURN OPERATING LP

 

BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

and

 

the Guarantors named herein

 

 

 

9.25% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2020

 

 

 

 

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
AND AMENDMENT — SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

 

DATED AS OF ____________ __, ____

 

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association,

 

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

 

 

 

A- 1
 

 

This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of ___________ __, ____, is among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Breitburn Operating LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Operating Partnership”), Breitburn Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “Issuers”), each of the parties identified under the caption “Guarantors” on the signature page hereto (the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers, the initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2015 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has issued $650,000,000 in the aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(g) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to comply with Section 4.13 or 10.03 thereof, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Issuers, of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Section 1.01.         This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 1.02.         This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

From this date, in accordance with Section 4.13 or 10.03 of the Indenture and by executing this Supplemental Indenture, each Guarantor whose signature appears below is subject to the provisions of the Indenture to the extent provided for in Article 10 thereof.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

Section 3.01.         Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

 

A- 2
 

 

Section 3.02.         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein, which shall be taken as the statements of the Issuers and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any way whatsoever for or with respect to the validity, execution or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture and makes no representation with respect thereto. In entering into this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct of or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee.

 

Section 3.03.         THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.04.         The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

 

[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

A- 3
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

  Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

  By: Breitburn GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Breitburn Operating LP

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Breitburn Finance Corporation

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  GUARANTORS
  [   ]

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A- 4
 

 

  U.S. Bank National Association,
  as Trustee

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  U.S. Bank National Association,
  as Collateral Agent

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A- 5

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Execution Version

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Security Agreement ”) is executed as of April 8, 2015, by BREITBURN OPERATING LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), Breitburn Energy Partners LP , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Parent Debtor ”), BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Company and the Parent Debtor, the “ Issuers ”), each of the other subsidiary entities of the Parent Debtor listed on the signature pages hereto or which becomes a party hereto (each, a “ Subsidiary Debtor ” and, together with the Company, the Parent Debtor and Finance Corp., each a “ Debtor ”, and collectively, the “ Debtors ”), whose mailing addresses are set forth on Annex A hereto, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee and as collateral agent for the Secured Parties under the Indenture described below (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2015 (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Indenture ”) by and among the Issuers, the Subsidiary Debtors from time to time party thereto and the Collateral Agent, the Issuers have issued their 9.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (as defined in the Indenture, the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Debtors are entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Holders to purchase the Notes and to secure the obligations of the Debtors under or in connection with the Notes, including with respect to the guarantees made pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture

 

ACCORDINGLY, for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the Debtors and Secured Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND OTHER TERMS. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, or the context hereof otherwise requires, each term defined in either of the Indenture or the UCC is used in this Security Agreement with the same meaning; provided that , if the definition given to such term in the Indenture conflicts with the definition given to such term in the UCC, the Indenture definition shall control to the extent legally allowable; and if any definition given to such term in Chapter 9 of the UCC conflicts with the definition given to such term in any other chapter of the UCC, the Chapter 9 definition shall prevail. As used herein, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

 

Additional Debtor has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 8 hereof.

 

Assigned Agreements shall mean all agreements and contracts to which a Debtor is a party as of the date hereof, or to which such Debtor becomes a party after the date hereof, as each such agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Cash Collateral Account has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 7(h) hereof.

 

Claim has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 7(l) hereof.

 

Collateral has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3 hereof.

 

Copyrights has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(f) hereof.

 

 
 

 

Deposit Accounts has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(l) hereof.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreement means an agreement among a depository bank holding a Deposit Account, a Debtor, the Collateral Agent, and, if applicable, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, substantially in such form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent.

 

Excluded Assets means (i) any permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which any Debtor is a party and any of its rights or interests thereunder if, and only for so long as, the grant of a security interest under the security documents (a) is prohibited by or a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Debtor or requires the consent of an applicable governmental authority or a third party which has not been obtained or (b) shall constitute or result in a breach of a term or provision of or termination or default under any such permit, lease, license, contract, property right or agreement (other than to the extent that any such law, rule, regulation, consent requirement, violation, term or provision would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law), (ii) property owned by any Debtor that is subject to a purchase money Lien or capital lease permitted under the Indenture if the agreement pursuant to which such Lien is granted (or the document providing for such capital lease) prohibits, or requires the consent of any Person other than any Debtor which has not been obtained as a condition to, the creation of any other Lien on such property, (iii) any “intent-to-use” application for registration of a Trademark filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto, solely to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that issues from such intent-to-use application under applicable federal law, (iv) any deposit account exclusively used for trust, payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Debtor’s employees and (v) the Excluded Equity Interests; provided , however , “Excluded Assets” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excluded Assets) or any of the items listed in clauses (i) through (v) to the extent they secure any Priority Lien Debt.

 

Excluded Equity Interests means (i) each Debtor’s Equity in Saginaw Bay Lateral Michigan Limited Partnership, Seal Beach Gas Processing Venture, Wilderness Chester Gas Processing Limited Partnership, Wilderness Chester LLC, Wilderness Energy, L.C. and Wilderness Energy Services Limited Partnership if, and to the extent that, and for so long as, including such Equity in the definition of “Collateral” would violate applicable law or a contractual obligation binding on such Equity, (ii) the Parent’s Equity in Breitburn GP LLC, (iii) Breitburn GP LLC’s general partnership interest in the Parent, (iv) the Company’s and Terra Energy Company LLC’s Equity in Breitburn Collingwood Utica LLC, (v) the Company’s Equity in East Texas Salt Water Disposal Company, (vi) Margin Stock not required to be pledged pursuant to Section 8.07(b) of the RBL Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof, for so long as such provision is in effect and (vii) any Equity in an entity (other than those listed in clauses (i)-(vi)) to the extent that, and for so long as, including such Equity in the definition of “Collateral” would violate a contractual obligation binding on such assets that existed at the time of the acquisition thereof and was not created or made binding on such assets in contemplation or in connection with the acquisition of such assets; provided , however , that if any entity listed in clause (i) becomes a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, no Debtor’s Equity interests in such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall be deemed Excluded Equity Interests; and provided further that the term Excluded Equity Interests does not include dividends or other distributions paid in respect of the Debtor’s Equity in the above-listed entities and Equity, and does not include the proceeds of any Disposition of such Equity and provided further that Excluded Equity Interests does not include any Equity that has been pledged to secure any Priority Lien Debt.

 

2
 

 

Feedstocks has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(b) hereof.

 

Intellectual Property has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(h) hereof.

 

Intercreditor Agreement means (i) that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Collateral Agent, the Issuers and the other parties thereto as Guarantors and the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and (ii) each customary intercreditor agreement entered into after the date hereof in accordance with the Indenture.

 

Intermediate Products has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(b) hereof.

 

Investment Accounts has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(m) hereof.

 

Investment Account Control Agreement means an agreement among a broker or intermediary holding an Investment Account, a Debtor, the Collateral Agent, and, if applicable, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent.

 

Laws means all applicable statutes, laws, treaties, ordinances, tariffs requirements, rules, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions, decrees, judgments, opinions, or interpretations of any Governmental Authority.

 

Lead Holder means EIG Redwood Debt Aggregator, LP; provided that , at the point during which the funds or Persons managed or advised by EIG Management Company, LLC or its Affiliates cease to hold more than 50.1% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, any reference to the term “Lead Holder” contained in this Security Agreement shall no longer be applicable and shall have further no force and effect.

 

Obligor means any Person obligated with respect to any of the Collateral, whether as an account debtor, obligor on an instrument, issuer of securities, or otherwise.

 

Partnerships shall mean (a) those partnerships and limited liability companies listed under the caption “Pledged LLC Interests” or “Pledged Partnership Interests” on Annex C attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such partnerships or limited liability companies exist or may hereinafter be restated, amended, or restructured, (b) any other partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company in which any Debtor shall, at any time, become a limited or general partner, venturer, or member, and (c) any partnership, joint venture, or corporation formed as a result of the restructure, reorganization, or amendment of any of the foregoing.

 

Partnership Agreements shall mean those agreements governing the Partnerships.

 

Partnership Interests shall mean all of each Debtor’s Right, title and interest now or hereafter accruing under the Partnership Agreements with respect to all distributions, allocations, proceeds, fees, preferences, payments, or other benefits, which such Debtor now is or may hereafter become entitled to receive with respect to such interests in the Partnerships and with respect to the repayment of all loans now or hereafter made by each Debtor to the Partnerships.

 

Patents has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(g) hereof.

 

Permitted Liens means liens permitted under the Indenture.

 

3
 

 

Pledged Securities means, collectively, the Pledged Shares and any other Collateral consisting of securities.

 

Pledged Shares has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(c) hereof.

 

RBL Credit Agreement means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among the Company, the Parent Debtor, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and as permitted under any Intercreditor Agreement and the Indenture.

 

Rights means rights, remedies, powers, privileges, and benefits.

 

Secured Obligations means all Obligations of the Debtors under the Notes or any other Note Document.

 

Secured Parties means, at any time, the Collateral Agent, the Holders of the Notes and each other holder of any Secured Obligation.

 

Security Interest means the security interest granted and the pledge and assignment made under Paragraph 2 hereof.

 

Trademarks has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 3(h) hereof.

 

UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code, including each such provision as it may subsequently be renumbered, as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided , however , that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, priority or remedies.

 

(b)        The interpretive terms set forth in Section 1.04 of the Indenture shall be applicable to this Security Agreement.

 

2.           SECURITY INTEREST. In order to secure the full and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations when due, each Debtor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and a lien on all of such Debtor’s Rights, titles, and interests in and to the Collateral and pledges, collaterally transfers, and assigns the Collateral to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Security Agreement. Such Security Interest is granted and such pledge and assignment are made as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation of any Debtor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction involving or giving rise thereto. If the grant, pledge, or collateral transfer or assignment of any specific item of the Collateral is expressly prohibited by any contract, then the Security Interest created hereby nonetheless remains effective to the extent allowed by the UCC or other applicable Law, but is otherwise limited by that prohibition.

 

3.           COLLATERAL. As used herein, the term “ Collateral ” means the following items and types of property, wherever located, now owned or in the future existing or acquired by any and all Debtors, and all proceeds and products thereof, and any substitutes or replacements therefor; provided , however , that the term “Collateral” expressly excludes the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Equity Interests:

 

4
 

 

(a)   All personal property and fixture property of every kind and nature including all goods (including equipment, and any accessions thereto), software, investment property, money, cash, letters of credit, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations, Tax refunds, accounts, any and all contract rights, chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), instruments, documents, general intangibles (including payment intangibles), and other obligations of any kind (including all rights to receive crude oil or petroleum products, to receive payments of money or to receive other value pursuant to contracts, agreements or other arrangements with other Persons, for the trading, lending, borrowing, or exchanging of crude oil or petroleum products in the ordinary course of business) relating thereto, now or hereafter existing;

 

(b)   All inventory, including all (A) crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, other hydrocarbons and ethanol (together, “ Feedstocks ”), (B) Feedstocks that have been partially processed or refined as isomerate, cat feed, gasoline components or naptha (together, “ Intermediate Products ”) and (C) gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, propane, ethanol, transmix and other products processed, refined or blended from Feedstocks and Intermediate Products, and all accessions to and products of any of the foregoing, and documents relating to any of the foregoing, now owned or in the future existing or acquired by each Debtor;

 

(c)   All Rights, titles, and interests of each Debtor in and to all outstanding stock, equity, membership interests or units, or other investment securities owned by such Debtor (for the avoidance of doubt, other than Excluded Equity Interests), including all capital stock equity, membership interests or units of any subsidiary of such Debtor set forth under the caption “Pledged Stock” on Annex C (the “ Pledged Shares ”) and including, without limitation, (i) all governance rights, rights to vote, consent to action and other participation in the management of the issuer and right to admittance as member of the issuer and (ii) all economic rights (including, without limitation, all rights to share in the profits or loss of any issuer and the right to receive distributions of the assets of the issuer);

 

(d)   All Rights, titles, and interests of each Debtor in and to all promissory notes and other instruments payable to such Debtor and all Rights, titles, interests, and Liens such Debtor may have, be, or become entitled to under all present and future loan agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, guarantees, or other documents assuring or securing payment of or otherwise evidencing such promissory notes and other instruments;

 

(e)         The Partnership Interests and all Rights of each Debtor with respect thereto, including all Partnership Interests set forth under the caption “Pledged LLC Interests” or “Pledged Partnership Interests” on Annex C and all of each Debtor’s distribution rights, income rights, liquidation interest, accounts, contract rights, governance rights, rights to vote, consent to action and other participation in the management of the issuer, the right to replace Debtor as partner of the issuer, general intangibles, notes, instruments, drafts, and documents relating to the Partnership Interests;

 

(f)         (i)  All copyrights (whether statutory or common law, registered or unregistered), works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, written copyright licenses, and copyright applications of each Debtor, including the interests described on Annex B and including all of such Debtor’s Right, title, and interest in and to all copyrights registered in the United States Copyright Office or anywhere else in the world; (ii) all renewals, extensions, and modifications thereof; (iii) all income, licenses, royalties, damages, profits, and payments relating to or payable under any of the foregoing; (iv) the Right to sue for past, present, or future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (v) all other Rights and benefits relating to any of the foregoing throughout the world; in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by each Debtor (“ Copyrights ”);

 

5
 

 

(g)          (i) All patents, patent applications, written patent licenses, and patentable inventions of each Debtor, including the interests described on Annex B and including registrations, recordings, and applications thereof in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all of the inventions and improvements described and claimed therein; (ii) all continuations, divisions, renewals, extensions, modifications, substitutions, reexaminations, continuations-in-part, or reissues of any of the foregoing; (iii) all income, royalties, profits, damages, awards, and payments relating to or payable under any of the foregoing; (iv) the Right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (v) all other Rights and benefits relating to any of the foregoing throughout the world; in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by each Debtor (“ Patents ”);

 

(h)          (i) All trademarks, written trademark licenses, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos, other business identifiers, all registrations, recordings, and applications thereof, including the interests described on Annex B and including registrations, recordings, and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof; (ii) all reissues, extensions, and renewals thereof; (iii) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter relating to or payable under any of the foregoing, including damages or payments for past or future infringements of any of the foregoing; (iv) the Right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; (v) all Rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world; and (vi) all goodwill associated with and symbolized by any of the foregoing, in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by each Debtor (“ Trademarks ”, and collectively with the Copyrights and the Patents, the “ Intellectual Property ”);

 

(i)          All present and future automobiles, trucks, truck tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, or other motor vehicles or rolling stock, now owned or hereafter acquired by each Debtor (collectively, the “ Vehicles ”);

 

(j)          (i) All of each Debtor’s Rights, titles, and interests in, to, and under the Assigned Agreements, including all Rights of each Debtor to receive moneys due and to become due under or pursuant to the Assigned Agreements, (ii) all Rights of each Debtor to receive proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty, or guaranty with respect to the Assigned Agreements, (iii) all claims of each Debtor for damages arising out of or for breach of or default under the Assigned Agreements, and (iv) all Rights of each Debtor to compel performance and otherwise exercise all rights and remedies under the Assigned Agreements;

 

(k)          All commercial tort claims, including those described on Annex B ;

 

(l)          Any and all deposit accounts and bank accounts, now owned or hereafter acquired or opened by each Debtor, including any such accounts set forth on Annex B , and any account which is a replacement or substitute for any of such accounts (the “ Deposit Accounts ”), together with all monies, instruments, certificates, checks, drafts, wire transfer receipts, and other property deposited therein and all balances therein;

 

(m)          Any and all investment accounts, commodity accounts, and securities accounts, now owned or hereafter acquired or opened by each Debtor, including any such accounts set forth on Annex B , and any account which is a replacement or substitute for any of such accounts (the “ Investment Accounts ”), together with all securities, securities entitlements, monies, instruments, certificates, checks, drafts, wire transfer receipts, and other property deposited therein and all balances therein;

 

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(n)          All present and future distributions, income, increases, profits, combinations, reclassifications, improvements, and products of, accessions, attachments, and other additions to, tools, parts, and equipment used in connection with, and substitutes and replacements for, all or part of the Collateral described above;

 

(o)          All present and future accounts, contract rights, general intangibles, chattel paper, documents, instruments, cash and noncash proceeds, and other Rights arising from or by virtue of, or from the voluntary or involuntary sale or other disposition of, or collections with respect to, or insurance proceeds payable with respect to, or proceeds payable by virtue of warranty or other claims against the manufacturer of, or claims against any other Person with respect to, all or any part of the Collateral heretofore described in this Paragraph 3 or otherwise;

 

(p)          All present and future security for the payment to each Debtor of any of the Collateral described above and goods which gave or will give rise to any such Collateral or are evidenced, identified, or represented therein or thereby; and

 

(q)          To the extent not otherwise included herein, all Rights of each Debtor to receive payments under any indemnity, warranty, or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the Collateral.

 

The description of the Collateral contained in this Paragraph 3 shall not be deemed to permit any action prohibited by this Security Agreement or by the terms incorporated in this Security Agreement.

 

4.           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the Company and the Parent Debtor represents and warrants and each other Debtor represents and warrants solely as to itself and not to any other Debtor, to the Secured Parties as of the Effective Date that:

 

(a)           Binding Obligation/Perfection . This Security Agreement creates a legal, valid, and binding Lien in and to the Collateral of such Debtor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and enforceable against such Debtor, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. For Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by the filing of financing statements, once those financing statements have been properly filed in the jurisdictions described on Annex A hereto, the Security Interest in that Collateral will be fully perfected and the Security Interest will constitute a second-priority Lien on such Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens. Except as permitted under the Intercreditor Agreement, the Indenture or the other Note Documents, none of the Collateral has been delivered to nor has “ control ” (as defined in Section 8-106, 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 and/or 9-107 of the UCC) with respect thereto been given to any other Person other than to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties. Other than the financing statements with respect to this Security Agreement and the Deposit Account Control Agreements and Investment Account Control Agreements executed in connection herewith, there are no other financing statements or control agreements covering any Collateral, other than those evidencing Permitted Liens. The creation of the Security Interest in the Collateral does not require the consent of any Person that has not been obtained.

 

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(b)           Debtor Information . Such Debtor’s exact legal name, mailing address, jurisdiction of organization, type of entity, and state issued organizational identification number (if any) are as set forth on Annex A hereto. Such Debtor’s sole place of business or chief executive office is where such Debtor is entitled to receive notices hereunder; the present and foreseeable location of such Debtor’s books and records concerning any of the Collateral is as set forth on Annex A hereto.

 

(c)           Liens . Such Debtor owns all currently existing Collateral, and will acquire all hereafter-acquired Collateral, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens.

 

(d)           Collateral . Annex B for such Debtor accurately describes Deposit Accounts (other than Deposit Accounts that constitute Excluded Assets pursuant to clause (iv) of such definition), Investment Accounts, and commercial tort claims, in the case of commercial tort claims, having a value individually or in the aggregate in excess of $20,000,000 in which such Debtor has any Rights, titles, or interest.

 

(e)           Deposit Accounts . (i) With respect to the Deposit Accounts described in the preceding clause (d), such Debtor has the legal Right to pledge and assign to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the funds deposited and to be deposited in each such Deposit Account and (ii) the Deposit Accounts set forth on Annex B applicable to such Debtor represent all such Deposit Accounts of such Debtor.

 

(f)           Investment Accounts . With respect to the Investment Accounts described in the preceding clause (d), (i) such Debtor has the legal Right to pledge and assign to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the securities and security entitlements deposited and to be deposited in each such Investment Account and (ii) the Investment Accounts set forth on Annex B applicable to such Debtor represent all such Investment Accounts of such Debtor.

 

(g)           Commercial Tort Claims . On the Effective Date, no Debtor holds any commercial tort claims having a value individually or in the aggregate in excess of $20,000,000 except as described on Annex B .

 

(h)           Governmental Authority . Except UCC financing statement filings and intellectual property filings and payment of applicable filing fees, no authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required either (i) for the pledge by such Debtor of the Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery, or performance of this Security Agreement by such Debtor, or (ii) for the exercise by the Collateral Agent of the voting or other Rights provided for in this Security Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement ( except as may be required in connection with the disposition of the Pledged Securities by Laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally).

 

(i)           Pledged Securities; Pledged Shares . All Collateral of such Debtor that is Pledged Shares is (or, in the case of Pledged Shares issued by Persons that are not Affiliates of such Debtor, to the knowledge of such Debtor is) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, and the transfer thereof is not subject to any restrictions, other than restrictions imposed by applicable Laws or with respect to which any required consent, approval or authorization has been obtained. Annex C contains an accurate description as of the Effective Date of the Equity interests owned by such Debtor. Such Debtor has good title to the Pledged Securities of such Debtor, free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances thereon ( except for Permitted Liens), and has delivered to the Collateral Agent (or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) (i) all stock certificates, or other instruments or documents representing or evidencing such Pledged Securities, together with corresponding assignment or transfer powers duly executed in blank by such Debtor, and such powers have been duly and validly executed and are binding and enforceable against such Debtor in accordance with their terms or (ii) to the extent such Pledged Securities are uncertificated and constitute securities for purposes Article 8 of the UCC, or if otherwise required by the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, an executed Acknowledgment of Pledge substantially in the form of Annex D . The pledge of the Pledged Securities owned by such Debtor in accordance with the terms hereof creates a valid and perfected second priority security interest in such Pledged Securities securing payment of the Secured Obligations, subject only to Permitted Liens.

 

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(j)           Partnership Interests . Each Partnership listed on Annex C is duly organized, currently existing, and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation; there have been no amendments, modifications, or supplements to any agreement or certificate creating any such Partnership or any material contract relating to such Partnerships, of which the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent have not been advised in writing; and no approval or consent of the partners of any such Partnership is required as a condition to the validity and enforceability of the Security Interest created hereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby which has not been duly obtained by the relevant Debtor. Each Debtor has good title to the Partnership Interests owned by such Debtor free and clear of all Liens and encumbrances ( except for Permitted Liens). The Partnership Interests owned by such Debtor are (or, in the case of Partnership Interests issued by Persons that are not Affiliates of such Debtor, to the knowledge of such Debtor are) validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable and are not subject to statutory, contractual, or other restrictions governing their transfer, ownership, or control, except as set forth in the applicable Partnership Agreements or applicable Laws. All capital contributions required to be made by the terms of such Partnership Agreements for each Partnership have been made.

