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): March 20, 2007

 


CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   1-33366   20-5913059

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

717 Texas Avenue

Suite 3100

Houston, Texas

  77002
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 659-1361

 


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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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 13e-4(c) 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.

Underwriting Agreement . On March 20, 2007, Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”), Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC (“Investments”), Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”) and Cheniere Energy, Inc. (collectively, the “Cheniere Parties”), entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), providing for the offer and sale in a firm commitment underwritten offering of 13,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests in Partnership (the “Common Units”) at a price of $21 per Common Unit (or $19.58 per Common Unit, net of underwriting discount). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, Holdings granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,025,000 Common Units to cover over-allotments, on the same terms as the Common Units sold in the firm offering.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions whereby the Cheniere Parties, on one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement were consummated on March 26, 2007. The proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and structuring fee) received by the Partnership from the sale of 5,054,164 Common Units were $98,442,481, which were used to purchase U.S. Treasury securities maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the $0.425 initial quarterly distribution on all Common Units, as well as the related distributions to the Partnership’s general partner, through the distribution made in respect of the quarter ending June 30, 2009.

A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.


Services Agreement. Effective March 26, 2007, the Partnership and Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Terminals”), entered into a 20-year services agreement (the “Services Agreement”). The Services Agreement provides that, commencing on January 1, 2009, the Partnership will pay Terminals an annual administrative fee of $10 million, adjusted for inflation after January 1, 2007, for the provision of various general and administrative services for the benefit of the Partnership following the closing of its initial public offering. The Partnership will also be required to reimburse Terminals for its services in an amount equal to the sum of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses directly related to the Partnership’s business or activities. The annual administrative fee includes expenses incurred by Terminals to perform all technical, commercial, regulatory, financial, accounting, treasury, tax and legal staffing and related support and all management and other services necessary or reasonably requested on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner in order to conduct the business of the Partnership as contemplated in its partnership agreement. The fee does not include reimbursements for direct expenses that Terminals incurs on behalf of the Partnership, such as salaries of operational personnel performing services on-site at the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal and the cost of their employee benefits, including 401(k) plan, pension and health insurance benefits.

A copy of the Services Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Secondment Agreement . On March 26, 2007, the General Partner and Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P. (“O&M Services”), entered into a services and secondment agreement (the “Secondment Agreement”), pursuant to which certain employees of O&M Services are seconded to the General Partner to provide operating and routine maintenance services with respect to the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal under the direction, supervision and control of the General Partner. Under the Secondment Agreement, the General Partner will pay O&M Services amounts that it receives from Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. under that Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated February 25, 2005, and filed with the Commission on March 2, 3005, as Exhibit 10.5 to Cheniere Energy, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (the “O&M Agreement”). The Secondment Agreement may be terminated upon either termination of the O&M Agreement or 30 days written notice by the General Partner.

A copy of the Secondment Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Long-Term Incentive Plan . In connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering, the board of directors of General Partner adopted the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner and the employees and consultants of its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership or its subsidiaries. The Plan provides for the grant of restricted units (including unit distribution rights), unit options, phantom units and unit appreciation rights and, with respect to unit options, phantom units and unit appreciation rights, the grant of distribution equivalent rights, or DERs. Subject to adjustment for certain events, an aggregate of 1,250,000 common units may be delivered or reserved for delivery pursuant to awards under the Plan.


The board of directors of the General Partner, or, in the board’s discretion, its compensation committee, in its discretion, may initiate, terminate, suspend or discontinue the Plan at any time with respect to any award that has not yet been granted. The General Partner’s board of directors, or its compensation committee, also has the right to alter or amend the Plan, or any part of the Plan, from time to time, including increasing the number of common units that may be granted, subject to unitholder approval as required by the exchange upon which the common units are listed at that time. However, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially impair the rights of a participant without the participant’s written consent.

A copy of the Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

Contribution Agreement . Effective March 26, 2007, the Partnership, the General Partner, Holdings, Investments, Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. (“Sabine Pass GP”), and Sabine Pass LNG-LP, LLC (“Sabine Pass LP”) entered into a Contribution and Conveyance Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, among other things, (i) Holdings conveyed to Investments 100% of the outstanding common stock of Sabine Pass GP and 100% of the member interests in Sabine Pass LP, (ii) Holdings conveyed to the General Partner that portion of Holdings’ interest in Investments having a value equal to 2% of the equity value of the Partnership immediately upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, (iii) the General Partner conveyed to the Partnership the interest in Investments previously conveyed to it by Holdings and (iv) Holdings conveyed to the Partnership the remainder of its interest in Investments not previously conveyed to the General Partner. As a result of these transfers, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and the Partnership became the owner of the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal. These transfers and distributions were made in a series of steps outlined in the Contribution Agreement.

A copy of the Contribution Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference. As outlined in Item 1.01 above, the Partnership has certain additional relationships with certain parties to the Contribution Agreement.

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

Effective March 26, 2007, the Partnership amended and restated its Agreement of Limited Partnership in connection with the closing of its initial public offering. A description of the First Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement is contained in the section entitled “The Partnership Agreement” in the Partnership’s final prospectus, dated March 20, 2007 (File No. 333-139572) and filed with the Commission on March 21, 2007 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference. A copy of the Partnership’s Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, as adopted, is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.