 

5.           COVENANTS. So long as any Obligation (other than Obligations in respect of indemnification or expense reimbursement for which no claim has been made) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, each Debtor covenants and agrees with the Collateral Agent that such Debtor will:

 

(a)          [ Reserved .]

 

(b)           Perform Obligations . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) such Debtor shall remain liable under and/or with respect to the Collateral, including the contracts, agreements, documents, and instruments included in the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Security Agreement had not been executed and nothing contained herein is intended or shall be a delegation of duties to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (ii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights or remedies hereunder shall not release such Debtor from any of its duties or obligations under the contracts, agreements, documents, and instruments included in the Collateral, (iii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any indebtedness, liability, or obligation under and/or with respect to the Collateral, including any of the contracts, agreements, documents, and instruments included in the Collateral by reason of this Security Agreement or any other document related thereto, and the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of such Debtor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder, (iv) neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by it or have any obligation to take any action to collect or enforce any rights under any Assigned Agreement included in the Collateral, and (v) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any Debtor from any of its duties or obligations under the Assigned Agreements included in the Collateral.

 

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(c)           Annexes; Notices . (i) As soon as reasonably practicable, update all annexes hereto of such Debtor if any information therein shall become inaccurate or incomplete; provided that , notwithstanding any other provision herein, such Debtor’s failure to describe any Collateral required to be listed on any annex hereto shall not impair the Secured Parties’ Security Interest in the Collateral; (ii) promptly notify the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent of (A) any material change in any fact or circumstances represented or warranted by such Debtor with respect to any of the Collateral, (B) any claim, action, or proceeding affecting title to Collateral of such Debtor or the Security Interest in such Collateral and, at the reasonable written request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, appear in and defend, at such Debtor’s expense, any such action or proceeding, (C) any material damage to or loss of Collateral, and (D) the occurrence of any other event(s) or condition(s) (including matters as to Lien priority) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Collateral; and (iii) give the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent fifteen (15) days written notice before ( or by such later date as the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) any proposed (A) relocation of its principal place of business or chief executive office, (B) change of its name, identity, or corporate structure, (C) relocation of the place where its books and records concerning its accounts are kept or (D) change of its jurisdiction of organization or organizational identification number, as applicable. Prior to making any of the changes contemplated in the preceding clause (iii) , such Debtor shall execute and deliver (or, if the Lead Holder so agrees, agree to execute and deliver) all such additional documents and perform all additional acts as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to continue or maintain the existence and required priority of the Security Interests in all of the Collateral.

 

(d)           Collateral in Trust . After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) hold in trust for the Secured Parties all Collateral that is chattel paper, instruments, or documents at any time received by such Debtor, (ii) upon the request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, promptly deliver to the Collateral Agent (or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) all collateral of the type described in this Paragraph (d) , (iii) upon the request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, mark any chattel paper, instruments, or documents retained by such Debtor to state that they are assigned to the Collateral Agent (or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement), and (iv) upon the request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, endorse each such instrument to the Collateral Agent (or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) (but the failure of same to be so marked or endorsed shall not impair the Security Interest thereon).

 

(e)           Control . Execute all documents and take any action reasonably required by the Collateral Agent in order for the Collateral Agent to obtain “control” within the meaning of Section 8-106, 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 and/or 9-107 (as applicable) of the UCC) with respect to Collateral of such Debtor consisting of Deposit Accounts, Investment Accounts and other investment property, electronic chattel paper and letter-of-credit rights (other than to the extent constituting Excluded Assets). If such Debtor at any time holds or acquires an interest in any “transferable record,” as that term is defined in the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction (the “ UETA ”), promptly notify the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent thereof and, at the request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, take such action as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to establish the Collateral Agent’s control (within the meaning of Section 16 of the UETA) over such “transferable record”.

 

(f)           Transfers; Encumbrances . Not sell, assign, transfer, lease, charter or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof or any interest therein, or offer to do any of the foregoing, except as permitted by the Indenture; and not create, permit, or suffer to exist, and shall defend the Collateral against, any Lien or other encumbrance on the Collateral other than Permitted Liens, and shall defend such Debtor’s rights in the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s Security Interest in the Collateral against the claims and demands of all Persons except those holding or claiming Permitted Liens.

 

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(g)           Delivery of Chattel Paper and Instruments . At the request of the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent, deliver all of such Debtor’s instruments and chattel paper to the Collateral Agent (or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement), together with corresponding endorsements duly executed by the relevant Debtor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

(h)           Further Assurances . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the cost of such Debtor, from time to time promptly execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent all such assignments, certificates, supplemental documents, and financing statements, and do all other acts or things as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to more fully create, evidence, perfect, continue, and preserve the priority of the Security Interest, to carry out the provisions of this Security Agreement and to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral; and pay all filing fees in connection with any financing, continuation, or termination statement or other instrument with respect to the Security Interests granted by such Debtor.

 

(i)           Commercial Tort Claims . If such Debtor shall at any time hold or acquire a commercial tort claim other than or in addition to those set forth on Annex B relating to any of the Collateral and having a value individually or in the aggregate in excess of $20,000,000 (each such commercial tort claim, an “ Additional Commercial Tort Claim ”), such Debtor shall promptly notify the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent in a writing authenticated by such Debtor of the brief details of such Additional Commercial Tort Claim. Such Debtor shall grant to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in such writing a security interest in such Additional Commercial Tort Claim and in the proceeds thereof, all in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Security Agreement and such writing shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent. Each Debtor hereby agrees to execute and deliver any additional documents or instruments, including any financing statements or amendments to any then existing financing statements, that the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary to create, perfect, and protect the Collateral Agent’s Lien on and security interest in such Additional Commercial Tort Claim.

 

(j)           Securities . (i) Except as permitted by the Indenture: (A) not sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option, warrant, or other Right with respect to, any of the Pledged Securities owned by it; (B) to the extent any issuer of any Pledged Securities is controlled by such Debtor and/or its Affiliates, not permit such issuer to issue any additional shares of stock or other securities in addition to or in substitution for such Pledged Securities, except issuances to such Debtor on terms reasonably acceptable to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent; and (C) pledge hereunder, immediately upon such Debtor’s acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof, any and all additional shares of stock or other securities of each Subsidiary of such Debtor (other than any such additional shares or securities that constitute Excluded Equity Interests); and (ii) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, take any action necessary, required, or reasonably requested by the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent to allow the Collateral Agent to fully enforce its Security Interest in the Pledged Securities including the filing of any claims with any court, liquidator, trustee, custodian, receiver, or other like person or party. In the event an uncertificated Pledged Security is certificated or the issuer thereof opts to have its Pledged Equity treated as “securities” for purposes of Article 8 of the UCC, Debtor shall promptly thereafter deliver the certificate to the Collateral Agent (or the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) with an undated executed irrevocable stock power and such other documents as the Collateral Agent may require in connection therewith. Debtor shall not permit an uncertificated Pledged Security to constitute a “security” under Article 8 of the UCC unless Debtor has delivered to Secured Party a fully executed Acknowledgment of Pledge substantially in the form of Annex D . The Collateral Agent agrees that it shall not deliver instructions or make any demand under any Acknowledgment of Pledge unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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(k)           Partnerships and Partnership Interests . (i) Notify the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent of the occurrence of any default or breach or event of default under any contract or agreement creating or relating to the Partnerships owned by such Debtor if such default, breach or event of default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to materially adversely affect the Collateral Agent or its interests in such Partnerships; (ii) to the extent any Partnership is controlled by such Debtor and/or its Affiliates, cause such Partnership to refrain from granting any Partnership Interests in addition to or in substitution for the Partnership Interests granted by the Partnerships, except to a Debtor or as permitted by the Indenture; (iii) pledge hereunder, immediately upon such Debtor’s acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof, any and all additional Partnership Interests of any Partnership other than Partnership Interests constituting Excluded Equity Interests granted to such Debtor; and any and all additional shares of stock or other securities of each; (iv) deliver to the Collateral Agent (with a copy to the Lead Holder) a fully-executed Acknowledgment of Pledge, substantially in the form of Annex D with respect of any Partnership Interests unless otherwise agreed by the Collateral Agent, for each Partnership Interest; and (v) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, take any action necessary, required, or reasonably requested by the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent to allow the Collateral Agent to fully enforce its Security Interest in the Partnership Interests, including the filing of any claims with any court, liquidator, trustee, custodian, receiver, or other like person or party. In the event an uncertificated Partnership Interest is certificated or the issuer thereof opts to have its Pledged Equity treated as “securities” for purposes of Article 8 of the UCC, Debtor shall promptly thereafter deliver the certificate to the Collateral Agent (or the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) with an undated executed irrevocable company/partnership interest power and such other documents as the Collateral Agent may require in connection therewith. Debtor shall not permit an uncertificated Partnership Interest to constitute a “security” under Article 8 of the UCC unless Debtor has delivered to Secured Party a fully executed Acknowledgment of Pledge substantially in the form of Annex D . The Collateral Agent agrees that it shall not deliver instructions or make any demand under any Acknowledgment of Pledge unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

(l)           Deposit Accounts . (i) No Debtor shall establish or maintain a Deposit Account or an Investment Account without executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent (with a copy to the Lead Holder) a Deposit Account Control Agreement or an Investment Account Control Agreement, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent, covering the applicable Deposit Account or Investment Account; and (ii) once a Deposit Account Control Agreement or an Investment Account Control Agreement, as applicable, has been so executed and delivered, no Debtor will deposit or maintain Collateral (including the proceeds thereof) in a Deposit Account or an Investment Account that is not subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement or an Investment Account Control Agreement, as applicable; provided, however , that in the case of Deposit Accounts or Investment Accounts acquired pursuant to an Acquisition permitted under the terms of the Indenture (and which were not formed in contemplation of such Acquisition), so long as the Debtor provides the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent with written notice of the existence of such Deposit Account or Investment Account within five (5) Business Days following the date of the Acquisition (or such later date as the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent may agree), the Debtor will have sixty (60) days to subject such Deposit Account or Investment Account to a Deposit Account Control Agreement or Investment Account Control Agreement, as applicable. Notwithstanding the forgoing, this Section 5(l) shall not apply to any Deposit Account exclusively used for trust, payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Debtor’s employees.

 

(m)        Finance Corp. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein or in any other Note Document to the contrary, under no circumstances (i) shall Finance Corp. issue (or shall any Debtor cause Finance Corp. to issue) certificated Equity Interests or (ii) any Debtor grant control to any Person over the Equity Interests of Finance Corp. (whether by control agreement or otherwise) other than, in the case of clause (ii), to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent or the Collateral Agent; provided , however , upon granting such control to the Priority Lien Agent, such Debtor must substantially simultaneously therewith grant such control to the Collateral Agent, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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6.           DEFAULT; REMEDIES. If an Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent may, at its election in its sole discretion, and shall, at the written direction of the Lead Holder or Majority Holders (but subject to the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents), exercise any and all rights available to the Secured Parties under the UCC, in addition to any and all other rights afforded by the Note Documents, at Law, in equity, or otherwise, including (a) requiring any and all Debtors to assemble all or part of the Collateral and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place to be designated by the Collateral Agent, (b) surrendering any policies of insurance on all or part of the Collateral and receiving and applying the unearned premiums as a credit on the Obligations, (c) applying by appropriate judicial proceedings for appointment of a receiver for all or part of the Collateral (and each Debtor hereby consents to any such appointment), (d) applying to the Obligations any cash held by the Collateral Agent under this Security Agreement and (e) in accordance with the Deposit Account Control Agreements and/or Investment Account Control Agreements, as applicable, giving any instructions directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to any Deposit Account or Investment Account and withholding any withdrawal rights from a Debtor with respect to funds from time to time credited to any Deposit Account or Investment Account.

 

(a)           Sales; Notice . The Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any public or private (to the extent to the portion of the Collateral being privately sold is of a kind that is customarily sold on a recognized market or the subject of widely distributed standard price quotations) sale in accordance with the UCC and the Collateral Agent, as collateral trustee for and representative of the Secured Parties, shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale made in accordance with the UCC, to use and apply any of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Debtor, and each Debtor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. Reasonable notification of the time and place of any public sale of the Collateral, or reasonable notification of the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition of the Collateral is to be made, shall be sent to the relevant Debtor and to any other Person entitled to notice under the UCC or other applicable law; provided that , if any of the Collateral threatens to decline speedily in value or is of the type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Collateral Agent may sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral without notification, advertisement, or other notice of any kind. It is agreed that notice sent or given not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the taking of the action to which the notice relates is reasonable notification and notice for the purposes of this subparagraph. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Debtor agrees that it would not be commercially unreasonable for the Collateral Agent to dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof by using Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets. Each Debtor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. If the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all the Secured Obligations, Debtors shall be liable for the deficiency and the fees of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency. Each Debtor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Paragraph 6 will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent, that the Collateral Agent has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Paragraph 6 shall be specifically enforceable against such Debtor, and such Debtor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no default has occurred giving rise to the Secured Obligations becoming due and payable prior to their stated maturities. Nothing in this Paragraph 6 shall in any way limit the rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

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(b)           Condition of Collateral; Warranties . The Collateral Agent has no obligation to clean up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral without giving any warranties as to the Collateral. The Collateral Agent may specifically disclaim any warranties of title or the like. This procedure will not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to marshal any of the Collateral.

 

(c)           Sales of Pledged Securities .

 

(i)          Each Debtor agrees that, because of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act ), or any other Laws or regulations, and for other reasons, there may be legal or practical restrictions or limitations affecting the Collateral Agent in any attempts to dispose of certain portions of the Pledged Securities and for the enforcement of its Rights. For these reasons, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized by each Debtor, but not obligated, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, to sell all or any part of the Pledged Securities at private sale, subject to investment letter or in any other manner which will not require the Pledged Securities, or any part thereof, to be registered in accordance with the Securities Act or any other Laws or regulations, at a reasonable price at such private sale or other distribution in the manner mentioned above. Each Debtor understands that the Collateral Agent may in its discretion approach a limited number of potential purchasers and that a sale under such circumstances may yield a lower price for the Pledged Securities, or any part thereof, than would otherwise be obtainable if such Collateral were either afforded to a larger number or potential purchasers, registered under the Securities Act, or sold in the open market. Each Debtor agrees that any such private sale made under this Paragraph 6(c) shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, and that the Collateral Agent has no obligation to delay the sale of any Pledged Securities to permit the issuer thereof to register it for public sale under any applicable federal or state securities Laws.

 

(ii)         The Collateral Agent is authorized, but not obligated, in connection with any such sale, (A) to restrict the prospective bidders on or purchasers of any of the Pledged Securities to a limited number of sophisticated investors who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale of any of such Pledged Securities, and (B) to impose such other limitations or conditions in connection with any such sale as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary in order to comply with applicable Law. Each Debtor covenants and agrees that it will execute and deliver such documents and take such other action as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary in order that any such sale may be made in compliance with applicable Law. Upon any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the Right to deliver, assign, and transfer to the purchaser thereof the Pledged Securities so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the Pledged Securities so sold absolutely free from any claim or Right of any Debtor of whatsoever kind, including any equity or Right of redemption of any Debtor. Each Debtor, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, hereby specifically waives all Rights of redemption, stay, or appraisal which it has or may have under any Law now existing or hereafter enacted.

 

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(iii)        Each Debtor agrees that ten (10) days’ written notice from the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent , to such Debtor of the Collateral Agent’s intention to make any such public or private sale or sale of such Debtor’s Pledged Securities at a broker’s board, on a securities exchange or otherwise (except as expressly provided above) shall constitute reasonable notice under the UCC. Such notice shall (A) in case of a public sale, state the time and place fixed for such sale, (B) in case of sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, state the board or exchange at which such a sale is to be made and the day on which such Pledged Securities, or the portion thereof so being sold, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange, and (C) in the case of a private sale, state the day after which such sale may be consummated. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, all Pledged Securities may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent may reasonably determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any such sale pursuant to any such notice. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for the sale, and such sale may be made at any time or place to which the same may be so adjourned.

 

(iv)        In case of any sale of all or any part of the Pledged Securities on credit or for future delivery, the Pledged Securities so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the selling price is paid by the purchaser thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case of the failure of such purchaser to take up and pay for the Pledged Securities so sold and in case of any such failure, such Pledged Securities may again be sold upon like notice. The Collateral Agent, instead of exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, may proceed by a suit or suits at Law or in equity to foreclose the Security Interests and sell the Pledged Securities, or any portion thereof, under a judgment or decree of a court or courts of competent jurisdiction.

 

(v)         Without limiting the foregoing, or imposing upon the Collateral Agent any obligations or duties not required by applicable Law, each Debtor acknowledges and agrees that, in foreclosing upon any of the Pledged Securities, or exercising any other Rights or remedies provided the Collateral Agent hereunder or under applicable Law, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be required to, (A) qualify or restrict prospective purchasers of the Pledged Securities by requiring evidence of sophistication or creditworthiness, and requiring the execution and delivery of confidentiality agreements or other documents and agreements as a condition to such prospective purchasers’ receipt of information regarding the Pledged Securities or participation in any public or private foreclosure sale process, (B) provide to prospective purchasers business and financial information regarding any or all Debtors available in the files of the Collateral Agent at the time of commencing the foreclosure process, without the requirement that the Collateral Agent obtain, or seek to obtain, any updated business or financial information or verify, or certify to prospective purchasers, the accuracy of any such business or financial information, or (C) offer for sale and sell the Pledged Securities with, or without, first employing an appraiser, investment banker, or broker with respect to the evaluation of the Pledged Securities, the solicitation of purchasers for Pledged Securities, or the manner of sale of Pledged Securities.

 

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(d)           Compliance with Other Laws . The Collateral Agent may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

 

(e)           Application of Proceeds . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral under this Paragraph 6 first , to the payment of costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) incurred in retaking, holding, and preparing any of the Collateral for sale(s) or other disposition, in arranging for such sale(s) or other disposition, and in actually selling or disposing of the same (all of which are part of the Obligations), and all other expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith, and all amounts for which the Collateral Agent is entitled to indemnification hereunder (in its capacity as the Collateral Agent) and all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder for the account of the applicable Debtor, and to the payment of all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under the Indenture, all in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof; second , toward repayment of other amounts expended by the Collateral Agent under Paragraph 7 ; and third, toward payment of the balance of the Obligations in the order and manner specified in the Indenture. Any surplus remaining shall be delivered to the relevant Debtor or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. If the proceeds are insufficient to pay the Obligations in full, each Debtor shall remain liable for any deficiency in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture.

 

(f)           Sales on Credit . If the Collateral Agent sells any of the Collateral upon credit, Debtors will be credited only with payments actually made by the purchaser, received by the Collateral Agent, and applied to the indebtedness of the purchaser. In the event the purchaser fails to pay for the Collateral, the Collateral Agent may resell the Collateral and Debtors shall be credited with the proceeds of the sale.

 

7.           OTHER RIGHTS OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT.

 

(a)           Performance . If any Debtor fails to pay when due any Taxes on any of the Collateral in the manner required by the Note Documents, or fails to preserve the required priority of the Security Interest in any of the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens), or fails to keep the Collateral insured as required by the Note Documents, or otherwise fails to perform any of its obligations under the Note Documents with respect to the Collateral, then the Collateral Agent may, at its option, or, but without being required to do so, pay such Taxes, prosecute or defend any suits in relation to the Collateral, or insure and keep insured the Collateral in any amount deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent, or take all other action which such Debtor is required, but has failed or refused, to take under the Note Documents. Any sum which may be expended or paid by the Collateral Agent under this subparagraph (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) shall bear interest from the dates of expenditure or payment at the Default Rate until paid and, together with such interest, shall be payable by Debtors to the Collateral Agent upon demand and shall be part of the Obligations.

 

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(b)           Collection . If an Event of Default exists and upon notice from the Collateral Agent, and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, each Obligor with respect to any payments on any of the Collateral (including insurance proceeds payable by reason of loss or damage to any of the Collateral and payments or distributions with respect to Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts) is hereby authorized and directed by each Debtor to make payment directly to the Collateral Agent, regardless of whether any Debtor was previously making collections thereon. Subject to Paragraphs 7(c) and 7(g) hereof, until such notice is given, each Debtor is authorized to retain and expend all payments made on Collateral. If an Event of Default exists and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have the Right, but shall not be obligated, in its own name or in the name of any Debtor to compromise or extend time of payment with respect to all or any portion of the Collateral for such amounts and upon such terms as the Collateral Agent may determine; to notify any and all account debtors to make payments of the accounts directly to the Collateral Agent; to demand, collect, receive, receipt for, sue for, compound, and give acquittances for any and all amounts due or to become due with respect to Collateral; to exercise exclusive control over Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts, or to take control of cash and other proceeds of any Collateral; to endorse the name of the relevant Debtor on any notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders, or other evidences of payment on Collateral that may come into the possession of the Collateral Agent; to sign the name of the relevant Debtor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any Collateral, on any drafts against Obligors or other Persons making payment with respect to Collateral, on assignments and verifications of accounts or other Collateral and on notices to Obligors making payment with respect to Collateral; to send requests for verification of obligations to any Obligor; and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the intent of this Security Agreement. If an Event of Default exists and any Obligor fails or refuses to make payment on any Collateral when due, the Collateral Agent is authorized, in its sole discretion and is not obligated, either in its own name or in the name of any Debtor, to take such action as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate for the collection of any amounts owed with respect to Collateral or upon which a delinquency exists, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. Regardless of any other provision hereof, however, the Collateral Agent shall never be liable for its failure to collect, or for its failure to exercise diligence in the collection of, any amounts owed with respect to Collateral, nor shall it be under any duty whatsoever to anyone except the relevant Debtor to account for funds that it shall actually receive hereunder. The receipt of the Collateral Agent of any amount paid to the Collateral Agent by any such Obligor shall be a full and complete release, discharge, and acquittance to such Obligor, to the extent of any amount so paid to the Collateral Agent. During the continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts and proceeds (including instruments) received by any Debtor in respect of the Collateral shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other funds of such Debtor and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent (or the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement). The rights of the Collateral Agent in this Paragraph 7(b) shall be in addition to those set forth in Paragraph 7(c) , and the provisions of this Paragraph 7(b) shall not in any way be construed to limit the Collateral Agent’s rights under Paragraph 7(c) .