Effective March 26, 2007, the General Partner amended and restated its Limited Liability Company Agreement in connection with the closing of Partnership’s initial public offering. A copy of the General Partner’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as adopted, is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated March 20, 2007, by and among Cheniere Energy, Inc., Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC and Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
3.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
3.2    First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cheneire Energy Partners GP, LLC.
10.1    Services Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. and Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc.
10.2    Secondment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC and Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P.
10.3    Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.4    Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, among Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC, Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and Sabine Pass LNG-LP, LLC.


SIGNATURES

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

 

  CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
  By:   CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC,
    its general partner
Date: March 26, 2007   By:  

/s/ Don A. Turkleson

  Name:   Don A. Turkleson
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated March 20, 2007, by and among Cheniere Energy, Inc., Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC and Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
3.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
3.2    First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cheneire Energy Partners GP, LLC.
10.1    Services Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. and Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc.
10.2    Secondment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, between Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC and Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P.
10.3    Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.4    Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, among Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC, Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and Sabine Pass LNG-LP, LLC.

Exhibit 1.1

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

13,500,000 Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

New York, New York

March 20, 2007

C ITIGROUP G LOBAL M ARKETS I NC .

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH I NCORPORATED

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (the “ Partnership ”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you (the “ Representatives ”) are acting as representatives, 5,054,164 common units (the “ MLP Units ”), each representing a limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”), and Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Holdings ”), proposes to sell to the several Underwriters 8,445,836 Common Units (the “ Holdings Units ” and, together with the MLP Units, the “ Firm Units ”). Holdings also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 2,025,000 additional Common Units to cover over-allotments (the “ Option Units ” and, together with the Firm Units, the “ Units ”). Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 21 hereof.

It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the Partnership was formed by Cheniere Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Cheniere ”), to develop, own and operate the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal currently under construction in western Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on the Sabine Pass Channel (the “ Sabine Pass Assets ”), as described more particularly in the Preliminary Prospectus (as defined herein).

It is further understood and agreed to by all parties that as of the date hereof:

(a) Cheniere indirectly owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Holdings;

(b) Holdings owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), which is the sole general partner of the Partnership, and which owns a 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership;

 

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(c) Holdings owns a 98% limited partner interest in the Partnership;

(d) Holdings owns 100% of the outstanding common stock in Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Operating GP ”), which is the sole general partner of Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Sabine Pass ”), and which owns a non-economic general partner interest in Sabine Pass;

(e) Holdings owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Sabine Pass LNG-LP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Operating LP ”), which owns a 100% limited partner interest in Sabine Pass;

(f) the Partnership owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Investments ”); and

(g) Sabine Pass owns 100% of the Sabine Pass Assets.

It is further understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the following transactions will occur on the Closing Date:

(a) Holdings, the General Partner, the Partnership, Investments, the Operating GP and the Operating LP will enter into a Contribution and Conveyance Agreement (the “ Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which:

(i) Holdings will contribute to Investments 100% of the outstanding common stock in the Operating GP and 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating LP in exchange for 10,000 units in Investments;

(ii) Holdings will contribute to the General Partner a portion of its limited liability company interests in Investments;

(iii) the General Partner will contribute to the Partnership its limited liability company interests in Investments in exchange for the continuation of its 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and all of the incentive distribution rights in the Partnership (as defined in the Partnership Agreement, the “ Incentive Distribution Rights ”); and

(iv) Holdings will contribute to the Partnership its remaining limited liability company interest in Investments in exchange for 21,362,193 Common Units and 135,383,831 subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Subordinated Units ”), the right, in certain circumstances, to receive distributions from the distribution reserve pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, and the obligation, in certain circumstances, to make contributions to the distribution reserve pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement;

(b) the public offering of the Firm Units contemplated hereby will be consummated;

 

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(c) the Partnership will use the net proceeds from its issuance and sale of MLP Units to fund $98,442,481 million distribution reserve as described in the Preliminary Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”;

(d) the Partnership will amend and restate its agreement of limited partnership (as so amended and restated, the “ Partnership Agreement ”) to conform to the form thereof set forth as Appendix A to the Prospectus;

(e) the General Partner will amend and restate its limited liability company agreement (as so amended and restated, the “ GP LLC Agreement ”);

(f) the Partnership will enter into a services agreement with Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Terminals ”), pursuant to which Terminals will provide various general and administrative services to the General Partner for an annual administrative fee of $10 million and reimbursement of its expenses (the “ Services Agreement ”);

(g) the General Partner will enter into the Assignment, Assumption, Consent and Release Agreement (the “ O&M Assignment ”) with Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ O&M ”), under which the General Partner will assume the obligations of Sabine Pass existing under an Operation and Maintenance Agreement (the “ O&M Agreement ”) between Sabine Pass and O&M; and

(h) the General Partner will enter into a services and secondment agreement (the “ Secondment Agreement ”), pursuant to which certain employees of O&M will be seconded to the General Partner.

The transactions contemplated in subparagraphs (a) through (h) above shall be referred to collectively as the “ Transactions .” The Contribution Agreement, the O&M Assignment, the Services Agreement and the Secondment Agreement shall be referred to collectively as the “ Transaction Documents .” The “ Organizational Documents ” shall mean the Partnership Agreement, the GP LLC Agreement, the Investments LLC Agreement, the Operating GP Charter, the Operating LP LLC Agreement and the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement (each as defined below), collectively. The “ Operative Agreements ” shall mean the Transaction Documents and the Organizational Documents, collectively. The Partnership, the General Partner, Investments, the Operating GP, the Operating LP and Sabine Pass shall be referred to collectively as the “ Partnership Entities .” Cheniere, Holdings, the Partnership, the General Partner and Investments shall be referred to collectively as the “ Cheniere Parties ,” and, together with Cheniere Marketing, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Cheniere Marketing ”), Terminals and O&M, the “ Cheniere Entities .”