 

(c)           Intellectual Property . For purposes of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise its rights and remedies under this Security Agreement and enabling the Collateral Agent and its successors and assigns to enjoy the full benefits of the Collateral, in each case at such time as such Persons shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Debtor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, nonexclusive license or other right (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to such Debtor), subject, in the case of Trademarks, to sufficient rights to quality control and inspection in favor of such Debtor to avoid the risk of invalidation of such Trademarks, to use any of such Debtor’s Intellectual Property, or any property of a similar nature, as it pertains to the Collateral, in advertising for sale and selling any Collateral and such Debtor’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the Collateral Agent’s benefit, which license or right may only be exercised after the occurrence of and during the continuation of an Event of Default. Each Debtor shall provide the Collateral Agent with reasonable access to all media in which any of the Intellectual Property may be recorded or stored and all computer programs used for the compilation or printout thereof. This license or other right shall also inure to the benefit of all successors, assigns, and transferees of the Collateral Agent. With respect to Intellectual Property that is not owned by the Debtors, the license and other rights contained in this Paragraph 7(c) shall be subject to the terms of any licenses or other agreements that create and govern any Debtor’s right in such Intellectual Property.

 

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(d)           Record Ownership of Securities . If an Event of Default exists and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent at any time may, but shall not be required to, have any Collateral that is Pledged Securities and that is in the possession of the Collateral Agent, or its nominee or nominees, registered in its name, or in the name of its nominee or nominees, as the Collateral Agent; and, as to any Collateral that is Pledged Securities so registered, if no Event of Default then exists, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) upon the relevant Debtor’s written request and at such Debtor’s sole cost and expense, to such Debtor all such proxies, powers of attorney, dividend coupons or orders, and other documents as such Debtor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Debtor to exercise the voting Rights and powers which it is entitled to exercise under this Security Agreement or to receive the dividends and other distributions and payments in respect of such Collateral that is Pledged Securities or proceeds thereof which it is authorized to receive and retain under this Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(e)           Voting of Securities . As long as no Event of Default exists and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, each Debtor is entitled to exercise all voting Rights pertaining to its Pledged Securities and Partnership Interests; provided, however , that no vote shall be cast or consent, waiver, or ratification given or action taken without the prior written consent of the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent which would be inconsistent with or violate any provision of this Security Agreement or any other Note Document; and provided further that such Debtor shall give the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent at least five Business Days’ prior written notice in the form of an officers’ certificate of the manner in which it intends to exercise, or the reasons for refraining from exercising, any voting or other consensual Rights pertaining to the Collateral or any part thereof which might have a material adverse effect on the value of the Collateral or any part thereof. If an Event of Default exists and if the Collateral Agent elects to exercise such Right (at the written direction of the Lead Holder), the Right to vote any Pledged Securities shall be vested exclusively in the Collateral Agent, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. To this end, each Debtor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent the proxy and attorney-in-fact of such Debtor, with full power of substitution, to vote, and to act with respect to, any and all Collateral that is Pledged Securities standing in the name of such Debtor or with respect to which such Debtor is entitled to vote and act, subject to the understanding that such proxy may not be exercised unless an Event of Default exists. The proxy herein granted is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable, and shall continue until the Obligations have been paid and performed in full.

 

(f)           Certain Proceeds .

 

(i) Any and all dividends, interest, or other distributions paid or payable in cash or other than in cash in respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Collateral shall be part of the Collateral hereunder, and from and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (A) shall, if received by any Debtor, be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, and (B) if requested by the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, shall forthwith be delivered to the Collateral Agent (accompanied by proper instruments of assignment executed by such Debtor in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions) to be held subject to the terms of this Security Agreement. Any cash proceeds of Collateral which come into the possession of the Collateral Agent upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (including insurance proceeds) may, at the Collateral Agent’s option, exercisable in its sole discretion or upon the written direction of the Majority Holders, be applied in whole or in part to the Obligations (to the extent then due), be released in whole or in part to or on the written instructions of the relevant Debtor for any general or specific purpose, or be retained in whole or in part by the Collateral Agent as additional Collateral.

 

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(ii) Whether or not a Default or Event of Default exists (A) any cash Collateral in the Cash Collateral Account or received by the Collateral Agent from the sale, collection or other realization upon any Collateral (but not other cash Collateral) in the possession of the Collateral Agent may be invested by the Collateral Agent in deposit accounts and certificates of deposit issued by the Collateral Agent (if the Collateral Agent issues such certificates) or by any state or national bank having combined capital and surplus greater than $100,000,000 with a rating from Moody’s and S&P of P-1 and A-1+ , respectively, or in securities issued or guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof and the Collateral Agent shall never be obligated to make any such investment and shall never have any liability to any Debtor for any loss which may result therefrom and (B) all interest and other amounts earned from any investment of Collateral may be dealt with by the Collateral Agent in the same manner as other cash Collateral.

 

(g)           Use and Operation of Collateral . Should any Collateral come into the possession of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, use such Collateral for the purpose of preserving it or its value pursuant to the order of a court of appropriate jurisdiction or in accordance with any other rights held by the Collateral Agent in respect of such Collateral. Each Debtor covenants to promptly reimburse and pay to the Collateral Agent, at the Collateral Agent’s request, the amount of all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), costs, and other charges (including the cost of any insurance and payment of Taxes or other charges) incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with its custody and preservation of Collateral, and all such expenses, costs, Taxes, and other charges shall bear interest at the Default Rate until repaid and, together with such interest, shall be payable by such Debtor to the Collateral Agent upon demand and shall become part of the Obligations. However, the risk of accidental loss or damage to, or diminution in value of, Collateral is on Debtors, and the Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatever for failure to obtain or maintain insurance, nor to determine whether any insurance ever in force is adequate as to amount or as to the risks insured. With respect to Collateral that is in the possession of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to fix or preserve rights against prior parties to such Collateral and shall never be liable for any failure to use diligence to collect any amount payable in respect of such Collateral, but shall be liable only to account to the relevant Debtors for what it may actually collect or receive thereon. The provisions of this subparagraph are applicable whether or not a Default or Event of Default exists.

 

(h)           Event of Default . If an Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall have, and each Debtor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the Right and authority, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, to transfer, all funds on deposit in the Deposit Accounts to one or more “ Cash Collateral Accounts ” (herein so called) maintained with a depository institution acceptable to the Collateral Agent and subject to the exclusive direction, domain, and control of the Collateral Agent, and no disbursements or withdrawals shall be permitted to be made by any Debtor from such Cash Collateral Accounts. Such Cash Collateral Accounts shall be subject to the Security Interest and Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent herein created, and each Debtor hereby grants a security interest to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in and to, such Cash Collateral Accounts and all checks, drafts, and other items ever received by such Debtor for deposit therein. Furthermore, if an Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, at any time in its discretion without notice to any Debtor and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, (i) to transfer to or to register in the name of the Collateral Agent or any Lender or nominee any certificates of deposit or deposit instruments constituting Deposit Accounts and shall have the right to exchange such certificates or instruments representing Deposit Accounts for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations and (ii) to take and apply against the Obligations any and all funds then or thereafter on deposit in the Cash Collateral Accounts or otherwise constituting Deposit Accounts.

 

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(i)           Power of Attorney . Each Debtor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the name of such Debtor or in its own name, to take after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any and all action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time deems necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Security Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Debtor hereby gives the Collateral Agent the power and right on behalf of such Debtor and in its own name to do any of the following from time to time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, without notice to or the consent of such Debtor: (i) to transfer any and all funds on deposit with the Collateral Agent in one or more deposit accounts, and any certificates of deposit or deposit instruments constituting deposit accounts, to the Cash Collateral Account as set forth in herein; (ii) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other instruments or documents in connection with clause (b) above and this clause (i) ; (iii) to use such Debtor’s Intellectual Property as provided in Paragraph 7(c) ; (iv) to demand, sue for, collect, or receive, in the name of such Debtor or in its own name, any money or property at any time payable or receivable on account of or in exchange for any of the Collateral and, in connection therewith, endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, documents of title or any other instruments for the payment of money under the Collateral or any policy of insurance; (v) to pay or discharge taxes, Liens, or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral; (vi) to notify post office authorities to change the address for delivery of such Debtor to an address designated by the Collateral Agent and to receive, open, and dispose of mail addressed to such Debtor; and (vii) (A) to direct account debtors and any other parties liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall direct; (B) to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; (C) to sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications, and notices in connection with accounts and other documents relating to the Collateral; (D) to commence and prosecute any suit, action, or proceeding at Law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other Right in respect of any Collateral; (E) to defend any suit, action, or proceeding brought against such Debtor with respect to any Collateral; (F) to settle, compromise, or adjust any suit, action, or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, to give such discharges or releases as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate; (G) to exchange any of the Collateral for other property upon any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, or other readjustment of the issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Collateral with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar, or other designated agency upon such terms as the Collateral Agent may determine; (H) to add or release any guarantor, indorser, surety, or other party to any of the Collateral; (I) to renew, extend, or otherwise change the terms and conditions of any of the Collateral; (J) to endorse such Debtor’s name on all applications, documents, papers, and instruments necessary or desirable in order for the Collateral Agent to use any of the Intellectual Property; (K) to make, settle, compromise or adjust any claims under or pertaining to any of the Collateral (including claims under any policy of insurance); (L) to execute on behalf of such Debtor any financing statements or continuation statements with respect to the Security Interests created hereby, and to do any and all acts and things to protect and preserve the Collateral, including the protection and prosecution of all rights included in the Collateral; and (M) to sell, transfer, pledge, convey, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Debtor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Collateral Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve, maintain, or realize upon the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s security interest therein.

 

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This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable. The Collateral Agent shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges, and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Collateral Agent in this Security Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any Person designated by the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or Law in connection with its exercise of this power of attorney, in each case except as are determined by final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute or result from gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach in bad faith of any of its obligations under a Note Document. This power of attorney is conferred on the Collateral Agent solely to protect, preserve, maintain, and realize upon its Security Interest in the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for any decline in the value of the Collateral and shall not be required to take any steps to preserve rights against prior parties or to protect, preserve, or maintain any Lien given to secure the Collateral. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and shall not be responsible to any Debtor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

(j)           Purchase Money Collateral . To the extent that any Secured Party has advanced or will advance funds to or for the account of any Debtor to enable such Debtor to purchase or otherwise acquire Rights in Collateral, such Secured Party, at its option, may pay such funds (i) directly to the Person from whom such Debtor will make such purchase or acquire such Rights, or (ii) to such Debtor, in which case such Debtor covenants to promptly pay the same to such Person, and forthwith furnish to the Collateral Agent evidence satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent that such payment has been made from the funds so provided.

 

(k)           Subrogation . If any of the Obligations is given in renewal or extension or applied toward the payment of indebtedness secured by any Lien, the Collateral Agent shall be, and is hereby, subrogated to all of the Rights, titles, interests, and Liens securing the indebtedness so renewed, extended, or paid.

 

(l)           Indemnification . Each Debtor hereby assumes all liability for the Collateral, for the Security Interest, and for any use, possession, maintenance, and management of, all or any of the Collateral, including any Taxes arising as a result of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated herein, and agrees to assume liability for, and to indemnify and hold the Lead Holder, the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party harmless from and against, any and all claims, causes of action, or liability, for injuries to or deaths of Persons and damage to property, howsoever arising from or incident to such use, possession, maintenance, and management, whether such Persons be agents or employees of such Debtor or of third parties, or such damage be to property of such Debtor or of others. Each Debtor agrees to indemnify, save, and hold the Lead Holder, the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party (each, an “ indemnified person ”), harmless from and against, and covenants to defend each indemnified person against, any and all losses, damages, claims, costs, penalties, liabilities, and expenses (collectively, “ Claims ”), including court costs and attorneys’ fees, and any of the foregoing arising from the negligence of an indemnified person, or any of their respective officers, employees, agents, advisors, employees, or representatives, howsoever arising or incurred because of, incident to, or with respect to Collateral or any use, possession, maintenance, or management thereof or the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance, administration of or otherwise arising out of or incurred in connection with this Security Agreement, any other related document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby (and regardless of whether or not any such transactions are consummated); provided, however, that such Debtor shall not be required to indemnify an indemnified person for Claims caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified person or the breach in bad faith by such indemnified person of its obligations hereunder or under any other Note Document, in each case as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. This Paragraph 7(l) will not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. The rights of indemnified person and obligations of the Debtors under or pursuant to this Security Agreement shall survive the termination of this Security Agreement, and the earlier removal or resignation of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

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(m)           Limitations on Liability . The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for losses arising from (i) any cause beyond its control, (ii) any delay, error, omission or default of any mail, electronic mail or other electronic communication or operator, or (iii) the acts or edicts of any government or governmental agency or other group or entity exercising governmental powers. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the preparation or filing of any UCC financing statements or the correctness of any financing statements filed in connection with this Security Agreement or the validity or perfection of any lien or security interest created pursuant to this Security Agreement. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Debtors.

 

(n)           Standard of Care . The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon all or any part of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Debtor or otherwise.

 

(o)           Appointment . The Collateral Agent has been appointed pursuant to the Indenture to act as Collateral Agent hereunder. The Collateral Agent shall be obligated, and shall have the right hereunder, to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, the release or substitution of Collateral), solely in accordance with this Security Agreement and the Indenture. In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 7 , each Secured Party, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph 7 . The provisions of the Indenture relating to the Collateral Agent including, without limitation, the provisions relating to resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent, reimbursement of expenses and the powers and duties and immunities of the Collateral Agent are incorporated herein by this reference and shall survive any termination of the Indenture.

 

(p)           Delegation of Duties . The Collateral Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this Security Agreement by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this Paragraph 7 and similar provisions in the Indenture shall apply to any the Affiliates of the Collateral Agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Collateral Agent. All of the rights, benefits, and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Paragraph 7 and of the Indenture shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were named herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent appointed by the Collateral Agent, (a) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Security Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Debtors and the Secured Parties, (a) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to the Collateral Agent and not to any Debtor, Secured Party or any other Person and no Debtor, Secured Party or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub-agent.

 

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8.           ADDITIONAL DEBTORS. From time to time subsequent to the time hereof, additional Subsidiaries of the Parent Debtor may become Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture (each an “ Additional Debtor ”). Substantially contemporaneous therewith, such Additional Debtors shall join this Security Agreement by executing a Security Agreement Supplement in the form of Attachment A attached hereto (or such other form as may be satisfactory to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent). Upon delivery of any such supplement to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by Debtors, each such Additional Debtor shall be a Debtor hereunder and shall be a party hereto as if such Additional Debtor were an original signatory hereof. Each Debtor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition or release of any other Debtor hereunder, or by any election any Secured Party not to cause any Subsidiary of the Parent Debtor to become an Additional Debtor hereunder. This Security Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Debtor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any such Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Debtor hereunder.

 

9.           CONSENT TO TRANSFER . Each Debtor, In its capacity as an issuer of any Partnership Interest and in its capacity as a partner or member of another Debtor, hereby consents to the grant by such Debtor and each other Debtor of a security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral described in Section 3(c) and (e) (including, without limitation, the Pledged Partnership Interests, Pledged LLC Interests and Pledged Shares constituting Collateral) and without limiting the foregoing, consents (including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 18-704(a)) of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time) to the assignment, sale, disposition or other transfer (a “ Transfer ”) of any such Collateral to the Collateral Agent, its nominee or other transferee in connection with the exercise of remedies following an Event of Default (“ Transferees ”) and (including, without limitation, for purpose of Section 18-702 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time) to the substitution of  any such Transferees as a partner in any partnership or as a member in any limited liability company with all the rights and powers related thereto (including, without limitation, the right to participate in the management of the business and affairs of the business).  Notwithstanding any provision of any Debtor’s Partnership Agreements or limited liability company agreements or operating agreements to the contrary, each Debtor further agrees that any Transferee of such Collateral in connection with a Transfer shall automatically be admitted as a member or a partner, as applicable, under the Partnership Agreements or limited liability company agreements or operating agreements, as applicable, without consent, amendment or other action of any Debtor or any other member or partner of any such Debtor.

 

23
 

 

10.          MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           Continuing Security Interest . This Security Agreement creates a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until satisfaction of the conditions for release of Liens set forth in the Indenture; (ii) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Collateral Agent, the Holders, and each of their respective successors, transferees, and assigns; and (iii) be binding on each Debtor and such Debtor’s successors and assigns. No Debtor may, except as expressly permitted under the Indenture, assign any rights, duties, or obligations hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (ii) , the Collateral Agent and the Holders may assign or otherwise transfer any of their respective rights under this Security Agreement to any other Person in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Note Documents, and to the extent of such assignment or transfer such Person shall thereupon become vested with all the rights and benefits in respect thereof granted herein or otherwise to each Secured Party, as the case may be. Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clause (i) of this Paragraph 10(a) , the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered release(s) in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture governing release of liens. If any of the Collateral shall be disposed of by any Debtor in a transaction permitted by the Indenture, then the Collateral Agent, at the written request and sole expense of such Debtor, shall execute and deliver to such Debtor (or its designee) releases or other documents reasonably necessary or desirable to release or reflect of public record the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral; provided that , such Debtor or the Company shall have delivered to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent a written request for release certifying that such transaction is in compliance with the Indenture and the other Note Documents. No Obligor, if any, on any of the Collateral shall ever be obligated to make inquiry as to the termination of this Security Agreement, but shall be fully protected in making payment directly to the Collateral Agent until actual notice of discharge of the Liens hereby created.

 

(b)           Actions Not Releases . The Security Interest and each Debtor’s obligations and each Secured Party’s rights hereunder shall not be released, diminished, impaired, or adversely affected by the occurrence of any one or more of the following events: (i) the taking or accepting of any other security or assurance for any or all of the Obligations; (ii) any release, surrender, exchange, subordination, or loss of any security or assurance at any time existing in connection with any or all of the Obligations; (iii) the modification of, amendment to, or waiver of compliance with any terms of any of the other Note Documents without the notification or consent of such Debtor, except as required therein (the Right to such notification or consent being herein specifically waived by each Debtor); (iv) the insolvency, bankruptcy, or lack of corporate or trust power of any party at any time liable for the payment of any or all of the Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter occurring; (v) any renewal, extension, or rearrangement of the payment of any or all of the Obligations, either with or without notice to or consent of any Debtor, or any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance, or compromise that may be granted or given by the Collateral Agent or any Holder to any Debtor; (vi) any neglect, delay, omission, failure, or refusal of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to take or prosecute any action in connection with any other agreement, document, guaranty, or instrument evidencing, securing, or assuring the payment of all or any of the Obligations; (vii) any failure of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to notify any Debtor of any renewal, extension, or assignment of the Obligations or any part thereof, or the release of any Collateral or other security, or of any other action taken or refrained from being taken by the Collateral Agent or any Holder against any Debtor or any new agreement between or among the Collateral Agent or one or more Holders and any Debtor, it being understood that except as expressly provided herein, neither the Collateral Agent nor any Holder shall be required to give any Debtor any notice of any kind under any circumstances whatsoever with respect to or in connection with the Obligations, including notice of acceptance of this Security Agreement or any Collateral ever delivered to or for the account of the Collateral Agent hereunder; (viii) the illegality, invalidity, or unenforceability of all or any part of the Obligations against any party obligated with respect thereto by reason of the fact that the Obligations, or the interest paid or payable with respect thereto, exceeds the amount permitted by Law, the act of creating the Obligations, or any part thereof, is ultra vires , or the officers, partners, or trustees creating same acted in excess of their authority, or for any other reason; or (ix) if any payment by any party obligated with respect thereto is held to constitute a preference under applicable Laws or for any other reason the Collateral Agent or any Holder is required to refund such payment or pay the amount thereof to someone else.

 

24
 

 

(c)           Waivers; Remedies Cumulative . Except to the extent expressly otherwise provided herein or in other Note Documents and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Debtor waives (i) any right to require the Collateral Agent or any Holder to proceed against any other Person, to exhaust its rights in Collateral, or to pursue any other right which the Collateral Agent or any Holder may have; (ii) with respect to the Obligations, presentment and demand for payment, protest, notice of protest and nonpayment, and notice of the intention to accelerate and notice of acceleration; and (iii) all rights of marshaling in respect of any and all of the Collateral. No failure or delay on the part of the Collateral Agent in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other agreements related to the Security Interest or Collateral shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. Each right, power, and remedy of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, or any of them, as provided for in this Security Agreement or in any other agreements related to the Security Interest or Collateral or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other right, power, or remedy provided for in this Security Agreement or in any other agreements related to the Security Interest or Collateral or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any one or more of such rights, powers, or remedies shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by such Persons of any or all such other rights, powers, or remedies.

 

(d)           Financing Statement; Authorization . The Collateral Agent shall be entitled at any time to file this Security Agreement or a carbon, photographic, or other reproduction of this Security Agreement, as a financing statement, but the failure of the Collateral Agent to do so shall not impair the validity or enforceability of this Security Agreement. Each Debtor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any UCC jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto (without the requirement for such Debtor’s signature thereon) containing any information required by Article 9 of the UCC of the state or such jurisdiction for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Debtor is an organization, the type of organization, and any organization identification number issued to such Debtor. Each Debtor agrees to furnish any such information to the Lead Holder or the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

 

(e)           Amendments . Except as otherwise set forth in the Indenture, this Security Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed jointly by each Debtor to be bound thereby and the Collateral Agent (at the written direction of the Majority Holders), and supplemented only by documents delivered or to be delivered in accordance with the express terms hereof; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification of this Security Agreement that has the effect solely of adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional indebtedness or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Agent therein will become effective when executed and delivered by the applicable Debtors party thereto and the Collateral Agent, and (b) no amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification of this Security Agreement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Agent or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Agent, in each case, solely in its capacity as such, will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Agent. Any waiver by the Collateral Agent shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific instance involved and shall in no way impair the rights of the Collateral Agent or the obligations of the Debtors to the Collateral Agent in any other respect or at any other time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent and each applicable Debtor may, without the consent of any other Secured Party, enter into any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification of this Security Agreement to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision in such document that may be inconsistent with any other provision of any other document related to the Security Interests or Collateral, or to further the intended purposes thereof or to provide additional benefits or rights to the Secured Parties, so long as prior to the execution of any such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification, each applicable Debtor shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent an officers’ certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent to the effect that such amendment, modification or waiver complies with the foregoing requirements.

 

25
 

 

(f)           Multiple Counterparts . This Security Agreement may be executed in one or more separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original for all purposes and all of which constitute, collectively, one agreement; but, in making proof of this Security Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif” format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

(g)           Collateral Agent . The Collateral Agent may, without the joinder of any Holder, exercise any and all rights in favor of the Secured Parties hereunder, including conducting any foreclosure sales hereunder, and executing full or partial releases hereof, amendments or modifications hereto, or consents or waivers hereunder.

 

(h)           Note Documents . This Security Agreement is a Note Document.

 

(i)           GOVERNING LAW .         THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (OTHER THAN ANY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF THE UCC RELATING TO THE LAW GOVERNING PERFECTION AND THE EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR PRIORITY OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS).

 

(j)           Notices . All notices, requests and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and given in the manner provided in Section 11.02 of the Indenture, to the Lead Holder and the Collateral Agent at its address set forth in, or to any Debtor at its address set forth in, Section 11.02 of the Indenture, or at such other address as shall be designated by the Collateral Agent or a Debtor, as applicable, by written notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(k)           Fraudulent Conveyance . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is the intention of each Subsidiary Debtor and each Secured Party that the amount of the Obligations secured hereunder by any Subsidiary Debtor’s interests in any of its respective Collateral shall be in, but not in excess of, the maximum amount permitted by fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar law, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Subsidiary Debtor. Accordingly, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Security Agreement or in any other agreement or instrument executed in connection with the payment of any of the Obligations, the amount of the Obligations secured by such Subsidiary Debtor’s interests in any of its Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such Subsidiary Debtor’s obligations hereunder or the Liens and security interest granted to the Secured Parties hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of any other applicable law.

 

(l)           GOVERNING LAW; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Security Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Security Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PERFECTION, EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR NONPERFECTION, AND PRIORITY OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR COLLATERAL ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK . Each Debtor and the Collateral Agent hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Security Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

26
 

 

(m)           Severability . If any provision of this Security Agreement or any Security Agreement Supplement hereto is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Security Agreement or such Security Agreement Supplement, as applicable, shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

11.          INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT .

 

(a)          The Collateral Agent, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Security Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

(c)          Without limiting the foregoing, at any time prior to the release of Liens related to the RBL Credit Agreement, any provision hereof requiring any Debtor to deliver possession of any Collateral to the Collateral Agent, or to cause the Collateral Agent to control any Collateral, shall be deemed to have been complied with, if and for so long as (i) the Intercreditor Agreement is in full force and effect and (ii) the Priority Lien Collateral Agent shall have such possession or control for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and as bailee or sub-agent of the Collateral Agent as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the foregoing, the Issuers and Guarantors shall be required to deliver duly executed Deposit Account Control Agreements and Investment Account Control Agreements with respect to Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts as required hereunder.

 

12.          ENTIRE AGREEMENT . THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank.

Signature Pages to Follow.

 

27
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security Agreement to be executed as of the day first above written.

 

  DEBTORS:
     
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
     
  By: Breitburn GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
     Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN OPERATING LP
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  /S/ James G. Jackson
      Name: James G. Jackson
     Title: Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION
     
  /S/ James G. Jackson
     Name: James G. Jackson
     Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

  ALAMITOS COMPANY
  BEAVER CREEK PIPELINE, L.L.C.
  GTG PIPELINE LLC
  MERCURY MICHIGAN COMPANY, LLC
  PHOENIX PRODUCTION COMPANY
  QRE GP, LLC
  TERRA ENERGY COMPANY LLC
  TERRA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
       Name: James G. Jackson
       Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC
  BREITBURN GP LLC
  BREITBURN MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
        Name: James G. Jackson
       Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer

 

  BREITBURN FLORIDA LLC
  BREITBURN OKLAHOMA LLC
  BREITBURN SAWTELLE
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO LP LLC

 

  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    its sole member
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
        Name: James G. Jackson
       Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

  QR ENERGY, LP
  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  QRE OPERATING, LLC
  By: QR Energy, LP,
    its sole member

 

  By: QRE GP, LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  TRANSPETCO PIPELINE COMPANY, L.P.
     
  By: Breitburn Operating LP,
    on behalf of itself and as the sole member of
    Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, each a
    general partner
     
  By: Breitburn Operating GP LLC,
    its general partner

 

  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
    Name: James G. Jackson
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

  COLLATERAL AGENT:
   
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Collateral Agent

 

  By: /S/ Leland Hansen
  Name: Leland Hansen
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

ATTACHMENT A

 

TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

 

This SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT, dated [_______________], is delivered by [Name of Debtor] a [Name of State of Incorporation] [Corporation] (the “ Debtor ”) pursuant to the Security Agreement dated as of April 8, 2015 (as it may be from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”), among BREITBURN OPERATING LP, Breitburn Energy Partners LP , BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION, the other Debtors named therein and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used herein not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Security Agreement.

 

By executing and delivering this Security Agreement Supplement, Debtor hereby becomes a party to the Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named a “Debtor” therein, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) Debtor hereby expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Debtor thereunder and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof, and (b) confirms the grant to the Collateral Agent set forth in Paragraph 2 of the Security Agreement of, and in order to secure the full and complete payment and performance of the Obligations when due, Debtor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the Holders, a security interest in and lien on, all of Debtor’s right, title and interest in and to all Collateral, whether now or hereafter existing or in which Debtor now has or hereafter acquires an interest and wherever the same may be located, and Debtor hereby pledges, collaterally transfers, and assigns the Collateral (whether now or hereafter existing or in which Debtor now has or hereafter acquires an interest and wherever the same may be located), to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Holders, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions of the Security Agreement.

 

Debtor represents and warrants that the attached supplements to the Annexes to the Security Agreement accurately and completely set forth all information required pursuant to the Security Agreement with respect to Debtor and its properties and assets, and hereby agrees that such supplements to the Annexes to the Security Agreement shall constitute part of the Annexes to the Security Agreement. Debtor hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties set forth in the Security Agreement as to such Debtor is true and correct on and as of the date thereof (after giving effect to this Supplement) as if made on and as of such date.

 

This Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Attachment A to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Debtor has caused this Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

  [NAME OF DEBTOR]
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

Attachment A to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

Attachments – Annexes A, B and C are to be attached to each Security Agreement Supplement, in the same form as Annexes A, B and C to the Security Agreement.

 

ANNEX A TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

DEBTOR INFORMATION

 

The mailing address and location of books and records for Breitburn Operating LP is:

 

515 S. Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

The mailing address and location of books and records for each of the other debtors is:

 

c/o Breitburn Operating LP

515 S. Flower Street, Suite 4800

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Legal Name of Debtor   Type of Entity   Jurisdiction of
Organization
 

State Issued

Organizational

Identification No.

Alamitos Company   Corporation   California   C1491741
Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C.   Limited Liability Company   Michigan   B50927
Breitburn Energy Partners LP   Limited Partnership   Delaware   4096475
Breitburn Finance Corporation   Corporation   Delaware   4693387
Breitburn Florida LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4355916
Breitburn GP LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4096474
Breitburn Management Company LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4132203
Breitburn Oklahoma LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   5360372
Breitburn Operating GP LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4169857
Breitburn Operating LP   Limited Partnership   Delaware   4169880
Breitburn Sawtelle LLC (f/k/a Breitburn Fulton LLC)   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   3144632
Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   3958596

 

Annex A to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

Legal Name of Debtor   Type of Entity   Jurisdiction of
Organization
 

State Issued

Organizational

Identification No.

Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   3958609
GTG Pipeline LLC   Limited Liability Company   Virginia   S239225-8
Mercury Michigan Company, LLC   Limited Liability Company   Michigan   D24776
Phoenix Production Company   Corporation   Wyoming   1989-000257711
QR Energy, LP   Limited Partnership   Delaware   4872553
QRE GP, LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4872554
QRE Operating, LLC   Limited Liability Company   Delaware   4891741
Terra Energy Company LLC   Limited Liability Company   Michigan   D24772
Terra Pipeline Company LLC   Limited Liability Company   Michigan   D2476X
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.   Limited Partnership   Delaware   2501840

 

Annex A to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN COLLATERAL

 

Debtors

 

I.             INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

A.            Registered Copyrights, Copyright Applications, Material Unregistered Copyrights

 

None.

 

B.            Issued Patents and Patent Applications

 

None.

 

C.            Registered Trademarks, Trademark Applications, Unregistered Trademarks

 

Mark   Int. Cl.   Identifier   Registration Date
BREITBURN   37   Reg. No. 3,435,162   May 27, 2008
  37   Reg. No. 4,675,322   January 20, 2015
  37   Reg. No. 4,681,437   February 3, 2015

 

Annex B to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

ANNEX C TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

DESCRIPTION OF PLEDGED SHARES, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS

AND PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Pledged Stock:

 

Issuer   Owner of Stock   Class of Stock   Certificate No.   No. of Shares

Alamitos Company

 

  Breitburn Operating LP   Common  Stock   11   1,110
Breitburn Finance Corporation   Breitburn Energy Partners LP   Common Stock   N/A   100%
Phoenix Production Company   Breitburn Operating LP   Common Stock   6   2,500

 

Pledged LLC Interests:

 

Name of LLC   Owner of
Interests
  Class of Interest   Certificate No.   Percentage Interest
Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C.   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   50%
Beaver Creek Pipeline, L.L.C.   Mercury Michigan Company, LLC   Membership   N/A   50%
Breitburn Florida LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Management Company LLC   Breitburn Energy Partners LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Oklahoma LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Operating GP LLC   Breitburn Energy Partners LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Sawtelle LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
GTG Pipeline LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Mercury Michigan Company, LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%
Terra Energy Company LLC   Breitburn Operating LP   Membership   N/A   100%

 

Annex C to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

Name of LLC   Owner of
Interests
  Class of Interest   Certificate No.   Percentage Interest
Terra Pipeline Company LLC   Terra Energy Company LLC   Membership   N/A   100%
                 
QRE Operating, LLC   QR Energy, LP   Membership   1   100%

 

Pledged Partnership Interests:

 

Name of

Partnership

  Owner of
Interests
  Class of Interest   Certificate No.   Percentage Interest
Breitburn Operating LP   Breitburn Energy Partners LP   Limited Partner   N/A   99.999%
Breitburn Operating LP   Breitburn Operating GP LLC   General Partner   N/A   0.001%
Terra-Westside Processing Company   Terra Energy Company LLC   General Partner   N/A   15%
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.   Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC   Limited Partner   N/A   59%
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.   Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC   General Partner   N/A   1%
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.   Breitburn Operating LP   Limited Partner   N/A   39%
Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P.   Breitburn Operating LP   General Partner   N/A   1%
QR Energy, LP   Breitburn Operating LP   Limited Partner   N/A   100%

 

Annex C to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PLEDGE

 

CORPORATION/PARTNERSHIP/LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY: _______________________ (the “ Issuer ”)

 

INTEREST OWNER: __________________________ (the “ Interest Owner ”)

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT: Security Agreement dated as of April 8, 2015 (as amended, modified, supplemented, or restated from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned thereto in the Security Agreement.

 

DATE: _______________

 

BY THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PLEDGE dated as of the date first above written, the Issuer hereby acknowledges the pledge in favor of U.S. Bank, National Association (“ Pledgee ”), in its capacity as the Collateral Agent under the Security Agreement, against, and a security interest in favor of Pledgee in, all of the Interest Owner’s rights in connection with any equity interest in the Issuer now and hereafter owned by the Interest Owner (“ Issuer Interest ”).

 

A.            Pledge Records . The Issuer has identified Pledgee’s interest in all of the Interest Owner’s right, title, and interest in and to all of the Interest Owner’s Issuer Interest as subject to a pledge and security interest in favor of Pledgee in the Issuer’s books and records.

 

B.            Issuer Distributions, Accounts, and Correspondence. The Issuer hereby agrees and acknowledges that if at any time the Issuer receives instructions originated by Pledgee relating to the Issuer Interest, the Issuer shall comply with such instructions without further consent by the Interest Owner or any other person. Without limiting the foregoing, the Issuer hereby acknowledges that upon demand of Pledgee and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, (i) all proceeds, distributions, and other amounts payable to the Interest Owner, including upon the termination, liquidation, and dissolution of the Issuer, shall be paid and remitted to the Pledgee, (ii) all funds in deposit accounts held for the account of, or otherwise payable to, the Interest Owner shall be held for the benefit of Pledgee, and (iii) all future correspondence, accountings of distributions, and tax returns of the Issuer shall be provided to the Pledgee. The Issuer acknowledges and accepts such direction and hereby agrees that it shall, upon the written demand by the Pledgee, pay directly to the Pledgee (or the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) to its offices as shall be specified by the Pledgee any and all distributions, income, and cash flow arising from the Issuer Interests whether payable in cash, property or otherwise, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the organizational documents of the Issuer. The Pledgee may from time to time notify the Issuer of any change of address to which such amounts are to be paid.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Acknowledgement of Pledge is subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Acknowledge of Pledge, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

 

Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank.

Signature Page to Follow.

 

Annex D to Security Agreement

 

 
 

 

EXECUTED as of the date first stated in this Acknowledgment of Pledge.

 

[ISSUER]

 

  By: ,
    as [General Partner] [Manager]
     
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

Annex D to Security Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6  

   

Execution Version

  

 

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

dated as of April 8, 2015 among

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Priority Lien Agent,

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Second Lien Collateral Trustee,

 

BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION, and
BREITBURN OPERATING LP

 

and

 

the Subsidiaries of Breitburn Energy Partners LP named herein

 

 

 

THIS IS THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN (A) THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF APRIL 8, 2015, AS AMENDED, AMENDED AND RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME AMONG BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION AND BREITBURN OPERATING LP, AS ISSUERS, CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT, (B) THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2014, AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG BREITBURN OPERATING LP, AS BORROWER, BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, AS PARENT GUARANTOR, THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME AND WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, (C) THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH CREDIT AGREEMENT AND (D) THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH INDENTURE.

 

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INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of April 8, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Agreement ”), among WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Original Priority Lien Agent ”), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee and collateral agent for the Second Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee ”), BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Parent Company ”), BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Company (“ Finance Corp ” and together with the Parent Company, the “ Issuers ”), BREITBURN OPERATING LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Company (the “ Borrower ”) and the other direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Parent Company listed on the signature pages hereof or otherwise party hereto from time to time.

 

Reference is made to (a) the Priority Credit Agreement (defined below), and (b) the Indenture (defined below) governing the Indenture Notes (defined below).

 

From time to time following the date hereof, the Parent Company may incur Additional Second Lien Obligations (defined below) to the extent permitted by the Priority Credit Agreement and the Indenture (each as defined below). In connection with the Indenture and any Additional Second Lien Obligations, the Grantors (defined below), the Trustee (defined below) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall enter into a second lien collateral trust agreement or similar intercreditor arrangement as may be agreed to by the Trustee, Second Lien Collateral Trustee and any trustee, agent or other secured parties with respect to such Additional Second Lien Obligations from time to time.

 

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Priority Lien Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties) and the Grantors hereto agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01.          Construction; Certain Defined Terms .

 

(a)           The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall, unless otherwise expressly noted herein, be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as amended, restated, amended and restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented, replaced, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

 

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(b)           All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the New York UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

(c)           Unless otherwise set forth herein, all references herein to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Second Lien Documents.

 

(d)           As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Accepting Holder ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c).

 

Account ” means a deposit account or securities account, as each such term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

 

Additional Second Lien Debt Facility ” means one or more debt facilities, commercial paper facilities or indentures for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, in each case with banks, other lenders or trustees, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes or other borrowings, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that neither the Indenture nor any Second Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Second Lien Documents ” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Second Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Second Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Second Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Additional Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Parent Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “ control ,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ” have correlative meanings.

 

Banking Services ” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Grantor by any lender under the Priority Credit Agreement or any Affiliate of any such lender: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) Treasury Management Arrangement (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Obligations ” means any and all obligations of any Grantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

 

Bankruptcy Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors ” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; (c) with respect to a limited liability company, the manager or managers, or if there are no managers of such limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or managing members thereof, as the case may be; and (d) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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Borrowing Base ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “ Priority Lien Cap .”

 

Business Day ” means any day that is neither a Saturday or Sunday nor a legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in New York.

 

Capital Stock ” means (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Collateral ” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Priority Lien Collateral and/or the Second Lien Collateral.

 

Credit Facilities ” means one or more credit facilities (including, without limitation, the Priority Credit Agreement) meeting the following criteria (the “ Credit Facility Criteria ”):

 

(i)          unless and until a default shall occur under such Credit Facility and commitments to lend thereunder shall have expired or been terminated, the Priority Lien Agent (or, if there is more than one, that one who is primarily responsible for administration of the Credit Facility) shall be a commercial bank, or Affiliate thereof,

 

(ii)         on the date of execution of such Credit Facility, the lenders shall consist of commercial banks, institutional lenders and other similar financial institutions,

 

(iii)        the credit facilities established thereunder shall consist of revolving credit loans, letters of credit and/or term loans, with availability thereunder determined on a basis consistent with the Borrowing Base and Priority Lien Cap (or otherwise expressly limited so as not to exceed clause (a) of the Priority Lien Cap); and

 

(iv)        the contractual rate of interest and any original-issue discount arrangement thereunder (as such terms are used and described in the definition herein of “ Interest Rate Priority Cap ”) shall be consistent with the methodology and limitations described in (or otherwise shall be expressly limited so as not to exceed) the Interest Rate Priority Cap.

 

For avoidance of doubt, any such Credit Facility may be in a single tranche or in multiple tranches, consistent with the foregoing criteria, provided that all such indebtedness (other than DIP Financing) is pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of loans constituting Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, and that cash flows may be distributed in accordance with varying priorities established under so-called “waterfall” provisions, but the principal amount of indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment.  Any such tranche of loans (other than DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing requirement for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the revolving credit loans under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Obligations for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Credit Facility Criteria ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “ Credit Facilities .”

 

Declining Holder ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c).

 

Derivative Contract ” means any agreement with respect to any future, forward, swap, cap or collar, option, hedging, derivative or similar transaction covering oil and gas commodities or prices or financial, monetary or interest rate instruments, including any and all trades and confirmations entered into pursuant thereto.

 

Derivative Obligations ” means obligations of any Grantor to any counterparty under any Derivative Contract.

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(a)          termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(b)          payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(c)          discharge, cash collateralization or the issuance of back-to-back letters of credit from an issuing bank reasonably acceptable to the applicable Priority Lien Secured Party (which such cash collateralization or back-to-back letters of credit shall be in an amount no lower than the lower of (i) 104% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(d)          payment of Derivative Obligations owing or to be owing by any Grantor to any counterparty that are secured by Priority Liens (and, with respect to any particular Derivative Contract, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Priority Lien Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement); and

 

(e)          payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

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provided that , if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, any Grantor enters into any Priority Lien Document evidencing a Priority Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Second Lien Documents, then such Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Priority Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which the Parent Company designates such Indebtedness as Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Priority Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Priority Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement and any Second Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Second Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(b) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Disposition ” shall mean any sale, lease, exchange, assignment, license, contribution, transfer or other disposition. “Dispose” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

Excess Priority Lien Obligations ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (i) the amount of outstanding Priority Lien Principal Obligations in excess of clause (a) of the Priority Lien Cap incurred in contravention of Section 4.04(b) and (ii) the amount of outstanding interest or other amounts of Priority Lien Debt in excess of the Interest Rate Priority Cap, in each case together with all interest and fees accrued on such excess amount.

 

Finance Corp ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Grantor ” means the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower and each other subsidiary of the Parent Company that shall have granted any Lien in favor of either the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests means leasehold and other interests in or under oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases wherever located, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, and production payment interests relating to oil, gas or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons wherever located, including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature.

 

Hydrocarbons ” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

Indenture ” means the Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2015, among the Parent Company, Finance Corp and Borrower, as issuers, the other Grantors party thereto from time to time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Trustee (including any supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Indenture) unless restricted by the terms of this Agreement, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

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Indenture Notes ” means the 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2020 issued under the Indenture, and any additional senior second lien secured notes issued thereunder.

 

Indenture Second Lien Documents ” means the Indenture, the Indenture Notes, the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Indenture Second Lien Obligations ” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Indenture Second Lien Secured Party in respect of the Indenture Second Lien Documents.

 

Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time, the Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Indenture Notes (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of a Series of Second Lien Debt under the Indenture) who maintains the transfer register for such Indenture Notes or such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Indenture Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Indenture Second Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Indenture Second Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Indenture Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit C hereto and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Parent Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding ” means:

 

(a)          any case commenced by or against the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b)          any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

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(c)          any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Parent Company, Finance Corp, the Borrower or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Intercreditor Agreement Joinder ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Interest Rate Priority Cap ” means, as of any date of determination under Section 4.04(a), compliance with the following two criteria:

 

(a) a maximum original-issue discount arrangement (whether in the form of a discount of funds advanced in comparison to the principal amount of loan obligations incurred, or in the form of an upfront fee payable generally to lenders at the time of, and in connection with, the creation or increase of any commitment to lend or the making of loans) not greater than 3.00% of the principal amount of such commitment amount or loan principal amount, in each case as computed on the date of such advance of funds, creation or increase of commitment or making of loans; and

 

(b) contractual rate of interest applicable to the outstanding principal amount of loans (including any amounts drawn under any letters of credit and not yet reimbursed) constituting Priority Lien Debt not to exceed 3.5% per annum above a designated Reference Rate specified in the applicable Priority Credit Agreement, as determined on a Dollar-weighted average basis.