 

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This is to confirm the agreement among the Cheniere Parties and the Underwriters concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership and Holdings by the Underwriters.

1. Representations and Warranties . Each of the Cheniere Parties, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) Registration . The Partnership has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (file number 333-139572) on Form S-1, including a related preliminary prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Units. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Applicable Time, has become effective. The Partnership may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to the Representatives. The Partnership will file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus shall contain all information required by the Act and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Representatives prior to the Applicable Time or, to the extent not completed at the Applicable Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Partnership has advised the Representatives, prior to the Applicable Time, will be included or made therein.

(b) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Registration Statement or Prospectus . Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, and did 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and on any date on which Option Units are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “ settlement date ”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act; on the Effective Date and at the Applicable Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and in any Preliminary Prospectus provided to the Underwriters for use in connection with the public offering of the Units, and to be made in the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the Act, including (but not limited to) any statements with respect to projected results of operations, estimated available cash and future cash distributions of the Partnership, and any statements made in support thereof or related thereto under the heading “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions” or the anticipated ratio of taxable income to distributions, was made or will be made with a reasonable basis and in good faith; provided , however, that the Partnership makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Partnership by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives

 

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specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Disclosure Package . (i) The Disclosure Package and the price to the public, the number of Firm Units and the number of Option Units to be included on the cover page of the Prospectus, when taken together as a whole, and (ii) each electronic road show when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, and the price to the public, the number of Firm Units and the number of Option Units to be included on the cover page of the Prospectus, do not, as of the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(d) Eligible Issuer . (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Partnership was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Partnership be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(f) Formation and Qualification . Each of the Cheniere Entities has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing as a limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to own or lease and to operate its properties currently owned or leased or to be owned or leased on the Closing Date and each settlement date and to conduct its business as currently conducted or as to be conducted on the Closing Date and each settlement date, in each case as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Each of the Partnership Entities is, or at the Closing Date and each settlement date will be, duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, and is in good

 

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standing under the laws of each jurisdiction that requires, or at the Closing Date and each settlement date will require, such qualification or registration, except where the failure to be so qualified or registered could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, results of operations, business or properties, taken as a whole, whether or not from transactions arising in the ordinary course of business, of the Partnership Entities (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), or subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability.

(g) Power and Authority to Act as a General Partner . The General Partner has, and, on the Closing Date and each settlement date, will have, full power and authority to act as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Operating GP has, and, as of the Closing Date and each settlement date, will have, full power and authority to act as general partner of Sabine Pass in all material respects as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Ownership of the General Partner . Holdings owns, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, will own, 100% of the limited liability company interests in the General Partner; such limited liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement, and are fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Delaware LLC Act ”)); and Holdings owns such limited liability company interests free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or other claims (“ Liens ”) (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus).

(i) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership . The General Partner is, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership, with a 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership represented by [3,302,045] General Partner Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement); the General Partner Units have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and the General Partner will own such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus).

(j) Ownership of Holdings Units . Holdings has, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date will have, good and valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) in respect of, the Holdings Units, free and clear of all Liens.

(k) Protected Purchasers . Upon payment for and delivery of the Holdings Units, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“ Cede ”) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”), registration of the Holdings Units in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of the Holdings Units on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters

 

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(assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Holdings Units), (i) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of the Holdings Units within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (ii) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of the Holdings Units and (iii) no action based on any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to the Holdings Units may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement. For purposes of this representation, the Cheniere Parties may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (A) the Holdings Units will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Partnership’s unit registry in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and applicable law, (B) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (C) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.

(l) Ownership of Sponsor Units and Incentive Distribution Rights . On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, Holdings will own 12,916,357 Common Units and 135,383,831 Subordinated Units (the “ Sponsor Units” ), and the General Partner will own all of the Incentive Distribution Rights; all of the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act (the “ Delaware LP Act ”)); and Holdings will own the Sponsor Units, and the General Partner will own the Incentive Distribution Rights, free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus).

(m) Valid Issuance of the Units . The Units to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Partnership have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.)

(n) Capitalization . At the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions and the offering of the Firm Units as contemplated by this Agreement, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the Partnership will consist of 26,416,357 Common Units, 135,383,831 Subordinated Units, 3,302,045 General Partner Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights. Other than the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, the Units will be the only limited partner interests in the Partnership issued and outstanding on the Closing Date and, except for any units issued by the Partnership in accordance with 5(g) of this Agreement, on each settlement date.

(o) Ownership of Investments . The Partnership owns, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Partnership will

 

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own 100% of the limited liability company interests in Investments; such limited liability company interests will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Investments (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ Investments LLC Agreement ”) and will be fully paid (to the extent required by the Investments LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership will own such limited liability company interests free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Investments LLC Agreement).

(p) Ownership of the Operating GP . On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, Investments will own 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Operating GP; such common stock will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the certificate of incorporation of the Operating GP (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ Operating GP Charter ”) and will be fully paid and nonassessable; and Investments will own such common stock free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Operating GP Charter).

(q) Ownership of the Operating LP . On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, Investments will own 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating LP; such limited liability company interests will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the Operating LP (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the Closing Date, the “ Operating LP LLC Agreement ”) and will be fully paid (to the extent required by the Operating LP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Investments will own such limited liability company interests free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Operating LP LLC Agreement).

(r) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in Sabine Pass . The Operating GP is, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will be, the sole general partner of Sabine Pass and owns and will own a non-economic general partner interest in Sabine Pass; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreement of limited partnership of Sabine Pass (the “ Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement ”); and the Operating GP owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for Liens as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement.).

(s) Ownership of the Limited Partner Interest in Sabine Pass . The Operating LP owns, and on the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will own a 100% limited partner interest in Sabine Pass; such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Sabine

 

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Pass Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Operating LP owns and will own such limited partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for Liens as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement).

(t) Ownership of the Cheniere Subsidiaries . Cheniere, directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock, or partnership interests, as the case may be, in each of Cheniere Marketing, Terminals and O&M (collectively, the “ Cheniere Subsidiaries ”), in each case free and clear of all Liens.

(u) No Other Subsidiaries . Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities will, on the Closing Date and each settlement date, own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.

(v) No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options . Except as identified in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no (i) preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restrictions upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of the Partnership Entities or (ii) outstanding options or warrants to purchase any securities of the Partnership Entities. Except for such rights that have been waived or as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Units or other securities of the Partnership.

(w) Authority and Authorization . Each of the Cheniere Parties has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder. The Partnership has all requisite partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver (i) the MLP Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) the Sponsor Units, the General Partner Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement and the Contribution Agreement. Holdings has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to sell and deliver the Holdings Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement the Holdings LLC Agreement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. On the Closing Date and each settlement date, all corporate, partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the Cheniere Entities or any of their stockholders, members or partners, as the case may be, for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units, the Sponsor Units, the General Partner Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, the sale and delivery of the Holdings Units and the consummation of the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and the Operative Agreements, shall have been validly taken.

 

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(x) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement .. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cheniere Parties.

(y) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of Operative Agreements . At or before the Closing Date:

(i) the Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the General Partner and Holdings and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the General Partner and Holdings, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms;

(ii) the GP LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Holdings and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms;

(iii) the Investments LLC Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms;

(iv) the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Operating GP and the Operating LP and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Operating GP and the Operating LP, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms; and

(v) each of the Transaction Documents will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Cheniere Entities party thereto, and each will be a valid and legally binding agreement of each such Cheniere Entity, enforceable against each such Cheniere Entity in accordance with its terms;

provided , however, that with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(y), 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 (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and provided further that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any of such agreements may be limited by applicable laws and public policy.

(z) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of Certain Other Agreements . Each agreement or other instrument listed on Exhibit B hereto (each as amended, collectively, the “ Covered Agreements ”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Cheniere Entities party thereto, and each is a valid and legally binding agreement of each such Cheniere Entity, enforceable against each such Cheniere Entity in accordance with its terms; provided , however, that with respect to

 

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each Covered Agreement, 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 (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and provided further that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any of such Covered Agreements may be limited by applicable laws and public policy.

(aa) No Conflicts . None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the MLP Units, (ii) the offering or sale by Holdings of the Holdings Units, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Operative Agreements by the Cheniere Entities party hereto or thereto or (iv) the consummation of any other transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Agreements (A) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of formation or conversion, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other constituent document of any of the Cheniere Entities (collectively, the “ Constituent Documents ”), (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Cheniere Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Cheniere Entities or any of their properties or assets in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the Cheniere Entities, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D), would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or would materially impair the ability of the Cheniere Entities to consummate the transactions (including the Transactions) provided for in this Agreement or the Operative Agreements.

(bb) No Consents . No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification of or with any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Cheniere Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the MLP Units, (ii) the offering or sale by Holdings of the Holdings Units, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Operative Agreements or the fulfillment of the terms thereof by the Cheniere Entities party hereto or thereto or (iv) the consummation of any other transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Agreements, except (i) for such permits, consents, approvals and similar authorizations required under the Act, the Exchange Act and blue sky laws of any jurisdiction, (ii) for such consents that have been, or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, (iii) for such consents that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and (iv) as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(cc) No Defaults . None of the Cheniere Entities is (i) in violation of its Constituent Documents or any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the Cheniere Entities or any of their properties or assets or (ii) in breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which breach, default or violation, if continued, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) Conformity of Units to Description . The Units, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and this Agreement against payment therefor as provided therein and herein, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(ee) No Labor Dispute . No labor problem or dispute with the employees of any Partnership Entity, O&M or Terminals with respect to the Sabine Pass Assets exists or, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, is threatened or imminent, and none of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer of any of the Cheniere Entities is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the Partnership Entities’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, in either case that would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(ff) Sufficiency of the Contribution Agreement . The Contribution Agreement will be legally sufficient to transfer or convey to the Partnership and its subsidiaries satisfactory title to, or valid rights to use or manage, all properties not already held by them that are, individually or in the aggregate, required to enable the Partnership and its subsidiaries to conduct their operations in all material respects as contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subject to the conditions, reservations, encumbrances and limitations described therein or contained in the Contribution Agreement. The Partnership and its subsidiaries, upon execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, will succeed in all material respects to the business, assets, properties, liabilities and operations reflected in the pro forma financial statements of the Partnership.