 

For purposes of the foregoing:

 

(i) the two criteria specified above shall be mutually exclusive (meaning that any compensation arrangement included in clause (a) above shall be ignored for purposes of clause (b), and vice-versa );

 

(ii) the Interest Rate Priority Cap shall not apply to (and the phrase “contractual rate of interest” or “original-issue discount arrangement” as used herein shall not include) (A) any indemnity payments (including, without limitation, for interest period “breakage” and increased costs due to changes in law and similar contingencies), costs, expenses or other reimbursements payable to any Secured Party, (B) any increase in the contractual rate of interest (not to exceed 2.00% per annum) arising from or during a breach or other default, (C) any increase in the interest rate arising from an adjustment for regulatory or reserve costs or applicable taxes, or from customary market disruption events relating to the illegality or unavailability of LIBOR-rate loans, (D) fees payable to lenders in respect of unfunded commitments at a rate not exceeding 1.00% per annum, (E) fees payable to lenders in respect of unfunded obligations in respect of letters of credit at a rate not exceeding 3.5% per annum, (F) fees payable to the Administrative Agent or any collateral or other agent(s), letter of credit fees payable to issuers of letters of credit, arrangement fees payable to fewer than all of the lenders, Reciprocal Fee Payments (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, after giving effect to the First Amendment thereto) and such other fees as are included in the computation of the term “Additional First Lien Fee” pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement referenced in the Indenture, (G) other fees dissimilar to those described in this clause (ii) or in clause (a) above, payable from time to time to the lenders and (H) any Derivative Obligations or Banking Services Obligations; and

 

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(iii) “ Reference Rate ” means and refers to a base lending rate, alternative base lending rate or interbank funds rate as specified in such Priority Credit Agreement, in each case substantially identical to the definitions, and with such other adjustments and terms, as are in effect in the Priority Credit Agreement on the date hereof (including, by way of example, “ Base Rate ,” “ LIBOR ” or “ LIBOR Market Index Rate ” as defined and used in the Priority Credit Agreement on the date hereof), with such variations to said definitions (other than variations instituting or changing any “floor” or similar minimum rate of interest in the calculation of such Reference Rate) as may be within prevailing commercial bank market practices for such reference rates at the time of determination.

 

Issuers ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give a security interest therein.

 

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the Grantors taken as a whole, or as to the Parent Company, including any material adverse change in reserve estimates of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Grantors taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Grantor to perform its material obligations under the Secured Debt Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Grantor of any material Secured Debt Document.

 

New York UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all accrued and unpaid interest at the default rate and any interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Priority Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), make-whole amounts, premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any indebtedness.

 

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Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President or any Assistant Vice President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Parent Company by any two of the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer or any vice president of the Parent Company.

 

Oil and Gas Properties ” means Hydrocarbon Interests now owned by the Grantors thereof and contracts executed in connection therewith and all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances, and properties belonging, affixed or incidental to such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned by the Grantors and situated upon or to be situated upon, and used, built for use, or useful in connection with the operating, working or developing of such Hydrocarbon Interests, including any and all petroleum and/or natural gas wells, buildings, structures, field separators, liquid extractors, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, pipelines, tank and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, liters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, taping, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes, and all additions, substitutions, replacements for, and fixtures and attachments to, any and all of the foregoing owned directly or indirectly by the Grantor.

 

Original Priority Lien Agent ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

 

Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto. “ Parent Company ” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.

 

Person ” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

Priority Credit Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2014, among the Borrower as borrower, the Parent Company as parent guarantor, the Original Priority Lien Agent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the other agents named therein as in effect as of the date hereof (including the First Amendment thereto dated the date hereof), as the same may hereafter be amended, restated, amended and restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented, replaced, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including any credit agreement, loan agreement, promissory note, or other instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Facility.

 

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Priority Lien ” means a Lien granted by the Priority Lien Documents to the Priority Lien Agent at any time upon any property of any Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Priority Substitute Facility).

 

Priority Lien Agent ” means the Original Priority Lien Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Priority Lien Cap ” means, as of any date of determination under Section 4.04(b), the sum of:

 

(a)           the Borrowing Base, plus

 

(b)           the amount of all Derivative Obligations, plus ,

 

(c)           the amount of all Banking Services Obligations;

 

provided, that for purposes of the foregoing, “ Borrowing Base ” shall mean, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the most recent determination made under the Priority Credit Agreement (including any Priority Substitute Facility) by the Priority Lien Secured Parties (or such of them as shall be entitled thereunder to make such determination), in their sole discretion and in accordance with their customary policies and procedures for extending credit to oil and gas reserve-based customers, of the maximum amount of Priority Lien Principal Obligations that may be outstanding under and in accordance with such Credit Facilities. Such Borrowing Base determination shall be based upon the loan collateral value assigned to the oil and gas properties of the Grantors and such other credit factors (including the assets. Liabilities, cash flow, business, properties, prospects, management and ownership of the Grantors) that such Priority Lien Secured Parties deem significant. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Second Lien Secured Parties acknowledge and agree that the Priority Lien Principal Obligations outstanding on the date hereof under the Priority Credit Agreement constitute Priority Lien Obligations as of the date hereof, (ii) the “Borrowing Base” determination as of April 1, 2015, and application of the “October 1, 2015 Borrowing Base Floor” to such determination as of October 1, 2015, in each case as such terms are defined in, and as such determinations are made pursuant to Section 2.05(a) of, the Priority Credit Agreement (as amended on the date hereof by the First Amendment thereto) shall each be deemed to be in accordance with the foregoing criteria and to be compliant with the Priority Lien Cap and (iii) the calculation of “ Priority Lien Cap ” represents an incurrence-only determination under Section 4.04(b) with respect to Priority Lien Principal Obligations (including without limitation any increases or refinancings (by Replacement) of the amount thereof) and does not otherwise apply to Priority Lien Obligations that may be outstanding from time to time.

 

Priority Lien Collateral ” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Priority Lien Obligation.

 

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Priority Lien Credit Obligations ” means all Priority Lien Obligations other than those Derivative Obligations and Banking Services Obligations as are secured by Priority Liens.

 

Priority Lien Debt ” means Priority Lien Obligations other than the Derivative Obligations and Banking Services Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Documents ” means the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Priority Substitute Facility.

 

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the obligations under the Priority Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, Derivative Obligations and Banking Services Obligations and obligations for accrued and unpaid interest at the default rate of interest and post-petition interest, as applicable, as provided in the Priority Credit Agreement) that was permitted to be incurred and secured under or in accordance with the Priority Credit Agreement and additional or Replacement indebtedness under any Priority Substitute Facility, in each case, other than Excess Priority Lien Obligations. For avoidance of doubt, the Priority Lien Obligations may be in a single tranche or in multiple tranches, provided that all such indebtedness (other than DIP Financing) is pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of loans constituting Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, and that cash flows may be distributed in accordance with varying priorities established under so-called “waterfall” provisions, but the principal amount of indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment.  Any such tranche of loans (other than DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing requirement for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the revolving credit loans under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Obligations for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Principal Obligations ” means, at any time of determination, the aggregate of that part of the Priority Lien Obligations consisting of (i) unpaid principal of the loans outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents (including any amounts drawn under any letters of credit ant not yet reimbursed) together with (ii) the undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit under the Priority Lien Documents (such undrawn amount being the face amount thereof, less amounts drawn thereunder, whether or not the remaining balance is then available to be drawn thereunder).

 

Priority Lien Secured Parties ” means, at any time:

 

(a)          the Priority Lien Agent, each lender, issuing bank or swing line lender under the Priority Credit Agreement,

 

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(b)          each counterparty, holder, provider or obligee of any Derivative Obligations and Banking Services Obligations that, in the case of this clause (b), is or was a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement (or under the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement)) at the time of entering into the applicable Derivative Contract (or, in the case of Derivative Contracts listed on Schedule 6.21 of the Priority Credit Agreement as of the date hereof, was a lender under the QR Energy Credit Agreement (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) at time of entering into such Derivative Contract) or Bank Services Agreement with respect thereto or an Affiliate (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) thereof and is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Priority Lien Document,

 

(c)          the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Priority Lien Document, and

 

(d)          each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto, or is a holder or obligee of loans, under any Priority Lien Document under a Priority Substitute Facility, or that is a holder or obligee in respect of any Derivative Obligation or Banking Services Obligation (either as described in (b) above or if such holder or obligee is a lender or Affiliate thereof under such Priority Substitute Facility at the time of entering into such Derivative Contract or agreement relating to such Banking Services Obligation), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Priority Lien Document outstanding at such time.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents ” means the Priority Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit C hereto, and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by the Parent Company or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Priority Substitute Facility).

 

Priority Substitute Facility ” means either (i) any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied or (ii) any DIP Financing with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.02(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, that, in each case Replaces the Priority Credit Agreement then in existence; provided that any Priority Lien securing such Priority Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the Lien priorities as set forth herein).

 

Purchaser Representative ” means (a) initially the Trustee or (b) such other Person that is unanimously appointed from time to time by the Second Lien Representatives to replace the Trustee (or any subsequent Purchaser Representative) pursuant to a written notice to the Priority Lien Agent.

 

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Replaces ” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Priority Credit Agreement or the Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Substitute Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04 or Section 4.02(b) and satisfies the Credit Facility Criteria) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement or such Priority Substitute Facility, in part, and (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(b) or Section 4.04(c)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Documents or such Second Lien Substitute Facility, in part. “ Replace ,” “ Replaced ” and “ Replacement ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Second Lien ” means a Lien granted by a Second Lien Document to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Second Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Second Lien Collateral ” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Second Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Second Lien Obligations. “ Second Lien Collateral Trustee ” means the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity

 

Second Lien Debt ” means the indebtedness under the Indenture Notes and all additional indebtedness incurred under any Additional Second Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been satisfied, and all indebtedness incurred under any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Second Lien Documents ” means the Indenture Second Lien Documents and the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

Second Lien Obligations ” means Second Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Second Lien Representative ” means (a) in the case of the Indenture Notes, the Trustee, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Second Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Second Lien Debt who is appointed as a Second Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Second Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Second Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Second Lien Secured Parties ” means the Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Second Lien Security Documents ” means the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

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Second Lien Substitute Facility ” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Indenture and/or any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the avoidance of doubt, no Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the Lien priority as set forth herein) as the other Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations are subject to under this Agreement.

 

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Secured Debt Representative ” means the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent.

 

Secured Obligations ” means, the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations.

 

Secured Parties ” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Security Documents ” means the Priority Lien Security Documents and the Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Series of Second Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Indenture Notes and each other issue or series of Second Lien Debt (including any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Secured Debt ” means the Priority Lien Obligations and each Series of Second Lien Debt.

 

Standstill Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02.

 

subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (b) any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (x) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person, or (y) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (i) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (ii) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

 

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Treasury Management Arrangement ” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

Trustee ” means the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Article II
LIEN PRIORITIES

 

SECTION 2.01.          Relative Priorities .

 

(a)           The grant of the Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents and the grant of the Second Liens pursuant to the Second Lien Documents create two separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents, or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, or any other circumstance whatsoever and irrespective of (i) the timing of incurrence of any Series of Secured Debt, (ii) the order or method of creation, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Secured Debt, (iii) the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral, (iv) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral, (v) that any Priority Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien, and (vi) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, hereby agrees that (x) any Priority Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Priority Lien Secured Party to secure Priority Lien Obligations shall be senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Second Liens on any Collateral, and (y) any Second Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all such Priority Liens on any Collateral, in any case, subject to and up to the Priority Lien Cap as provided herein.

 

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(c)           It is acknowledged that, subject to the Priority Lien Cap (as provided in Section 4.04(b) herein), (i) the aggregate amount of the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the subordination of the Second Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties. The Lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Second Lien Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Priority Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any Priority Lien Obligations or by any action that any Secured Debt Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

 

SECTION 2.02.          Prohibition on Contesting Liens . Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of each Priority Lien Secured Party, agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), (a) the validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document or any Obligation thereunder, (b) the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens, mortgages, assignments and security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents with respect to the Priority Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations or (c) the relative rights and duties of the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties granted and/or established in this Agreement or any other Security Document with respect to such Liens, mortgages, assignments, and security interests; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to enforce this Agreement, including the Priority Lien Agent’s or Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s right to enforce the priority of the Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations as provided in Section 2.01 hereof.

 

SECTION 2.03.          No New Liens . The parties hereto agree that, so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (a) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants, a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens or (b) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure any Priority Lien Obligations, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants, a Lien on such asset of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the Second Lien Obligations, and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens, with each such Lien to be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, that any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 2.03 shall be subject to Section 3.05(b).

 

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SECTION 2.04.          Similar Collateral and Agreements . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Priority Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the specific assets included in the Priority Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Priority Liens and the Second Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations, respectively, (b) that, except as may be agreed by the Priority Lien Agent concurrent with the execution of this Agreement with respect to Second Lien Documents or otherwise from time to time by the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such other modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents and (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and/or the Trustee, and (c) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations.

 

SECTION 2.05.          No Duties of Priority Lien Agent . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Second Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Priority Lien Documents, without regard to any Second Lien or any rights to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Second Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Second Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Second Lien Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such other Second Lien Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, Disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties. Each of the Second Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Second Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Priority Lien Obligations.

 

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Article III
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

 

SECTION 3.01.          Limitation on Enforcement Action . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section 3.02, 3.05(b) and 4.07, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Priority Lien Agent, acting in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right, prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent will have the exclusive right to deal with that portion of the Collateral consisting of deposit accounts and securities accounts (collectively “ Accounts ”), including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document or any other Second Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement (other than Section 3.02 below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may, but will have no obligation to, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Second Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Second Liens in the Collateral.

 

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SECTION 3.02.          Standstill Period; Permitted Enforcement Action . Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 3.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (x) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (y) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent written notice of the acceleration of the Second Lien Debt (the “ Standstill Period ”), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Standstill Period or anything in the Second Lien Documents to the contrary, in no event may the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to all or any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Second Lien Representatives by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee); provided, further , that, at any time after the expiration of the Standstill Period, if neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, neither any Priority Lien Secured Party nor the Priority Lien Agent shall take any action of a similar nature (other than a joinder in connection with such action or proceeding as may reasonably be considered necessary to preserve the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties therein) with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding.

 

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SECTION 3.03.          Insurance . Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral. Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Collateral shall be paid to the Priority Lien Agent pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents (including for purposes of cash collateralization of commitments, letters of credit and Derivative Obligations that are secured by Priority Liens) and, after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to the extent required under the Second Lien Documents and then, to the extent no Second Lien Obligations are outstanding, to the owner of the subject property, to such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. If the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party shall, at any time, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall pay such proceeds over to the Priority Lien Agent. In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and any such Second Lien Secured Party shall follow the instructions of the Priority Lien Agent, or of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents to the extent the Priority Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Standstill Period).

 

SECTION 3.04.          Notification of Release of Collateral . Each of the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall give the other prompt written notice of the Disposition by it of, and Release by it of the Lien on, any Collateral. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the subject Collateral, the parties involved in such Disposition or Release, the place, time manner and method thereof, and the consideration, if any, received therefor; provided, however , that the failure to give any such notice shall not in and of itself in any way impair the effectiveness of any such Disposition or Release; provided, further, in the event of a Release, no such notice shall be required to the extent any such Release occurs automatically and without any further action by the First Priority Agent or Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Documents.

 

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SECTION 3.05.          No Interference; Payment Over .

 

(a)           No Interference . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Second Lien Secured Party (i) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Second Lien pari passu with, or to give such Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof (other than with respect to any Excess Priority Lien Obligations or any part thereof), (ii) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (iii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent acting on their behalf, (iv) shall have no right to (A) direct the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (B) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (v) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral, (vi) will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshalled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (vii) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (viii) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, and (ix) will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

 

(b)           Payment Over . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if it shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to any Second Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or through any other exercise of remedies, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Priority Lien Agent reasonably promptly after obtaining written notice from the Priority Lien Secured Parties that it has possession of such Collateral or proceeds or payments in respect thereof. Furthermore, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Priority Lien Agent upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment and if directed by the Priority Lien Agent within five (5) days after receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Priority Lien Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Priority Lien Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Priority Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Priority Lien Collateral and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. All Second Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Priority Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents.

 

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SECTION 3.06.          Purchase Option .

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, on or at any time after (i) the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (ii) the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations, or (iii) the acceleration of the Second Lien Obligations, the holders of the Second Lien Obligations and each of their respective designated Affiliates (the “ Purchasers ”) will have the right, at their sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time upon prior written notice to the Priority Lien Agent, to purchase from the Priority Lien Secured Parties all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) that are outstanding on the date of such purchase. Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the Priority Lien Agent will deliver to the Purchaser Representative a statement of the amount of the Priority Lien Obligations then outstanding and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.06(b)(ii) below. The right to purchase provided for in this Section 3.06 will expire unless, within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Purchaser Representative of such notice from the Priority Lien Agent, the Purchaser Representative delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an irrevocable commitment of the Purchasers to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and to otherwise complete such purchase on the terms set forth under this Section 3.06.

 

(b)           On the date specified by the Purchaser Representative (on behalf of the Purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days nor more than 20 Business Days, after the receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such irrevocable commitment), the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall sell to the Purchasers all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Credit Obligations (including unfunded commitments) that are outstanding on the date of such sale, subject to any required approval of any Governmental Authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the Priority Lien Agent receives the following:

 

(i)           payment, as the purchase price for all Priority Lien Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of all Priority Lien Obligations (other than outstanding letters of credit) then outstanding (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that in the case of Derivative Obligations that are secured by Priority Liens the Purchasers shall cause the applicable Derivative Contract to be assigned and novated or, if such Derivative Contract have been terminated, such purchase price shall include an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid amounts then due in respect of such Derivative Contract, calculated using the market quotation method and after giving effect to any netting arrangements;

 

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(ii)          a cash collateral deposit or back-to-back letter of credit from an issuing bank reasonably acceptable to the Priority Lien Agent (which such cash collateralization or back-to-back letters of credit shall be in such amount as the Priority Lien Agent determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred four percent (104%) of the amount then reasonably estimated by the Priority Lien Agent to be the aggregate outstanding amount of such letters of credit at such time), which cash collateral or back-to-back letter of credit shall be (A) held by the Priority Lien Agent as security solely to reimburse the issuers of such letters of credit that become due and payable after such sale and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such letters of credit and (B) returned to the Purchaser Representative (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other Governmental Authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such letters of credit; and

 

(iii)         any agreements, documents or instruments which the Priority Lien Agent may reasonably request pursuant to which the Purchaser Representative and the Purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents on and after the date of the purchase and sale and the Purchaser Representative (or any other representative appointed by the Purchaser(s) holding a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Obligations held by Purchasers then outstanding) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

 

(c)           Such purchase of the Priority Lien Obligations shall be made on a pro rata basis among the holders of Second Lien Obligations (and their respective designated Affiliates) giving notice by the time required by the Second Lien Collateral Agent to the Priority Lien Agent and Second Lien Collateral Agent of their interest to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to each such holder’s portion of the Second Lien Obligations outstanding on the date of purchase (any holder of Second Lien Obligations giving such notice, an “ Accepting Holder ” and any holder of Second Lien Obligations not giving such notice, a “ Declining Second Lien Holder ”); provided, however , Accepting Holders shall have the right to purchase any amounts not purchased by the Declining Second Lien Holders in such amounts and in such proportions as the Second Lien Collateral Agent (at the written direction of holders of at least 50.1% of the outstanding principal amount of the Second Lien Debt) shall select. Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the Priority Lien Agent as the Priority Lien Agent may designate in writing to the Purchaser Representative for such purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Purchaser Representative and holders of the Second Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Purchaser Representative and holders of the Second Lien Obligations to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

 

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(d)           Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Secured Parties as to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to any Priority Lien Secured Party, except that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall represent and warrant severally as to the Priority Lien Obligations then owing to it: (i) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party own such Priority Lien Obligations; and (ii) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party has the necessary corporate or other governing authority to assign such interests.

 

(e)           After such sale becomes effective, the outstanding letters of credit, will remain enforceable against the issuers thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect immediately prior to the exercise of the purchase option under this Section 3.06, and the issuers of letters of credit will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect immediately prior to the exercise of the purchase option under this Section 3.06, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Obligations had not been made, but only the Person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such Person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens.

 

Article IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

SECTION 4.01.          Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens; Supplemental Liens .

 

(a)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Priority Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, the Second Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) such release is effected in connection with the Priority Lien Agent’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral (including by way of a Disposition of all of the Capital Stock of the relevant Grantor owning such Collateral), (ii) such release is permitted under Section 4.10 of the Indenture (or any similar provision of any other Second Lien Documents) or (iii) such release is being made in connection with the expiration of the rights of the respective Grantor under an oil and/or gas lease in the ordinary course of business; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (i)-(iii) above, the Second Liens on such Collateral shall remain in place (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with this Agreement) with respect to any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral not paid to the Priority Lien Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of release of Priority Liens by the Priority Lien Secured Parties on all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than when such release occurs in connection with the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Collateral), no release of the Second Lien on such Collateral shall be made unless (A) consent to the release of such Second Liens has been given by the requisite percentage or number of the Second Lien Secured Parties at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Second Lien Documents and (B) the Parent Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee certifying that all such consents have been obtained.

 

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(b)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Priority Lien Agent to evidence and confirm any release of Collateral provided for in this Section 4.01.

 

(c)           If at any time the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, or holders of at least 50.1% of the principal amount of Second Lien Debt outstanding, shall determine that additional Collateral is required to be delivered under the Second Lien Documents to secure the obligations owing to the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such holders may inform the Priority Lien Agent of such determination and request that the Priority Lien Agent negotiate and obtain such additional Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with this Agreement; provided , that if the Priority Lien Agent shall not have obtained such additional Collateral within 60 days following receipt of such request, or prior to expiry of such 60-day period shall have informed the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such holders (as the case may be) that it has elected to not pursue obtaining such additional Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such holders may take actions directly to acquire such Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.02.          Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings .

 

(a)           This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Borrower or any subsidiary of the Parent Company.

 

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(b)           If the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of financing (“ DIP Financing ”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “ DIP Lenders ”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Second Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Collateral securing the same (“ DIP Financing Liens ”), or to any use of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral, (ii) such DIP Financing Liens are neither senior to, nor rank pari passu with, the Priority Liens upon any property of the estate in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or (iii) the maximum principal amount of indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (x) the amount of Priority Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (y) the greater of (A) $150,000,000 and (B) 15% of the amount of the Priority Lien Principal Obligations outstanding at the time of such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Priority Liens, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Second Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(c)           Without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing, if the effect of such DIP Financing would be that the Second Lien Obligations would no longer be subordinated to the Priority Lien Obligations in the manner set forth in this Agreement, or the Second Lien Secured Parties would recover any payments they are not otherwise entitled to under this Agreement, including by way of adequate protection.