(gg) Financial Statements . The historical financial statements of the Partnership, its combined predecessors and the General Partner included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the financial condition of each of the Partnership, its combined predecessors and the General Partner, and the results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership’s combined predecessors, as of the dates and for the periods indicated; such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The summary historical

 

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and pro forma financial information set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement under the caption “Summary—Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data of Our Combined Predecessor Entities,” and the selected historical and pro forma financial information set forth under the caption “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data of Our Combined Predecessor Entities” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and Registration Statement is accurately presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements, as applicable, from which it has been derived. The pro forma financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

(hh) Independent Public Accountants . UHY LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Partnership, its combined predecessors and the General Partner and delivered its reports with respect to the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Partnership within the meaning of the Act.

(ii) Litigation . Except as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there is no (i) action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Cheniere Parties, threatened, to which any of the Cheniere Entities is or may be a party or to which the business or property of any of the Cheniere Entities is or may be subject, (ii) statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency with respect to any Cheniere Entity or (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 Cheniere Entities is or may be subject, that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, would, individually or in the aggregate, (A) have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the suspension of the offering and issuance of the Units or (C) in any manner draw into question the validity of this Agreement.

(jj) Title to Properties . On the Closing Date and each settlement date, each of the Partnership Entities will have good and indefeasible title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as owned by Partnership Entities, free and clear of all Liens except (i) as described, and subject to limitations contained, in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) as do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as they have been used in the past and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; with respect to any real property

 

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and buildings held under lease by the Partnership Entities, such real property and buildings are held under valid and subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use of the properties of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole as they have been used in the past as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(kk) Rights-of-Way . Except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for those that the Partnership Entities expect to obtain in the ordinary course of business during construction of the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal, on the Closing Date and each settlement date, each of the Partnership Entities will have such easements or rights-of-way from each person (collectively, “ rights-of-way ”) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus with respect to the Sabine Pass Assets, except for (i) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Partnership Entities has, or following consummation of the Transactions will have, fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such rights-of-way, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that is materially burdensome to the Partnership Entities, taken as a whole.

(ll) Tax Returns . Each of the Partnership Entities has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(mm) Insurance . The Partnership Entities are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which they are engaged, and all such insurance is in full force and effect.

(nn) Distribution Restrictions . No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from

 

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transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(oo) Possession of Licenses and Permits . Except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for those that the Partnership Entities expect to obtain in the ordinary course of business during construction of the Sabine Pass receiving terminal, the Partnership Entities possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “ Governmental Licenses ”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business associated with the Sabine Pass Assets in their current stage of development, except where the failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Partnership Entities are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Cheniere Entities have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(pp) Environmental Laws . Except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for those that the Partnership Entities expect to obtain in the ordinary course of business during construction of the Sabine Pass receiving terminal, with respect to the Sabine Pass Assets, the Partnership Entities (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the prevention of pollution or protection of the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received all permits required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as presently conducted, (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits and (iv) do not have any liability in connection with the release into the environment of any Hazardous Material, except in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Hazardous Material ” 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 or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any applicable Environmental Law.

(qq) Possession of Intellectual Property . Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Partnership Entities own or possess, or can acquire on

 

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reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to carry on the business associated with the Sabine Pass Assets, and (ii) the Cheniere Entities have not received any notice and are not otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances that would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interests in the Partnership Entities.

(rr) Certain Relationships and Related Transactions . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any Cheniere Entity, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of any Partnership Entity, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus but is not so described.

(ss) ERISA . On the Closing Date and each settlement date, each Partnership Entity will be in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which any Partnership Entity (after giving effect to the Transactions) would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply; no Partnership Entity (after giving effect to the Transactions) expects to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the Code ); and each “pension plan” for which any Partnership Entity would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, that would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(tt) Independent Engineer’s Report . The information prepared by the Cheniere Parties and furnished to Stone & Webster Management Consultants Inc. (the “ Independent Engineer ”) in connection with the Independent Engineer’s report appearing as Appendix B to the Prospectus (the “ Independent Engineer’s Report ”) is true and correct in all material respects.

(uu) Description of Legal Proceedings and Contracts; Filing of Exhibits . There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, threatened or contemplated, against any of the Cheniere Parties, or to which any of the Cheniere Parties is a party, or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package but are not so described, and there are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package or to be filed as an exhibit to the

 

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Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the Act or the Exchange Act. The statements included in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.

(vv) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . On and after the Closing Date, the Partnership will be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and the rules of the American Stock Exchange LLC (the “ American Stock Exchange ”) that are effective and applicable to the Partnership.

(ww) Investment Company . None of the Partnership Entities is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Cheniere Entities will be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company,” each as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

(xx) Books and Records . Cheniere and its affiliates, on behalf of the Partnership Entities, maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that, with respect to the Partnership Entities, (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals, and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Cheniere’s internal controls over financial reporting applicable to the Partnership Entities are effective, and none of the Cheniere Entities is aware of any material weakness in internal control over financial reporting of either Cheniere and its affiliates, on a consolidated basis, or of the Partnership Entities.

(yy) Disclosure Controls and Procedures . (i) Cheniere and its affiliates, on behalf of the Partnership Entities, have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports it files or will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to management of the General Partner, including its principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

(zz) Market Stabilization . None of the Cheniere Entities has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

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(aaa) Loans to Directors and Officers . The Partnership Entities have provided true, correct and complete copies of all documentation pertaining to any extension of credit in the form of a personal loan made, directly or indirectly, by any of the Cheniere Entities to any director or executive officer of any of the Cheniere Entities or to any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of any of the Cheniere Entities.