 

(d)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and all Priority Liens and Second Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(f)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Priority Lien Agent or Priority Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the Second Lien Secured Parties may:

 

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(i)           freely seek and obtain relief granting a Second Lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties;

 

(ii)          freely seek and obtain relief granting a superpriority claim co-extensive in all respects with (but junior to) any such claims granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to or for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties and relating to the Collateral, provided , that any payments or proceeds in respect of such superpriority claim shall be considered proceeds of Collateral for purposes of Section 3.05(b); and

 

(iii)         freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

(g)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Second Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any such other Second Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(h)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall support or vote for any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of the Parent Company or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the class of Priority Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest, fees and expenses) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, or (ii) such plan provides on account of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for the retention by the Priority Lien Agent, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations, and on all proceeds thereof, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are only on property securing the Priority Lien Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Collateral or other property, respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral, and to the extent such plan provides for deferred cash payments, or for the distribution of any other property of any kind or nature, on account of the Priority Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations, such plan provides that any such deferred cash payments or other distributions in respect of the Second Lien Obligations shall be delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and distributed in accordance with the priorities provided in this Agreement. Except as provided herein, the Second Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

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(i)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any Second Lien Secured Party shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent.

 

(j)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Priority Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Priority Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Second Liens on the Collateral). Neither Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens on the Collateral; provided that if the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have made any such claim, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party.

 

(k)           So long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, without the express written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Priority Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Priority Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(l)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive with respect to, or allocable to, the value of the assets constituting Collateral subject to an enforceable Lien in favor of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any proceeds thereof shall (for so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred) be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations occurs, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Priority Lien Agent, and any officer or agent of the Priority Lien Agent, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(1) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Priority Lien Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(1), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

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SECTION 4.03.          Reinstatement . If any Priority Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “ Recovery ”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Priority Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Priority Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it receives notice of any Recovery, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such other Second Lien Secured Party shall promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any Collateral subject to any Priority Lien securing such Priority Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Priority Lien then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement. Any amounts received by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Second Lien Obligations after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03, be held in trust for and paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Priority Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof. This Section 4.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.04.          Amendments, Refinancings and Additional Debt .

 

(a)           The Priority Credit Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or Replaced by any Priority Substitute Facility without notice to, or the consent of, any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof, subject to compliance with the Interest Rate Priority Cap and such of the other Credit Facility Criteria as may then be applicable (excluding, by way of example and without limitation, any requirement to evaluate whether then-outstanding Priority Lien Principal Obligations are in accordance with the Priority Lien Cap as then in effect, which shall not be required except and to the extent so provided in Section 4.04(b) below) as of the date of such amendment, modification, supplement or Replacement; provided, however , that as between the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Grantors, this Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed consent by any Second Lien Secured Party to the incurrence by any Grantor of obligations or indebtedness that are not permitted under the applicable Second Lien Documents.

 

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(b)           The outstanding Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations may be increased in accordance with the respective terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, or Replaced by any Priority Substitute Facility or Second Lien Substitute Facility in accordance with the respective terms of the respective Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents under which such increase is being made or which is being Replaced, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided , that:

 

(i) in the case only of a Replacement of the Priority Credit Agreement, any Priority Substitute Facility, the Indenture or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent shall receive on or prior to the first incurrence of Secured Debt under such Replacement Priority Substitute Facility or Second Lien Substitute Facility (y) an Officers’ Certificate from the Parent Company stating that (A) such incurrence is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document then outstanding, or to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the Replacement under any Secured Debt Document the Grantors have obtained the requisite consent, and (B) the requirements of Section 4.06 have been satisfied, and (z) a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of any indebtedness that Replaces the Priority Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf),

 

(ii) in the case of an increase in the aggregate outstanding Priority Lien Principal Obligations (whether or not arising from a Replacement), such aggregate outstanding amount (after giving effect to such increase), shall not exceed clause (a) of the Priority Lien Cap as of such date of incurrence, and

 

(iii) in the case only of a Priority Substitute Facility or Second Lien Substitute Facility (whether additional to or as a Replacement of any theretofore-outstanding Secured Obligations), on or before the date of the first incurrence of Secured Debt thereunder, such Priority Substitute Facility or Second Lien Substitute Facility is designated by the Parent Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Obligations” or “Second Lien Obligations”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Priority Lien Obligations and Second Lien Obligations.

 

(c)           Each of the then-existing Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to such Replacement, it being understood that the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, without the consent of any other Secured Party, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement, all at the expense of the Grantors. Upon the consummation of such Replacement and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

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(d)           The Parent Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Second Lien Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Second Lien Debt incurred by either or both such Issuers and/or Borrower after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Secured Debt Documents. The Parent Company may effect such designation by delivering to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent, each of the following:

 

(i)           an Officers’ Certificate stating that either or both such Issuers and/or Borrower intends to incur Additional Second Lien Obligations which will be Second Lien Debt permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document to be incurred and secured by a Second Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Second Lien Debt; and

 

(ii)          an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional Second Lien Obligations must be designated as an additional holder of Secured Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional Second Lien Obligations a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow any Grantor to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Debt Document. Promptly following the recordation or filing thereof, the Parent Company shall deliver to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent copies of all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by the Parent Company and the holder of such Additional Second Lien Obligations, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Second Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Second Lien Security Documents.

 

SECTION 4.05.          Amendments . Without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, no Second Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Second Lien Document, would contravene the provisions of this Agreement. Without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, no Priority Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Priority Lien Document, would contravene the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.06.          Legends . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (a) the Indenture and the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents, and (b) the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents, that the Indenture, the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (if any) and the Second Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) and each associated Security Document (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex I.

 

SECTION 4.07.          Second Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor . Both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the Second Lien Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims, including, without limitation, the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against any Grantor in accordance with applicable law; provided , that the Second Lien Secured Parties may not take any of the actions prohibited by Section 3.05(a) or Section 4.02; provided, further , that in the event that any of the Second Lien Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Priority Lien Obligations) as the Second Liens are subject to this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.08.          Postponement of Subrogation . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that no payment or distribution to any Priority Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Second Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03, each Priority Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Second Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Priority Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Priority Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Priority Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

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Article V
Gratuitous Bailment for Perfection of Certain Security Interests

 

SECTION 5.01.          General . The Priority Lien Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Priority Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Agent will serve as gratuitous bailee for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Second Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral. It is agreed that the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Priority Lien Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Second Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or other Second Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Second Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Second Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such account by the Priority Lien Agent. The Priority Lien Agent acting pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not have by reason of the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party. Subject to Section 4.03, from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such account (in each case to the extent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral or account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

SECTION 5.02.          Accounts . To the extent that any Account is at any time under the control of the Priority Lien Agent (within the meaning of the term “control” as relates to Accounts under Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) as part of the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent will act as gratuitous bailee for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Second Lien Secured Parties in such Accounts and the financial assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Second Lien Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section). Unless the Second Liens on such Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall, at the request of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, cooperate with the Grantors and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any Accounts to be transferred to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (or for other arrangements with respect to such Accounts satisfactory to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to be made).

 

Article VI
Application of Payments; Determination of Amounts

 

SECTION 6.01.          Application of Payments . All payments received by the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to such part of the Priority Lien Obligations as the Priority Lien Secured Parties, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, subject to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents.

 

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SECTION 6.02.          Determination of Amounts . Whenever a Secured Debt Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Priority Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Obligations) or Second Lien Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Secured Debt Representative and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however , that if a Secured Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Secured Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Parent Company. Each Secured Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Parent Company or any of its subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

 

Article VII
No Reliance; No Liability; Obligations Absolute; Consent of Grantors; Etc.

 

SECTION 7.01.          No Reliance; Information . The Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any Second Lien Secured Party or to any Priority Lien Secured Party, respectively, any information relating to the Parent Company or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of any of the Priority Lien Obligations or the Second Priority Obligations, as the case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates. In the event any Priority Lien Secured Party or any Second Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to, respectively, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Priority Lien Secured Party, it shall be under no obligation (i) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (ii) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (iii) to undertake any investigation.

 

SECTION 7.02.          No Warranties or Liability . The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

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(a)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party, and the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party, to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Priority Lien Document and any Second Lien Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

(b)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf each other Second Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or such Priority Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Priority Lien Obligations in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents.

 

SECTION 7.03.          Obligations Absolute . The Lien priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)           any lack of validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(b)           any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Priority Lien Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of Indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

 

(c)           any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(d)           the securing of any Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations;

 

(e)           the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Parent Company or any other Grantor; or

 

(f)           any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Parent Company or any other Grantor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations or this Agreement, or any of the Second Lien Secured Parties in respect of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 7.04.          Grantors Consent . Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

 

Article VIII
Representations and Warranties

 

SECTION 8.01.          Representations and Warranties of Each Party . Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)           Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)           This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

(c)           The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

 

SECTION 8.02.          Representations and Warranties of Each Representative . Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Second Lien Documents and the Priority Credit Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

 

Article IX
Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01.          Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(a)           if to the Original Priority Lien Agent, to it at 1525 W. WT Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262, Attn: Manager, Agency Department, Telephone: (704) 590-2760, Facsimile: (704) 590-2790; with a copy to 1000 Louisiana Street, 9th Floor, MAC T5002-031, Houston, Texas 77002, Attn: Energy Division, Telephone: (713) 319-1350, Facsimile: (713) 739-1087;

 

(b)           if to the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to it at: 950 17 th Street – 12 th Floor, Denver, CO 80202, Attention: Corporate Trust, Facsimile: (303) 585-6865, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Richard Aftanas, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (Fax: 212-446-4900) and John Pitts, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 3300, Houston, TX 77002 (Fax: 713-835-3601);

 

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(c)           if to the Parent Company, to it at: 515 S. Flower Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attn: Chief Financial Officer, Telephone: (213) 225-5900, Facsimile: (213) 225-5916;

 

(d)           if to any other Grantor, to it in care of the Parent Company as provided in clause (c) above; and

 

(e)           and if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (and for this purpose a notice to the Parent Company shall be deemed to be a notice to each Grantor). All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a Business Day) and on the next Business Day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01. As agreed to in writing among the Parent Company, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Priority Lien Agent from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable Person provided from time to time by such Person.

 

SECTION 9.02.          Waivers; Amendment .

 

(a)           No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

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(b)           Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Secured Debt Representative and the Grantors; provided, however , that this Agreement may be amended from time to time (x) at the sole written request and expense of the Parent Company, as provided in Section 4.04 with respect to a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder and the designation of “Priority Lien Obligations” and “Second Lien Debt”, (y) at the sole written request and expense of the Parent Company, and without the consent of any Second Lien Representative, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Obligations and add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness to this Agreement and to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the obligations under the Priority Credit Agreement or any Priority Substitute Facility, in each case, as long as such Priority Lien Obligation is permitted to be incurred under Section 4.04(a) and (b) hereof and under each applicable Secured Debt Document ( provided that the Parent Company shall deliver to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Indebtedness is permitted by each applicable Priority Lien Document and Second Lien Document and that with respect to any amendments or modifications to this Agreement pursuant to this clause (y), such amendments or modifications do not adversely affect the rights or obligations under this Agreement of any of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties) and (z) at the sole written request and expense of the Grantors, and without the consent of either Secured Debt Representative, to add, pursuant to an Intercreditor Agreement Joinder, additional Grantors whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Secured Debt Representative as permitted by the proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Secured Debt Representative for its review at least 5 Business Days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be “bound” by any amendment, modification, or waiver of this Agreement that adversely affects its or any other Second Lien Secured Party’s obligations, rights and protections without its written consent.

 

SECTION 9.03.          Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance .

 

(a)           If any Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Secured Debt Representative (or any Secured Party represented by such Secured Debt Representative) against whose rights such action or proceeding shall have been taken (the “ Aggrieved Secured Party ”), may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any such Aggrieved Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

(b)           Should any Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Aggrieved Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor (with the prior written consent of the Aggrieved Secured Party) (i) may obtain relief against such Secured Party’s action by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each Secured Party Representative (on behalf of the respective Secured Parties) that (x) the Aggrieved Secured Parties’ damages from such actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (y) each Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Aggrieved Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (ii) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.04.          Parties in Interest . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.05.          Survival of Agreement . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.06.          Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.07.          Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

SECTION 9.08.          Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

 

(a)           THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. The foregoing shall not affect any right that any party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to enforcement of the Collateral in the courts of any jurisdiction where the Collateral may be located.

 

(c)           Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(d)           Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 9.09.          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 9.10.          Headings . Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.11.          Conflicts . Subject to Section 9.12, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

SECTION 9.12.          Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights . The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, on the one hand, and the Second Lien Secured Parties, on the other hand. None of the Issuers, Borrower, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights (including any rights to assert a conflict or inconsistency referenced in Section 9.11) or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement ( provided that nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Priority Credit Agreement or the Indenture), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement no Grantor may rely on the terms hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of any Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Secured Debt Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting pursuant to this Agreement, any Priority Lien Document or any Second Lien Document with respect to any Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Priority Lien Document or any Priority Lien Document.

 

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SECTION 9.13.          Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee . The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Second Lien Documents; and in so doing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Indenture (including without limitation Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 7.07 thereof), and the Second Lien Documents.

 

SECTION 9.14.          Certain Terms Concerning Priority Lien Agent and Second Lien Collateral Trustee . Neither the Priority Lien Agent nor the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. Neither the Priority Lien Agent nor the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or the Grantors) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, is acting in good faith. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity. The Priority Lien Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party.

 

SECTION 9.15.          Authorization of Secured Agents . By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents, each Priority Lien Secured Party authorizes the Priority Lien Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Second Lien Security Documents, each Second Lien Secured Party authorizes the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.

 

SECTION 9.16.          Further Assurances .

 

(a)           Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Party, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

 

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(b)           Without in any way altering, minimizing or otherwise failing to give the fullest effect under applicable law to the waivers and limitations of rights, and disclaimers and limitations of obligations or duties, herein provided (however characterized), the parties agree that, except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein, if and to the extent that any Secured Party shall owe any duty or obligation to any other Secured Party hereunder the provisions of this Agreement are not intended to excuse such Secured Party from its gross negligence or wilful misconduct in the performance of such duty or obligation.

 

SECTION 9.17.          Relationship of Secured Parties . Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Secured Parties. None of the Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Priority Lien Obligations or the Second Lien Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Priority Lien Documents or the Second Lien Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Secured Party in connection therewith. Each Secured Party has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor Second Lien Collateral Trustee makes any warranty or representation to the other Secured Debt Representative or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agent or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
  as Priority Lien Agent
   
  By /S/ Michael Real
  Name: Michael Real
  Title: Director

 

Signature Page to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

  U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,
  as Second Lien Collateral Trustee
   
  By /S/ Kathleen Connnelly
  Name: Kathleen Connelly
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

 

  Grantors :
   
  BREITBURN OPERATING LP
   
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
   
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
  BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
   
  By: BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP , its sole member
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

  BREITBURN FLORIDA LLC
  BREITBURN OKLAHOMA LLC
  BREITBURN SAWTELLE LLC (formerly Breitburn Fulton LLC)
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO LP LLC
   
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its sole member
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  TRANSPETCO PIPELINE COMPANY, L.P.
   
  By: BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC , its general partner
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its sole member
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its general partner
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

 

  BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION
  BEAVER CREEK PIPELINE, L.L.C.
  ALAMITOS COMPANY
  PHOENIX PRODUCTION COMPANY
  GTG PIPELINE LLC
  MERCURY MICHIGAN COMPANY, LLC
  TERRA ENERGY COMPANY LLC
  TERRA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson  
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  QR ENERGY, LP
  By: QRE GP, LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  QRE GP, LLC
  By: BREITBURN GP LLC , its manager
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
   
  QRE OPERATING, LLC
  By: QR ENERGY, LP , its sole member
  By: QRE GP, LLC , its general partner
   
  By /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

ANNEX I
Provision for the Indenture, the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility
and the Second Lien Documents

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to therein; U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein); Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Operating LP, and the other subsidiaries of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, named therein from time to time (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each holder of the [Indenture Notes][notes issued under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility], by its acceptance of [the Indenture Notes][the notes issued under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Borrowers and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Provision for the Indenture, Second Lien Security Documents, and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015, among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to therein; U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein); Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Operating LP, and the other subsidiaries of Breitburn Energy Partners LP, named therein from time to time (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”). Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

Annex I to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

EXHIBIT A
to Intercreditor Agreement

 

[FORM OF]
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT JOINDER

 

The undersigned, _________________, a _______________, hereby agrees to become party as a [Grantor] under the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of April 8, 2015 (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) among Breitburn Energy Partners LP, Breitburn Finance Corporation, Breitburn Operating LP, and the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as agent under the Priority Credit Agreement (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

The provisions of Article 9 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Agreement Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of ______________, 20____.

 

[_____________________]

 

  By:    
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

Exhibit A to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

EXHIBIT B
to Intercreditor Agreement

 

[FORM OF]
LIEN SHARING AND PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”) among WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Agent for the priority Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), U.S. Bank National Association , as Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Parent Company ”), BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Company (“ Finance Corp ” and together with the Parent Company, the “ Issuers ”), and BREITBURN OPERATING LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Company (the “ Borrower ”) and the other direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Parent Company party hereto from time to time.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. This Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being Additional Second Lien Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

1.           Joinder . The undersigned, [_______________], a [_______________], (the “ New Representative ”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [ described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the Additional Second Lien Obligations ] hereby:

 

(a)          represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Priority Lien Secured Parties under a Priority Substitute Facility][Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Substitute Facility][Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] as [a Priority Lien Agent under a Priority Substitute Facility] [a Second Lien Collateral Trustee under a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [a Secured Debt Representative] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

 

(b)          agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

 

Exhibit B to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

[Address];

 

2.           Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation .

 

[ Option A: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes Priority Debt ] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each Priority Lien Secured Party for which the undersigned is acting as [ Administrative Agent ] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Priority Lien Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens. [or]

 

[ Option B: to be used if Additional Debt constitutes a Series of Second Lien Debt ] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt [that constitutes Second Lien Substitute Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Secured Debt Representative][Second Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Debt under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)          all Second Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Second Liens at any time granted by the Borrowers or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Second Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Second Lien Debt, and that all such Second Liens will be enforceable by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Second Lien Debt for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b) the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [ Secured Debt Representative ] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and Second Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens and Second Liens; and

 

(c)          the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [ Secured Debt Representative ] appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

3.           Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Exhibit B to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of [______________, 20____].

 

  [insert name of New Representative]
   
  By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

The Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder and agrees to act as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:

 

  ,
  as Second Lien Collateral Trustee
   
  By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

The Priority Lien Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder and agrees to act as Priority Lien Agent for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:

 

  ,
  as Priority Lien Agent
   
  By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit B to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

EXHIBIT C
to Intercreditor Agreement

 

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

PART A.

 

List of Priority Lien Security Documents

 

1. Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of November 19, 2014, by and among the Borrower, the Parent Company and the other Debtors (as defined therein) and the Priority Lien Agent and all related financing statements filed in connection therewith.

 

2. Omnibus Acknowledgement of Pledge dated as of November 19, 2014, executed by each Company (as defined therein) and the Priority Lien Agent.

 

3. Amended and Restated Acknowledgment of Pledge dated as of November 19, 2014, executed by Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P., Breitburn Transpetco GP LLC, Breitburn Transpetco LP LLC and Borrower and the Priority Lien Agent.

 

4. Stock Certificates and executed stock powers:

 

(a) Irrevocable Stock Power and Stock Certificate for Phoenix Production Company (Certificate No. 6 for 2,500 Units).

 

(b) Irrevocable Stock Power and Stock Certificate for Alamitos Company (Certificate No. 11 for 1,110 Units).

 

(c) Irrevocable Membership Interest Power and Certificate Evidencing Common Units Representing Limited Liability Company Interests for QRE Operating, LLC (Certificate No. 1 for 1000 Units).

 

Mortgage Instruments

 

Each mortgage set forth below, and all supplements, assignments, amendments and restatements thereto (or any agreement in substitution therefor):

 

1. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Escambia County, Alabama, including all fixture filing financing statements filed in connected therewith.

 

2. Mortgage, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Security Agreement, Financing Statement, and Assignment of Production from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Columbia and Lafayette Counties, Arkansas.

 

3. Mortgage, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida.

 

Exhibit C to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

4. Act of Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Caddo, Claiborne, and Webster Counties, Louisiana, including all fixture filing financing statements filed in connected therewith.

 

5. Security Conveyance from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Lapeer County, Michigan.

 

6. Mortgage, with Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Security Agreement, Financing Statement, and Assignment of Production (Oil and Gas) from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Harper, Haskell, Kingfisher, Major, Murray, Pittsburg, Roger Mills, Woods, and Woodward Counties, Oklahoma.

 

7. Mortgage, with Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement, and Financing Statement (Surface Interests) from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Caddo, Canadian, Ellis, Garfield, Grady, Major, Murray, Pittsburg, Roger Mills and Woods Counties, Oklahoma.

 

8. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from QRE Operating, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Anderson, Andrews, Cass, Cherokee, Cochran, Coke, Crane, Ector, Freestone, Gaines, Glasscock, Gregg, Hansford, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, Howard, Hutchinson, Irion, Leon, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Marion, McMullen, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Ochiltree, Panola, Pecos, Reeves, Rusk, Schleicher, Smith, Sterling, Terrell, Terry, Upshur, Upton, Van Zandt, Ward, Wheeler, Winkler and Yoakum Counties, Texas.

 

9. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Kern, Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California.

 

10. Mortgage, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Florida LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Collier, Hendry and Lee Counties, Florida, including all fixture filing financing statements filed in connected therewith.

 

11. Mortgage, Indenture, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Bartholomew, Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Morgan, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana.

 

12. Mortgage, Indenture, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade and Ohio Counties, Kentucky.

 

Exhibit C to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

13. Mortgage, Indenture, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Operating L.P. and Terra Energy Company, LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Bay, Benzie, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Eaton, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Lenawee, Manistee, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Ostego, Presque Isle, and St. Clair Counties, Michigan.

 

14. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Harding and Union Counties, New Mexico (Libby Ranch – surface) .

 

15. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Union County, New Mexico (Transpetco Surface) .

 

16. Mortgage, With Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Texas County, Oklahoma (Oil and Gas Properties) .

 

17. Mortgage, with Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Beaver and Texas Counties, Oklahoma (Surface Interests) .

 

18. Mortgage, With Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, As-Extracted Collateral Filing, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from BreitBurn Oklahoma LLC to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Texas County, Oklahoma (Oil and Gas Properties) .