(bbb) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . No Partnership Entity, nor, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of any Partnership Entity, is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; the Cheniere Entities and their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA; and Cheniere has instituted and maintains policies and procedures applicable to itself and all of its subsidiaries that are reasonably designed to ensure, and that are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(ccc) Anti-Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with, in each case to the extent applicable, the financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the anti-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 “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Cheniere Entities with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, threatened.

(ddd) Office of Foreign Assets Control . None of the Partnership Entities, nor, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of a Partnership Entity is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”); and 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.

 

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(eee) Lending Relationship . Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no Partnership Entity (i) has any material lending or, to the knowledge of the Cheniere Parties, other material relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any of the Underwriters or (ii) intends to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Units hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of the Underwriters.

(fff) Private Placement . The sale and issuance of the Sponsor Units to Holdings and the Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner are exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations and securities laws of any state having jurisdiction with respect thereto, and none of the Partnership Entities has taken or will take any action that would cause the loss of such exemption. The Partnership has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Act or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

(ggg) Statistical Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Partnership has obtained written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.

(hhh) No Distribution of Other Offering Materials . None of the Cheniere Entities has distributed or, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date or any settlement date and completion of the distribution of the Units, will distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with this Agreement, any other materials, if any, permitted by the Act, including Rule 134 thereunder and, in connection with the Directed Unit Program described in Section 4, the enrollment materials prepared by Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

(iii) Listing on the American Stock Exchange . The Units have been approved to be listed on the American Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

None of the Directed Units distributed in connection with the Directed Unit Program (each as defined in Section 4 hereof) will be offered or sold outside the United States. Neither the Partnership nor Holdings has offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, Units to any person pursuant to the Directed Unit Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of any Cheniere Entity to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with any Cheniere Entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about any such entity or its businesses.

Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Cheniere Parties and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the

 

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Units shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Cheniere Party, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. Purchase and Sale . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each of the Partnership and Holdings agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership and Holdings, at a purchase price of $19.5825 per unit, the number of Firm Units set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, Holdings hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 2,025,000 Option Units at the same purchase price per unit as the Underwriters shall pay for the Firm Units. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Units by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to Holdings setting forth the number of Option Units as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Units to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of Option Units to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Firm Units, subject to such adjustments as the Representatives in their absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional Units.

3. Delivery and Payment . Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units and the Option Units (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 26, 2007, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives, the Partnership and Holdings, or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Units being herein called the “ Closing Date ”). Delivery of the Units shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or, upon the order of the Partnership and Holdings, by wire transfers payable in same-day funds to accounts specified by the Partnership and Holdings. Delivery of the Firm Units and the Option Units shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

Holdings will pay all applicable state transfer taxes, if any, involved in the transfer to the several Underwriters of the Units to be purchased by them from Holdings, and the respective Underwriters will pay any additional transfer taxes involved in further transfers.

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date, Holdings will deliver the Option Units (at the expense of Holdings) to the Representatives, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said

 

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option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of Holdings by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by Holdings. If settlement for the Option Units occurs after the Closing Date, the Partnership and Holdings will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Units, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Units shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Units for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”) have agreed to reserve out of the Firm Units set forth opposite their names on Schedule I to this Agreement up to 400,000 and 225,000 Firm Units, respectively, for sale to employees, officers, and directors of the General Partner and other parties associated with the Partnership (collectively, the “ Directed Unit Participants ”), as described in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting” (the “ Directed Unit Program ”). The Firm Units to be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch pursuant to the Directed Unit Program (the “ Directed Units ”) will be sold by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Units not orally confirmed for purchase by any Directed Unit Participants by 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day following the date on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. Under no circumstances will Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch or any other Underwriter be liable to the Cheniere Parties or to any Directed Unit Participant for any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with the Directed Unit Program. It is further understood that any Directed Units not purchased by Directed Unit Participants will be offered by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Agreements . Each of the Cheniere Parties, jointly and severally, agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Preparation of Prospectus and Registration Statement . Prior to the termination of the offering of the Units, the Partnership will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Partnership has furnished the Representatives a copy for their review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. The Partnership will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Partnership will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any

 

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Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Units, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Units for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Partnership will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) Amendment or Supplement of Disclosure Package and Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the (i) Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Partnership will (A) promptly notify the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package or the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, may cease until the Disclosure Package or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is amended or supplemented; (B) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such statement, omission or conflict; and (C) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

(c) Amendment of Registration Statement or Supplement of Prospectus. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules thereunder, the Partnership promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Representatives in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

 

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(d) Reports to Unitholders. As soon as practicable, the Partnership will make generally available to its unitholders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.

(e) Signed Copies of the Registration Statement and Copies of the Prospectus. The Partnership will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(f) Qualification of Units. The Partnership will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Units for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Units; provided , however , that in no event shall the Partnership be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Units, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(g) Lock-Up Period. The Cheniere Parties will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any transaction designed to or that might reasonably be expected to (i) result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Partnership, Holdings, any of their affiliates or any person in privity with either of them or any of their affiliates, directly or indirectly, (including the filing or participation in the filing of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of) of, or (ii) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position (within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act), in, any common units of the Partnership or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such common units; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement; provided , however, that the Partnership (A) may issue and sell common units pursuant to, and file a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to, any employee benefit plan (including the Partnership’s long-term incentive plan) of the Partnership in effect at the Applicable Time, (B) may issue and sell common units in a private transaction exempt from registration under the Act; provided, however, that any such purchasers must execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto and (C) the Partnership may issue common units issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Applicable Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, if (i) during the last 17 days of the 180-day lock-up period set forth above (the “ Lock-up Period ”), the Partnership issues an earnings release or announces material news or a material event; or

 

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(ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period, then the restrictions described in this paragraph will continue to apply until expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or material event. The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, will provide the Representatives and any co-managers and each individual subject to the restricted period pursuant to the lock-up letters described in this Section and in Section 6[(n)] with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the restricted period.

(h) Price Manipulation. The Cheniere Entities will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

(i) Expenses. Holdings agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Units; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Units, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the execution of this Agreement or the original issuance and sale of the Units; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Units; (v) the registration of the Units under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Units on the American Stock Exchange; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Units for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings); (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Partnership representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Units; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Partnership’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Partnership; (x) the fees and expenses of the Independent Engineer; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Partnership and Holdings of their respective obligations hereunder; provided, however , that except as otherwise provided in this Section 4(i), Section 7 or Section 8, the Underwriters shall bear and pay (i) all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees

 

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and expenses of their counsel, and (ii) expenses in connection with any tombstones and similar advertisements published by the Underwriters after the Effective Date.

(j) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Partnership agrees that, unless it has obtained or will obtain the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Partnership that, unless it has obtained or will obtain, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Partnership and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission or retained by the Partnership under Rule 433; provided , however , that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show within the meaning of Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Partnership is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Partnership agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(k) Form W-9 and Certification of Non-Foreign Status. Holdings will deliver to the Representatives prior to the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 and a duly executed certification of non-foreign status pursuant to Section 1445(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2).

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Units and the Option Units, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Cheniere Parties contained herein as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Cheniere Parties made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Cheniere Parties of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus and any supplement thereto have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any material required to be filed by the Partnership pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

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(b) The Partnership shall have requested and caused Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Cheniere Entities, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:

(i) Formation and Qualification. Each of the Partnership Entities, Holdings, Terminals, O&M and Cheniere Marketing has been duly formed or incorporated, and each of the Cheniere Entities is validly existing and is in good standing as a limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all limited liability company, partnership or corporate, as the case may be, power and authority necessary to own or lease its properties, to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged and to execute and deliver, and incur and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the GP LLC Agreement and the Partnership Agreement to which it is a party and, in the case of the General Partner and the Operating GP, to act as general partner of the Partnership and Sabine Pass, respectively, in each case as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(ii) Ownership of the General Partner. Holdings owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in the General Partner; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the GP LLC Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required by the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Holdings owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware (the “ DE UCC ”) naming Holdings as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Section 18-607 of the Delaware LLC Act.

(iii) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership with a 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership; 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 (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming the General Partner as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.

(iv) Protected Purchasers. Upon payment for, and delivery of, the Holdings Units, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of the Holdings Units

 

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in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of the Holdings Units on the books of DTC to “securities accounts” (within the meaning of Section 8-501(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York (the “ NY UCC ”) of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any “adverse claim” (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the NY UCC to the Holdings Units)), (i) the Underwriters will acquire a valid “security entitlement” (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NY UCC) in respect of the Holdings Units and (ii) no action based on any “adverse claim” (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(1) of the NY UCC) to the Holdings Units may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such “security entitlement.” For purposes of this opinion, such counsel may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (A) the Holdings Units will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Partnership’s unit registry in accordance with its certificate of formation, the Partnership Agreement and applicable law, (B) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(5) of the NY UCC) and (C) appropriate entries to the “securities accounts” of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the NY UCC.

(v) Ownership of Sponsor Units, Incentive Distribution Rights and Holdings Units. Holdings owns all of the Sponsor Units and, prior to giving effect to the sale thereof as contemplated by this Agreement, the Holdings Units, and the General Partner owns all of the Incentive Distribution Rights; all of the Sponsor Units, the Holdings Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, 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 Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and Holdings owns the Sponsor Units and, prior to giving effect to the sale thereof as contemplated by this Agreements, the Holdings Units and the General Partner owns the Incentive Distribution Rights, in each case free and clear of all Liens (except for restrictions on transferability as described in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Partnership Agreement) (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming Holdings or the General Partner, as applicable, as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel, without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.

(vi) Valid Issuance of the Units. The MLP Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in

 

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accordance with this 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 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act). Other than the Sponsor Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights, the Units are the only limited partnership interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding.

(vii) Ownership of Investments. The Partnership owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in Investments; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Investments LLC Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required by the Investments LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming the Partnership as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act.

(viii) Ownership of the Operating GP. Investments owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Operating GP; such common stock has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating GP Certificate and the Operating GP Bylaws and is fully paid and nonassessable; and Investments owns such common stock free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming Investments as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation.

(ix) Ownership of the Operating LP. Investments owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in the Operating LP; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating LP LLC Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required by the Operating LP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Investments owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming Investments as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act.