 

19. Mortgage, With Power of Sale, Fixture Filing, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P. d/b/a BreitBurn Transpetco Pipeline Company LP to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Cimarron and Texas Counties, Oklahoma (Surface Interests) .

 

20. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from Transpetco Pipeline Company, L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Dallam County, Texas.

 

21. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Dallam, Garza, Glasscock, Howard, Martin and Midland Counties, Texas.

 

22. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing Statement from BreitBurn Operating L.P. to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Lincoln, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Sublette, Sweetwater, Uinta, and Washakie Counties, Wyoming.

 

Exhibit C to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 
 

  

23. Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production from Phoenix Production Company to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Priority Lien Agent, and filed in Fremont and Park Counties, Wyoming.

 

PART B.

 

List of Indenture Second Lien Security Documents

 

1. Security Agreement dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among the Borrower, the Parent Company, Finance Corp and the other Debtors (as defined therein) and the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee and all related financing statements filed in connection therewith.

 

2. Stock Certificates and executed stock powers (held by the Priority Lien Agent as bailee in accordance with this Agreement):

 

(d) Irrevocable Stock Power and Stock Certificate for Phoenix Production Company (Certificate No. 6 for 2,500 Units).

 

(e) Irrevocable Stock Power and Stock Certificate for Alamitos Company (Certificate No. 11 for 1,110 Units).

 

(f) Irrevocable Membership Interest Power and Certificate Evidencing Common Units Representing Limited Liability Company Interests for QRE Operating, LLC (Certificate No. 1 for 1000 Units).

 

Exhibit C to the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

Execution Version

 

first AMENDMENT TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (hereinafter called this “ Amendment ”) is dated effective as of April 8, 2015, by and among BREITBURN OPERATING LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, as Parent Guarantor (the “ Parent ”), BreitBurn GP, LLC (the “ Parent GP ”), BreitBurn Operating GP, LLC (the “ General Partner ”), the Subsidiaries of the Parent and/or the Company, as guarantors (the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ”, and together with the Parent, the Parent GP, and the General Partner, the “ Guarantors ”), EACH LENDER SIGNATORY HERETO, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity “ Administrative Agent ”). Capitalized terms used in this Amendment, and not otherwise defined in this Amendment, have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement defined below. The Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and as may be further amended, restated or modified from time to time, is hereinafter called the “Agreement”.

 

WITNESSETH :

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 19, 2014 (the “ Credit Agreement ”), whereby upon the terms and conditions therein stated the Lenders have agreed to make certain loans to the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Majority Lenders amend the Credit Agreement as set forth below;

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms hereof, the Majority Lenders are willing to agree to the amendments to the Credit Agreement as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Required Lenders have redetermined the Borrowing Base as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties to this Amendment hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.           Amendments to Credit Agreement . Effective as of the Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)           New Definitions . The following definitions are hereby added to Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement in proper alphabetical order:

 

Excess Fee Percentage ” means, as of any date on which a Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payment is made, the excess, if any, of (x) the aggregate Fee Percentages in respect of such payment and any other Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payments made during the one-year period ending on such date less (y) the Excess Fee Percentages applicable to any Reciprocal Fee Payments previously paid hereunder in respect of such other Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payments, less (z) 2.00%.

 

Fee Percentage ” means (i) in the context of a Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payment, a percentage determined by dividing (x) the amount of such payment by (y) the outstanding principal amount of the Permitted Second Lien Debt as of the date of such payment and multiplying the result by 100% and (ii) in the context of an aggregation of Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payments, the aggregate of the Fee Percentages for each such payment.

 

    First Amendment
 

 

First Amendment Effective Date ” means the “Amendment Effective Date” as such term is defined in that certain First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2015, by and among the Company, the other Loan Parties party thereto, BreitBurn GP, LLC, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto.

 

Intercreditor Agreement ” means (a) the Intercreditor Agreement among the Company, Parent, Breitburn Finance Corporation, the Subsidiaries of the Parent named therein, the Administrative Agent and the Second Lien Trustee, in form and substance substantially the same as the posting draft dated March 26, 2015 and posted to the Lenders on SyndTrak on March 26, 2015 with such changes and modifications as may reasonably be deemed satisfactory by the Administrative Agent, and (b) if the Permitted Second Lien Debt is refinanced or replaced, or if any Additional Second Lien Obligations (as that term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) shall arise, in each case in accordance with this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, any successor or additional intercreditor agreement entered into in connection therewith which contains substantially the same terms and conditions, in each case as the Intercreditor Agreement may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders in their sole discretion.

 

October 1, 2015 Borrowing Base Floor ” means an amount equal to (a) $1,800,000,000 minus (b) the amount by which the Borrowing Base has been reduced pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(ii)(z) as a result of Dispositions since the First Amendment Effective Date minus (c) the amount by which the Borrowing Base has been reduced pursuant to Section 8.10(d)(ii)(z) as a result of modifications or terminations of Derivative Contracts since the First Amendment Effective Date minus (d) the amount by which the Borrowing Base has been reduced pursuant to the second proviso of Section 8.05(e) since the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

Permitted Second Lien Debt ” means (i) Indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture, including those certain Senior Secured 9.25% Notes due 2020 issued by the Company, the Parent and Breitburn Finance Corporation, and guarantees of such Indebtedness by the Guarantors, that is at all times subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, issued or incurred by the Company, the Parent and/or Breitburn Finance Corporation from time to time, and (ii) any refinancing or replacement of such Indebtedness (whether issued under a loan, credit or note purchase agreement or indenture or other debt instrument and including guarantees thereof by the Guarantors and the Company and other Indebtedness thereunder), to the extent permitted under the Intercreditor Agreement, that complies with all of the following requirements:

 

(a)          such Indebtedness does not have a maturity date that is on or earlier than the date 180 days after the Termination Date in effect on each date on which such Indebtedness is issued or incurred;

 

(b)          no scheduled payment of principal, scheduled mandatory redemption or scheduled sinking fund payment of such Indebtedness is due on or before the date that is 180 days after the Termination Date in effect on each date on which such Indebtedness is issued or incurred (in this definition defined as a “ Date of Issuance ”);

 

(c)          the initial Date of Issuance of such Indebtedness shall occur on the First Amendment Effective Date, and such Indebtedness shall have an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Second Lien Cap;

 

  - 2 - First Amendment
 

 

(d)          the affirmative or negative covenants (including financial covenants) are not materially more restrictive than those set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that the inclusion of any covenant that is customary with respect to such type of Permitted Second Lien Debt or that is included in the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date (as amended from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement) and, in each case, not found in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be more restrictive for purposes of this clause (d);

 

(e)          shall not contain any restriction on the ability of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to amend, modify, restate or otherwise supplement this Agreement or the other Loan Documents other than as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement and other than those restrictions that are not materially more restrictive than the restrictions set forth in the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date;

 

(f)          except for equal and ratable clauses, shall not contain any restrictions on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company or Parent to guarantee the Obligations (as such Obligations may be amended, supplemented, modified, or amended and restated in each case in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) or any restrictions on the ability of any Subsidiary, the Parent or the Company to pledge assets as collateral security for the Obligations (as such Obligations may be amended, supplemented, modified, or amended and restated in each case in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement);

 

(g)          on each Date of Issuance and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any concurrent repayment of Indebtedness, Parent is in compliance on a pro forma basis with Sections 8.14 and 8.16 of this Agreement;

 

(h)          no Default or Event of Default exists on the Date of Issuance or will occur immediately after, and as a result of, the issuance of such Indebtedness;

 

(i)          any Liens securing such Indebtedness are second in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(j)          such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Person which is not a Guarantor of all of the Obligations (excluding any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor).

 

Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents ” means, collectively, the Second Lien Indenture, all guarantees of the Permitted Second Lien Debt, and all other agreements, documents or instruments executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor in connection with, or pursuant to, the incurrence of Permitted Second Lien Debt, as all of such documents are from time to time amended, supplemented or restated in compliance with this Agreement.

 

Reciprocal Fee Payment ” means, in respect of any Second Lien Reciprocal Fee, a fee payable to the Administrative Agent (for the account of the Lenders) under Section 2.07(c) on the same date as such Second Lien Reciprocal Fee in an amount (if greater than zero) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Excess Fee Percentage as of such date by (ii) the total Commitments on such date.

 

Redemption ” means with respect to any Indebtedness, the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, repayment, defeasance or any other acquisition or retirement for value of such Indebtedness. “ Redeem ” has the correlative meaning thereto.

 

Second Lien Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.19 .

 

  - 3 - First Amendment
 

 

Second Lien Cap ” means, on any determination date, Permitted Second Lien Debt in an amount not exceeding the sum of (i) an original principal amount of $650,000,000 plus (ii) accrued and unpaid interest and prepayment premium on such principal amount, if and to the extent capitalized and outstanding under the terms of the Permitted Second Lien Documents.

 

Second Lien Indenture ” means the Indenture among the Second Lien Trustee, the Company, the Parent, Breitburn Finance Corporation, and certain subsidiaries (including the Company) of the Parent as guarantors, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement (and any successor indenture, note purchase, credit or loan agreement or other debt instrument in connection with any refinancing thereof permitted hereunder and under the Intercreditor Agreement).

 

Second Lien Reciprocal Fee ” means a fee payment made pursuant to (i) Section 8.09(e)(iii) or (ii) a Second Lien Amendment made in accordance with Section 8.19(i)(F) .

 

Second Lien Trustee ” means U.S. Bank National Association, or such other entity serving in the capacity as the “collateral trustee” under the Second Lien Indenture to the extent permitted under the Second Lien Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Series B Preferred Units ” means the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units of the Parent.

 

(b)           Amendments to Definitions . The following definitions in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended as follows:

 

(i)          The definition of “ Loan Documents ” is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, each Guaranty, the Security Documents, each LC Application and Letter of Credit, the Fee Letter, the Intercreditor Agreement and each other document executed by a Loan Party in connection herewith that by its terms states that it is a Loan Document.

 

(ii)         The definition of “ Material Adverse Effect ” is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, or as to the Company, including any material adverse change in reserve estimates of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Loan Parties taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its material obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party (or, in the case of the Intercreditor Agreement, against any party thereto other than the Administrative Agent) of any material Loan Document.

  

  - 4 - First Amendment
 

  

(iii)        The definition of “ Pricing Grid ” is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Pricing Grid ” means the annualized variable rates (stated in terms of basis points (“ bps ”)) set forth below for the Applicable Margin, Commitment Fee and Letter of Credit Fee, based upon the ratio of Effective Amount to the Borrowing Base Amount, as follows:

 

    Applicable Margin              
Effective Amount/
Borrowing Base
  LIBOR and
LIBOR
Market Index
Rate
(bps)
    Base
Rate
(bps)
    Commitment
Fee
(bps)
    Letter of Credit
Fee
(bps)
 
³ 90%     275.00       175.00       50.00       275.00  
< 90% ³ 75%     250.00       150.00       50.00       250.00  
< 75% ³ 50%     225.00       125.00       50.00       225.00  
< 50% ³ 25%     200.00       100.00       37.50       200.00  
< 25%     175.00       75.00       37.50       175.00  

 

The Pricing Grid for any date shall be determined by reference to the ratio of the Effective Amount and Borrowing Base and any change (a) shall become effective upon the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Pricing Grid Certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company (which certificate shall be delivered simultaneously with (i) the delivery of each Notice of Borrowing, any notice required under Section 2.04 , Notice of Conversion/Continuation or a request for issuance of a Letter of Credit and (ii) any change in the amount of the Borrowing Base), and (b) shall apply (i) in the case of the Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans, to Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Market Index Rate Loans outstanding on such delivery date or made on and after such delivery date and (ii) in the case of the LIBOR Loans, to LIBOR Loans made, continued or converted on and after such delivery date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time during which the Company has failed to deliver the Pricing Grid Certificate when due, the ratio of Effective Amount to the Borrowing Base shall be deemed, solely for the purposes of this definition, to be greater than 90% until such time as the Company shall deliver such certificate.

 

(c)           Sections 2.05(a) and 2.05(b) of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety as follows:

 

“(a)           Scheduled Borrowing Base Determinations . At all times prior to the Termination Date the Effective Amount shall not exceed the Borrowing Base then in effect. From and after the First Amendment Effective Date (which is deemed to be the Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Date for April 1, 2015), the Borrowing Base hereunder shall be $1,800,000,000.00, until redetermined pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05 or adjusted pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(ii)(z) or Section 8.10(d)(ii)(z) . Upon notice to the Company, the Borrowing Base shall be redetermined for each succeeding Borrowing Base Period on each Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Date, and each such redetermination shall be effective as of the date set forth in such notice of redetermination; provided , that the April 1, 2015 Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the First Amendment Effective Date. The Borrowing Base shall be determined based upon the loan collateral value assigned to the Oil and Gas Properties owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries and such other credit factors (including the assets, liabilities, cash flow, business, properties, prospects, management and ownership of the Loan Parties) that the Lenders deem significant. The Lenders’ determination of the Borrowing Base shall be in their sole discretion. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.05(a) , upon each redetermination of the Borrowing Base, the Administrative Agent shall recommend to the Lenders a new Borrowing Base and the Lenders in accordance with their customary policies and procedures for extending credit to Oil and Gas reserve-based customers shall (by unanimous agreement in the case of Borrowing Base increases and by agreement of the Required Lenders in the case of Borrowing Base decreases or affirmations) establish the redetermined Borrowing Base. If the Company does not furnish the Reserve Reports or all such other information and data by the date required, the Lenders may nonetheless determine a new Borrowing Base. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.05(a) , it is expressly understood that the Lenders shall have no obligation to determine the Borrowing Base at any particular amount, either in relation to the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount or the Elected Commitment Amount. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.05(a) to the contrary, in no event shall the Scheduled Borrowing Base Redetermination for October 1, 2015 cause the Borrowing Base to be redetermined to an amount less than the October 1, 2015 Borrowing Base Floor unless (i) the Company consents to such lower redetermination or (ii) on the date of the Scheduled Borrowing Base Redetermination for October 1, 2015, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties plus the amount of the Available Borrowing Base is less than 10% of the October 1, 2015 Borrowing Base Floor.

 

  - 5 - First Amendment
 

 

(b)           Special Borrowing Base Determinations . Subject to the last sentence of this Section 2.05(b) , in addition to Scheduled Borrowing Base Determinations pursuant to Section 2.05(a) , the Company and the Required Lenders may each request one (1) additional redetermination of the Borrowing Base during each Borrowing Base Period (“ Special Borrowing Base Determination ”). In the event the Company requests a Special Borrowing Base Determination pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) , the Company shall deliver written notice of such request to the Lenders which shall include: (i) Reserve Report(s) prepared as of a date not more than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the date of such request, for the benefit of the Lenders, and (ii) such other information as the Lenders shall request prepared as of a date not more than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the date of such request. Likewise, in the event the Required Lenders exercise their option for a Special Borrowing Base Determination, the Administrative Agent shall give the Company notice of the redetermined Borrowing Base. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.05(b) to the contrary, (i) the Required Lenders shall not be permitted to request a Special Borrowing Base Determination during the Borrowing Base Period between the April 1, 2015 and October 1, 2015 Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Dates and (ii) the Required Lenders shall not be permitted to request a Special Borrowing Base Determination during the Borrowing Base Period between the October 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016 Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Dates, unless, at any time between the October 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016 Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination Dates, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties plus the amount of the Available Borrowing Base is less than 10% of the Borrowing Base then in effect.”

 

(d)           Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of a new subsection (c) thereto to read as follows:

 

“(c)           Reciprocal Fee . The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, from time to time on each date that a Second Lien Reciprocal Fee payment is made, any Reciprocal Fee Payment required in connection therewith, for the account of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments hereunder.

 

  - 6 - First Amendment
 

 

(e)           Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“(a)          The Loan Parties agree to deliver to further secure the Obligations whenever reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, security agreements, financing statements and other Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the purpose of granting, confirming, and perfecting first and prior liens or security interests on substantially all assets of Parent, the Company and their present and future Subsidiaries, including Oil and Gas Properties representing not less than 80% of the total net present value (determined by a discount factor of 10%) of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report.

 

(b)          The Loan Parties agree that contemporaneously with the grant of any second Lien on any Loan Party’s Property that is not already then Collateral to secure the Permitted Second Lien Debt, the applicable Loan Party shall grant to the Administrative Agent to further secure the Obligations a first Lien on such Property pursuant to documentation substantially the same as the documentation used to grant such second Lien.

 

(c)          The Loan Parties also agree to deliver whenever reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, title opinions from legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or such other evidence of title reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Mortgaged Properties designated by the Administrative Agent, based upon abstract or record examinations to dates reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (a) stating that the Loan Party, as applicable, has good and defensible title to such properties and interests, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens, (b) confirming that such Oil and Gas Properties are subject to Security Documents securing the Obligations that constitute and create legal, valid and duly perfected deed of trust or mortgage liens in such Oil and Gas Properties and assignments of and security interests in the Oil and Gas attributable to such Oil and Gas Properties and the proceeds thereof, in each case subject only to Permitted Liens, and (c) covering such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.”

 

(f)           Section 7.02(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following sentence immediately following the second sentence thereof: “In addition, the Company shall furnish to the Administrative Agent any other Reserve Report delivered to the Second Lien Trustee pursuant to the Second Lien Indenture.”

 

(g)           Section 7.03 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by: (i) deleting the “or” at the end of clause (c) thereof; (ii) deleting the period at the end of clause (d) and replacing it with “; or”; and (iii) adding a new clause (e) , to read as follows: “(e) copies of any statement, report or notice furnished to or by the holders of Permitted Second Lien Debt under the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 7.03 .”

 

(h)           Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by: (i) deleting the “and” at the end of clause (p) thereof; (ii) deleting the period at the end of clause (q) and replacing it with “; and”; and (iii) adding a new clause (r) , to read as follows: “(r) Liens securing the Permitted Second Lien Debt; provided that such Liens are second in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement and Section 4.02 .”

 

(i)           Section 8.02(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

  - 7 - First Amendment
 

 

“(e)          Dispositions not otherwise permitted under Sections 8.02(a) (d) above; provided that, (i) no Event of Default shall exist at the time of such Disposition or result therefrom, and (ii) (y) the aggregate value (as determined by the Administrative Agent to be the value assigned to such Properties under the most recent Reserve Report) of all Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties made by the Loan Parties, plus the net effect of hedge modifications permitted under Section 8.10(d)(ii)(y) during such period, does not exceed (A) from the First Amendment Effective Date until April 1, 2016 five percent, (5%) of the Borrowing Base in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date and (B) in any Borrowing Base Period commencing on or after April 1, 2016, five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base then in effect or (z) the aggregate value (as determined by the Administrative Agent to be the value assigned to such Properties under the most recent Reserve Report) of all Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties made by the Loan Parties, plus the net effect of hedge modifications permitted under Section 8.10(d)(ii)(y) during such period exceeds the amounts specified in Section 8.02(e)(ii)(y)(A) and (B) , but (A) the Majority Lenders consent to such Disposition and (B) the Borrowing Base is automatically reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate Borrowing Base value of such Oil and Gas Properties (as determined by the Administrative Agent) and to the extent a Borrowing Base Deficiency results from such reduction, up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds of such Dispositions, net of reasonable fees, expenses and taxes, shall be applied, as necessary, to cure such Borrowing Base Deficiency.”

 

(j)           Section 8.05(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“(e)          Either Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes and guaranties given by the Company, the Parent or any Subsidiary that is a guarantor hereunder with respect thereto; provided that (i) the principal amount of such Permitted Second Lien Debt shall not exceed the Second Lien Cap and (ii) the principal amount of such Senior Unsecured Notes aggregated with Permitted Second Lien Debt shall not exceed the greater of (y) $2,000,000,000 and (z) the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of issuance (before giving pro forma effect to the attendant automatic reduction in the Borrowing Base required by the second proviso of this clause (e)), further provided that, other than with respect to the Permitted Second Lien Debt issued on the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowing Base shall automatically reduce on the date of such issuance of Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes by an amount equal to 25% of the stated principal amount of such Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes (for purposes of this section if any such Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes are issued at a discount or otherwise sold for less than “par”, the reduction shall be calculated based upon the stated principal amount without reference to such discount), except to the extent that the proceeds from the issuance of such Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes are used to refinance Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes existing at such time ( provided that the amount of such refinancing does not exceed the principal amount being refinanced plus interest, underwriting discount, make-whole premium and offering expenses paid in connection therewith and provided , further that any such refinancing of Senior Unsecured Notes is not from proceeds of Permitted Second Lien Debt);”

 

(k)           Section 8.08 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

 

(i)           deleting the “and” at the end of clause (f) thereof and amending and restating clause (g) , to read as follows: “(g) the Second Lien Indenture, the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents and any Senior Unsecured Notes; and”; and

 

  - 8 - First Amendment
 

 

(ii)          adding a new clause (h) to read as follows: “(h) any other Contingent Obligations of the Loan Parties to the extent not described in Sections 8.08(a) (g) not to exceed an aggregate amount of $30,000,000 outstanding at any time.”

 

(l)          Section 8.09 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

8.09 Restricted Payments . No Loan Party shall, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any membership interests, partnership interests, capital accounts, shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such membership interest, partnership interest or shares, now or hereafter outstanding from its members, partners or stockholders or declare or pay any distribution, dividend or return capital to its members, partners or stockholders or make any distribution of assets in cash or in kind to its members, partners or stockholders, or make any prepayments of principal or payment of fees on or in connection with the Permitted Second Lien Debt (collectively “ Restricted Payments ”); except:

 

(a) Parent may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity payable solely in additional shares of its Equity,

 

(b) Subsidiaries of the Company may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity,

 

(c) the Company may declare and pay dividends to Parent,

 

(d) Parent may declare and pay to its Equity owners periodic cash dividends of Available Cash or otherwise purchase, redeem or acquire for value any membership interests, partnership interests, capital accounts, shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such membership interest, partnership interest or shares from its members, partners or stockholders in accordance with its partnership agreement, so long as (i) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, (ii) if such Restricted Payment is in respect of common Equity, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties plus the amount of the Available Borrowing Base is not less than 10% of the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of such Restricted Payment, (iii) if such Restricted Payment is in respect of Series B Preferred Units, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties plus the amount of the Available Borrowing Base is not less than 5% of the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of such Restricted Payment, (iv) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Loan Parties exhibit pro-forma compliance with all terms and conditions of this Agreement and (v) such Restricted Payment is permitted under the Second Lien Indenture,

 

(e) Payments may be made in respect of Permitted Second Lien Debt fees so long as (i) such fees constitute an arrangement fee payable to (or to Affiliates of) fewer than all of the holders of Permitted Second Lien Debt, or (ii) such fees are expressly required by the terms thereof on the First Amendment Effective Date or as may be or become payable pursuant to an amendment thereof permitted under clauses (i)(A)-(E) of Section 8.19 (clauses (i) and (ii), the “ Specified Second Lien Fees ”), (iii) such fees are paid pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Note Purchase Agreement (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture) as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date (as amended from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement), or (iv) if not otherwise permitted by this clause (e), only if the Administrative Agent shall have received at least 3 Business Days prior notice from a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth (A) the amount of such fees, (B) the computation in reasonable detail of any Reciprocal Fee Payments payable hereunder in connection therewith and (C) a statement by the Company that such Reciprocal Fee Payments (if any) will be paid in accordance with Section 2.07(c) of this Agreement.

 

  - 9 - First Amendment
 

 

(f)          

 

(i) Mandatory prepayments (A) pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.15 of the Second Lien Indenture (as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date) or any substantially similar provision contained in Permitted Second Lien Debt may be made in respect of Permitted Second Lien Debt principal as therein provided (for the avoidance of doubt, any Borrowing Base Deficiency that results from the application of Section 8.02(e)(ii)(z)(B) shall be cured prior to making any mandatory prepayment pursuant to such Section 4.10) and (B) pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Second Lien Indenture (as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date) or any substantially similar provision contained in Permitted Second Lien Debt may be made in respect of Permitted Second Lien Debt principal so long as (1) if a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at the time of such Invalid Debt Incurrence (as defined in the Second Lien Indenture (as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date)), up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds from such Invalid Debt Incurrence are first applied to cure such Borrowing Base Deficiency and (2) the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to such Invalid Debt Incurrence is junior or parri passu in right of payment to the Permitted Second Lien Debt; and

 

(ii) Voluntary prepayments may be made in respect of Permitted Second Lien Debt principal (A) from proceeds of Permitted Second Lien Debt or Senior Unsecured Notes or (B) so long as (1) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, (2) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties plus the amount of the Available Borrowing Base is not less than 10% of the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of such Restricted Payment, and (3) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Loan Parties exhibit pro-forma compliance with all terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

By making a Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (d), clause (e) or clause (f) above, Parent represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and the Lenders that the conditions for making such Restricted Payment have been satisfied.”

 

(m)           Section 8.10(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

  - 10 - First Amendment
 

 

“(d)          The Company shall not modify in any material respect to the extent it adversely affects the then-current Borrowing Base or terminate any Derivative Contracts to which it is currently a party or subsequently becomes a party without the consent of the Administrative Agent, except that (i) Derivative Contracts with a party who ceases to be a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) may be terminated in connection with the assignment, amendment or other transaction pursuant to which such party ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, Derivative Contracts may be modified or terminated, provided that, (y) the net effect of the modifications or terminations of such Derivative Contracts (after giving effect to any new Derivative Contracts entered into during such Borrowing Base Period prior to or in connection with, such modification or termination), as determined by the Administrative Agent, plus the aggregate value (as determined by the value assigned to such properties under the most recent Reserve Report) of all Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties made by the Loan Parties permitted under Section 8.02(e)(ii)(y) during such period, does not exceed (A) from the First Amendment Effective Date until April 1, 2016, five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date and (B) in any Borrowing Base Period commencing on or after April 1, 2016, five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base then in effect or (z) the net effect of the modifications or terminations of such Derivative Contracts (after giving effect to any new Derivative Contracts entered into during such Borrowing Base Period prior to or in connection with, such modification or termination), as determined by the Administrative Agent, plus the aggregate value (as determined by the value assigned to such properties under the most recent Reserve Report) of all Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties made by the Loan Parties permitted under Section 8.02(e)(ii)(y) during such period exceeds the amounts specified in Section 8.10(d)(ii)(y)(A) and (B) , but (A) the Majority Lenders consent to such modification or termination and (B) the Borrowing Base is automatically reduced by an amount equal to the net effect of the modifications or terminations of such Derivative Contracts (after giving effect to any new Derivative Contracts entered into during such period prior to or in connection with, such modification or termination) (as determined by the Administrative Agent) and to the extent a Borrowing Base Deficiency results from such reduction, up to one-hundred percent (100%) of the cash and cash equivalent proceeds of such modifications or terminations of Derivative Contracts received by the Loan Parties, net of payment of, or provisions for reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses and taxes incurred by the Company in connection with such transaction, shall be applied, as necessary, to cure such Borrowing Base Deficiency;”

 

(n)           Section 8.17 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

8.17         Negative Pledge . No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into or permit to exist any contractual obligation (other than this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents or, with respect to clause (b) only, the Senior Unsecured Notes) that limits the ability (a) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to or otherwise transfer property to Parent, the Company or any Guarantor, (b) of Parent to guarantee the Indebtedness of the Company, or any Subsidiary to guarantee the Indebtedness of the Company, or (c) of Parent, the Company, or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person to secure the Obligations.”

 

(o)          A new Section 8.19 of the Credit Agreement is hereby added immediately following Section 8.18 to read as follows:

 

8.19 Second Lien Indenture . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company shall not amend, and shall not consent to any amendment or other modification of, the Permitted Second Lien Debt Documents (any such amendment or modification, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt any refinancing or replacement of Permitted Second Lien Debt with Permitted Second Lien Debt, a “ Second Lien Amendment ”) if:

 

(i) the effect thereof would be to:

 

  - 11 - First Amendment
 

 

(A) shorten the maturity of the Permitted Second Lien Debt, or

 

(B) shorten the average life or increase the amount of any payment of principal thereof, or

 

(C) increase the rate of interest to greater than eleven and three-quarter percent (11.75%) per annum (it being agreed and understood that any default rate interest of up to 200 bps per annum shall be permitted and shall not be subject to such cap), or

 

(D) add call or prepayment premiums in excess of three percent (3.0%) of the principal amount of Permitted Second Lien Debt, or

 

(E) shorten any period for payment of interest thereon or increase the amortization payments provided for under the Second Lien Indenture, or

 

(F) require the payment to holders of the Permitted Second Lien Debt of any fees that are not Specified Second Lien Fees without prior notice from a Responsible Officer of the Company to the Administrative Agent setting forth (1) the language of such Second Lien Amendment, (2) the amount of such incremental fees, (3) the computation in reasonable detail of any Reciprocal Fee Payments payable hereunder in connection therewith and (4) a statement by the Company that such Reciprocal Fee Payments (if any) will be paid in accordance with this Agreement, or

 

(ii) such Second Lien Amendment adds additional Property as collateral to secure the Permitted Second Lien Debt unless the Company complies with Section 4.02(b) , or

 

(iii) such Second Lien Amendment adds any covenants or defaults (or modifies any existing covenant or default in a manner that would be more restrictive to any Loan Party) without at least 3 Business Days prior notice from a Responsible Officer of the Company to the Administrative Agent setting forth (A) the text of the proposed Second Lien Amendment, (B) a statement by the Company that, pending execution of an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such Second Lien Amendment, a breach of the relevant covenants or defaults reflected in such Second Lien Amendment would constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement and (C) a statement by the Company confirming its obligations under this Section 8.19(iii) to enter into a binding amendment of this Agreement relating thereto. The parties agree that it shall be an Event of Default under Section 9.01(c) if the Company shall fail to execute and deliver a binding amendment to this Agreement as required under Section 8.19(iii)(C) within 10 Business Days after the Administrative Agent provides to the Company an execution copy thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Company.”

 

(p)           Section 9.01(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

  - 12 - First Amendment
 

 

“(e)           Payment Cross-Default; Cross-Acceleration . (i) Any Loan Party, any Subsidiary thereof or any combination thereof fails to make any payment in respect of the Permitted Second Lien Debt, or of any other Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation in an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $40,000,000, when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) and such failure continues after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure; or (ii) any Loan Party, any Subsidiary thereof or any combination thereof fails after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure to perform or observe any other condition or covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under any agreement or instrument relating to the Permitted Second Lien Debt, or any such other Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation in an aggregate principal amount of more than $40,000,000, which results in such Permitted Second Lien Debt or other Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation being declared due and payable (or becoming subject to mandatory Redemption) prior to its stated maturity; or”

 

(q)           Section 9.02(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by: (i) deleting the “and” at the end of the clause starting with the phrase “fifth” and inserting a new clause immediately following such clause to read as follows: “sixth, to the Second Lien Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement or to any person lawfully entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct; and”, and (ii) replacing reference to “sixth” with “seventh” before the following phrase: “, any excess shall be paid to the Company or as otherwise required by law.”

 

SECTION 2.           Borrowing Base . Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, in accordance with Section 2.05(a) of the Credit Agreement (Scheduled Borrowing Base Determinations), the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders agree that the Borrowing Base on the Amendment Effective Date shall be $1,800,000,000. This Borrowing Base redetermination shall constitute the Scheduled Borrowing Base Determination for April 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 3.           Guarantor Confirmation .

 

(a)          The Guarantors hereby consent and agree to this Amendment and each of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)          The Company and each Guarantor ratifies and confirms the debts, duties, obligations, liabilities, rights, titles, pledges, grants of security interests, liens, powers, and privileges existing by virtue of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

 

(c)          The Company and each Guarantor agrees that the guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, and the terms of each of the Security Documents and Guaranties to which it is a party, are not impaired, released, diminished or reduced in any manner whatsoever and shall continue to be in full force and effect and shall continue to secure all Obligations.

 

(d)          The Company and each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that all terms, provisions, and conditions of the Loan Documents to which it is a party (as amended by this Amendment) shall continue in full force and effect and shall remain enforceable and binding in accordance with their respective terms.

 

SECTION 4.           Conditions of Effectiveness . This Amendment and the amendments hereunder shall become effective as of the date first set forth above (the “ Amendment Effective Date ”), provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)           Amendment . The Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Amendment which shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Required Lenders, the Company, and the Guarantors (which may be by telecopy or PDF transmission).

 

  - 13 - First Amendment
 

 

(b)           Fee Letter . The Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of that certain fee letter dated of even date herewith (the “ First Amendment Fee Letter ”), which shall have been executed by the Company.

 

(c)           No Default; Representations and Warranties . At the time of the Amendment Effective Date and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment:

 

(i)          the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in Article VI of the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents as amended hereby shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date);

 

(ii)         no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and

 

(iii)        since December 31, 2014, there shall have been no event, development or circumstance that has or could reasonably be expected to result in the occurrence or existence of a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           Second Lien Debt Documents; Series B Documents . Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent a true and correct copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture, each other Permitted Second Lien Debt Document and each document in connection with the issuance of the Series B Perpetual Convertible Preferred Units of the Parent on the Amendment Effective Date, duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, and the transactions contemplated by such documents shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms therein.

 

(e)           Payment of Fees . The Company shall have paid all accrued and unpaid fees, costs and expenses owed pursuant to this Amendment to the extent then due and payable and invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Amendment Effective Date and the Company shall have paid all fees owed pursuant to the First Amendment Fee Letter.

 

(f)           Prepayment of Loans . Substantially contemporaneously with the closing of this Amendment, the Company shall have prepaid the Loans in amount not less than $930,000,000.

 

(g)           Additional Documents . Such other documents, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

SECTION 5.           Post-Closing Requirements . The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Administrative Agent the documents, certificates and other items described on Annex A hereto within the time frames set forth therein.

 

SECTION 6.           Representations and Warranties . Each of the Company and the Guarantors represent and warrant to Administrative Agent and the Lenders, with full knowledge that such Persons are relying on the following representations and warranties in executing this Amendment, as follows:

 

(a)          It has the organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Amendment, and all organizational action on the part of it requisite for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment has been duly and effectively taken.

 

(b)          The Agreement, the Loan Documents and each and every other document executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with this Amendment to which it is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of it, to the extent it is a party thereto, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their respective terms except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

 

  - 14 - First Amendment
 

 

(c)          This Amendment does not and will not violate any provisions of any of its Organization Documents.

 

(d)          No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Amendment.

 

(e)          Immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default will exist, and all of the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of this date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).

 

SECTION 7.           Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement .

 

(a)          Upon the effectiveness hereof, on and after the date hereof, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “ this Agreement ,” “ hereunder ,” “ hereof ,” “ herein ,” or words of like import, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

 

(b)          Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

SECTION 8.           Extent of Amendments . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are not amended, modified or affected by this Amendment. Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby ratifies and confirms that (i) except as expressly amended hereby, all of the terms, conditions, covenants, representations, warranties and all other provisions of the Credit Agreement remain in full force and effect, (ii) each of the other Loan Documents are and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms, and (iii) the Collateral and the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations are unimpaired by this Amendment and remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 9.           Loan Documents . The Loan Documents, as such may be amended in accordance herewith, are and remain legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms. This Amendment is a Loan Document.

 

SECTION 10.          Claims . As additional consideration to the execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment by the parties hereto and to induce Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Amendment, each of the Company and Guarantors represent and warrant that, as of the date hereof, it does not know of any defenses, counterclaims or rights of setoff to the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company or the Parent to Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender or any Lender.

 

SECTION 11.          Intercreditor Agreement . The Lenders hereby grant to Administrative Agent the power and authority to enter into the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Second Lien Trustee and amendments, waivers, modifications and supplements thereto from time to time and to bind the Lenders to such terms therein as Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders deem advisable, all upon such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders.

 

  - 15 - First Amendment
 

 

SECTION 12.          Execution and Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by facsimile or pdf shall be equally as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.

 

SECTION 13.          Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and applicable federal laws of the United States of America.

 

SECTION 14.          Headings . Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience and reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

 

SECTION 15.          NO ORAL AGREEMENTS . The rights and obligations of each of the parties to the loan documents shall be determined solely from written agreements, documents, and instruments, and any prior oral agreements between such parties are superseded by and merged into such writings. This Amendment and the other written Loan Documents executed by the Company, the Guarantors, Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and/or Lenders represent the final agreement between such parties, and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements by such parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between such parties .

 

SECTION 16.          No Waiver . Each of the Company and Guarantors hereby agree that no Event of Default and no Default has been waived or remedied by the execution of this Amendment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. Nothing contained in this Amendment nor any past indulgence by the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender or any Lender, nor any other action or inaction on behalf of the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender or any Lender, (i) shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a waiver of any Defaults or Events of Default which may exist under the Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or (ii) shall constitute or be deemed to constitute an election of remedies by the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender or any Lender, or a waiver of any of the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender or any Lender provided in the Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or otherwise afforded at law or in equity.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

  - 16 - First Amendment
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  LOAN PARTIES:
   
  BREITBURN OPERATING LP
   
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP
   
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN GP LLC
  BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
   
  BREITBURN MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
   
  By: BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP , its sole member
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  BREITBURN FLORIDA LLC
  BREITBURN OKLAHOMA LLC
  BREITBURN SAWTELLE LLC (formerly Breitburn Fulton LLC)
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC
  BREITBURN TRANSPETCO LP LLC
   
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its sole  member
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
  TRANSPETCO PIPELINE COMPANY, L.P.
   
  By: BREITBURN TRANSPETCO GP LLC , its general partner
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its sole  member
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Executive Officer
   
  By: BREITBURN OPERATING LP , its general partner
    By: BREITBURN OPERATING GP LLC , its  general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Executive Vice President and
  Chief Executive Officer

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  BREITBURN FINANCE CORPORATION
  BEAVER CREEK PIPELINE, L.L.C.
  ALAMITOS COMPANY
  PHOENIX PRODUCTION COMPANY
  GTG PIPELINE LLC
  MERCURY MICHIGAN COMPANY, LLC
  TERRA ENERGY COMPANY LLC
  TERRA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  QR ENERGY, LP
  By: QRE GP, LLC , its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  QRE GP, LLC
  By: BREITBURN GP LLC , its manager
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
   
  QRE OPERATING, LLC
  By: QR ENERGY, LP , its sole member
  By: QRE GP, LLC , its general partner
     
  By: /S/ James G. Jackson
  Name: James G. Jackson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender, Swing Line Lender and a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Michael Real
    Name: Michael Real
    Title: Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Bank of America, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Bryan Heller
    Name: Bryan Heller
    Title: Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Bank of Montreal ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Gumaro Tijerina
    Name: Gumaro Tijerina
    Title: Managing Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Barclays Bank PLC ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Luke Syme
    Name: Luke Syme
    Title: Assistant Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Citibank, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Eamon Baqui
    Name: Eamon Baqui
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Credit Suisse AG , Cayman Islands Branch, as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Nupur Kumar
    Name: Nupur Kumar
    Title: Authorized Signatory
     
  By: /S/ Karim Rahimtoola
    Name: Karim Rahimtoola
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Elizabeth Schorman
    Name: Elizabeth Schorman

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Royal Bank of Canada,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Jay T. Sartain
    Name: Jay T. Sartain
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  MUFG Union Bank, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Lara Francis
    Name: Lara Francis
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  U.S. Bank National Association ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Todd S. Anderson
    Name: Todd S. Anderson
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Compass Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Umar Hassan
    Name: Umar Hassan
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Capital One, National Association ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Nancy Mak
    Name: Nancy Mak
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Michael Willis
    Name: Michael Willis
    Title: Managing Director
     
  By: /S/ Sharada Manne
    Name: Sharada Manne
    Title: Managing Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Christopher Winthrop
    Name: Christopher Winthrop
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Citizens Bank, N.a. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ R. Scott Donaldson
    Name: R. Scott Donaldson
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Santander Bank, NA ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Aidan Lanigan
    Name: Aidan Lanigan
    Title: Senior Vice President
     
  By: /S/ Kel Christensen
    Name: Kel Christensen
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Toronto Dominion (New York) LLC ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Masood Fikree
    Name: Masood Fikree
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  UBS AG, Stamford Branch ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Craig Pearson
    Name: Craig Pearson
    Title: Associate Director
     
  By: /S/ Houssem Daly
    Name: Houssem Daly
    Title: Associate Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  BRANCH BANKING and TRUST Company ,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /S/ Parul June
    Name: Parul June
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

 

  BNP Paribas ,
  as a Lender
   
  By: /S/ Scott Joyce
    Name: Scott Joyce
     
  By: /S/ Julien Pecoud-Bouvet
    Name: Julien Pecoud-Bouvet

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce , New York Branch,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Trudy Nelson
    Name: Trudy Nelson
    Title: Authorized Signatory
     
  By: /S/ Richard Antl
    Name: Richard Antl
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  COMERICA BANK ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Garrett R. Merrell
    Name: Garrett R. Merrell
    Title: Relationship Manager

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Josh Strong
    Name: Josh Strong
    Title: Director
     
  By: /S/ Charles Hall
    Name: Charles Hall
    Title: Managing Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Natixis, New York Branch ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Kenyatta Gibbs
    Name: Kenyatta Gibbs
    Title: Director
     
  By: /S/ Stuart Murray
    Name: Stuart Murray
    Title: Managing Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  PNC BANK , National Association,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Sandra Aultman
    Name: Sandra Aultman

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Masaki Sone
    Name: Masaki Sone
    Title: Managing Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  SunTrust Bank , as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Chulley Bogle
    Name: Chulley Bogle
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  CADENCE BANK, N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Steven Taylor
    Name: Steven Taylor
    Title: Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Fifth Third Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Jonathan H Lee
    Name: Jonathan H Lee
    Title: Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Fifth Third Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Jonathan H Lee
    Name: Jonathan H Lee
    Title: Director

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  Associated Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Kyle Lewis
    Name: Kyle Lewis

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  The Huntington National Bank ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Margaret Niekrash
    Name: Margaret Niekrash

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

  OneWest Bank N.A. ,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /S/ Whitney Randolph
    Name: Whitney Randolph
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

  Signature Page to First Amendment  
 

 

ANNEX A

 

POST-CLOSING REQUIREMENTS

 

1. Action : The Loan Parties shall (i) execute and deliver Mortgages covering all Oil and Gas Properties granted to the Second Lien Trustee to the extent the Loan Parties have not granted a first-priority Lien on such Oil and Gas Properties to the Administrative Agent, (ii) cause such Mortgages to be filed in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records and pay the mortgage recording fees and taxes in respect thereof and otherwise comply with the formal requirements of state law applicable to the recording of real estate mortgages generally with respect to the Mortgages and (iii) if required by the Administrative Agent, deliver title and mortgage evidence, financing statements, supplemental casualty insurance and flood insurance, and such other documents, instruments or agreements in connection with the Mortgages reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Required Completion Date : Within 60 days after the Amendment Effective Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree.

 

2. Action : The Company shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent the following account control agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

a. Control Agreement(s) with respect to the accounts held by the Loan Parties at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

b. Control Agreement(s) with respect to the accounts held by the Loan Parties at Union Bank.

 

Required Completion Date : Within 60 days after the Amendment Effective Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree.

 

  Annex A to First Amendment  

 

 

Breitburn Energy Partners Closes

$1 Billion Strategic Investment by EIG Global Energy Partners

 

LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2015 – Breitburn Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ:BBEP) today announced that it closed the previously announced private offerings of $350 million of Series B perpetual convertible preferred units and $650 million of senior secured notes (Senior Notes) to investment funds managed by EIG, and other purchasers. In addition, Breitburn announced that it has amended its credit facility to allow for the issuance of the Senior Notes and to establish a revised borrowing base of $1.8 billion through April 2016, subject to limited exceptions.

 

Breitburn expects to use the net proceeds of approximately $930 million from the private offerings to repay borrowings under its credit facility, resulting in net borrowings, at closing, of approximately $1.29 billion.

 

About Breitburn Energy Partners LP

 

Breitburn Energy Partners LP is a publicly traded independent oil and gas master limited partnership focused on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and gas properties throughout the United States. Breitburn’s producing and non-producing crude oil and natural gas reserves are located in the following seven producing areas: Ark-La-Tex, Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent, the Rockies, Florida, and California. See www.breitburn.com for more information.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Breitburn expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions made by Breitburn based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict, including those which are set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and if applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K.

 

 

Contacts:

Antonio D’Amico

Vice President, Investor Relations & Government Affairs

or

Jessica Tang

Investor Relations Manager

(213) 225-0390

BBEP-IR

 

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