(x) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in Sabine Pass. The Operating GP is the sole general partner of Sabine Pass, with a

 

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non-economic general partner interest in Sabine Pass; such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement; and the Operating GP owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming the Operating GP as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act or (C) except for Liens described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(xi) Ownership of the Limited Partner Interest in Sabine Pass. The Operating LP is the sole limited partner of Sabine Pass, with a 100% limited partner interest in Sabine Pass; such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and the Operating LP owns such limited partner interest free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming the Operating LP as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act or (C) except for Liens described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(xii) Ownership of the Cheniere Subsidiaries. Cheniere, directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock, or partnership interests, as the case may be, in each of Cheniere Marketing, Terminals and O&M, in each case free and clear of all Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the DE UCC naming Cheniere or any direct or indirect parent of Cheniere Marketing, Terminals or O&M as debtor is on file as of a recent date in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to such counsel without independent investigation, other than those created by or arising under Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act.

(xiii) No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options. There are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any partnership interests or membership interests in the Partnership Entities, in each case pursuant to the Constituent Documents of such entity. No Person has the right, except as has been waived under the Operative Agreements (excluding the Operating GP Charter) or the Covered Agreements, to require the registration under the Securities Act of any sale

 

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of securities issued by the Partnership, by reason of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or offering or sale of the Units.

(xiv) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cheniere Parties.

(xv) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of the Operative Agreements. Each of the Transaction Documents, the GP LLC Agreement and the Partnership Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cheniere Entities party thereto, and each of the Transaction Agreements is a valid and legally binding agreement of each such Cheniere Entity, enforceable against each such Cheniere Entity in accordance with its terms, under the applicable laws of the State of Texas.

(xvi) Enforceability of Organizational Documents.

 

  (A) The GP LLC Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Holdings, and is enforceable against Holdings, in accordance with its terms, under the Delaware LLC Act.

 

  (B) The Investments LLC Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Partnership, and is enforceable against the Partnership, in accordance with its terms, under the Delaware LLC Act.

 

  (C) The Operating LP Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Investments, and is enforceable against Investments, in accordance with its terms, under the Delaware LLC Act.

 

  (D) The Partnership Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the General Partner and Holdings, and is enforceable against the General Partner and Holdings, in accordance with its terms, under the Delaware LP Act.

 

  (E) The Sabine Pass Partnership Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Operating GP and the Operating LP, and is enforceable against the Operating GP and the Operating LP, in accordance with its terms, under the Delaware LP Act.

(xvii) Enforceability of Covered Agreements.

 

  (A) Each of the New York Law Agreements (as defined in Exhibit B attached hereto) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each Cheniere Entity party thereto, enforceable against each such Cheniere Entity in accordance with its terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

 

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  (B) Each of the Texas Law Agreements (as defined in Exhibit B attached hereto) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each Cheniere Entity party thereto, enforceable against each such Cheniere Entity in accordance with its terms, under applicable laws of the State of Texas.

 

  (C) The Chevron Guaranty (as defined in Exhibit B attached hereto) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Sabine Pass, enforceable against Sabine Pass in accordance with its terms, under the applicable laws of the State of California.

(xviii) No Conflicts. None of (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Firm Units to be sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the offering and sale by Holdings of the Units to be sold by Holdings to the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by any of the Cheniere Parties, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, at or prior to the Closing, or (iv) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the Partnership Agreement and the GP LLC Agreement by each Cheniere Entity party thereto, or the incurrence or performance by each such Cheniere Entity of its obligations thereunder, each in accordance with its terms, (A) constituted, constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Constituent Documents of any of the Cheniere Entities, (B) constituted, constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under, or the creation of any Lien under, any Covered Agreement, the GP LLC Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or (C) resulted, results or will result in any violation of, or the creation of any Lien under, the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL, the applicable laws of the State of Texas or the applicable laws of the United States of America.

(xix) No Consents. No Governmental Approval, which has not been obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect, is required to authorize, or is required for (i) the execution and delivery by any of the Cheniere Entities party thereto of any Transaction Document, the Partnership Agreement and the GP LLC Agreement or the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the incurrence or performance of each Cheniere Entity’s respective obligations thereunder, (iii) the consummation of the issuance and sale of the Firm Units pursuant to this Agreement or (iv) the validity and enforceability of any Transaction Document, the Partnership Agreement and the GP LLC Agreement against the Cheniere Entities party thereto. As used in this paragraph, “Governmental Approval” means any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any executive, legislative, judicial,

 

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administrative or regulatory body of the State of Delaware, the State of Texas or the United States of America, pursuant to (i) the Delaware LP Act, (ii) the Delaware LLC Act, (iii) the DGCL, (iv) the applicable laws of the State of Texas or (v) the applicable laws of the United States of America.

(xx) Filings under Rule 424(b). Any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule.

(xxi) Description of Common Units. The Common Units conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof set forth under “Summary—The Offering,” “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “Description of the Common Units,” “How We Make Cash Distributions” and “The Partnership Agreement” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(xxii) Descriptions and Summaries. The statements made in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Principal Construction Agreements,” “Indebtedness,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties,” “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” “The Partnership Agreement,” “How We Make Cash Distributions,” “Description of the Common Units” and “Investment in Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. by Employee Benefit Plans,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of documents and legal matters referred to therein, fairly summarize such provisions and legal matters in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

(xxiii) Material Tax Consequences. The statements under the caption “Material Tax Consequences” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as they refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

(xxiv) Tax Opinion. The opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP that is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement (filed with the Commission on March 7, 2007) is confirmed, and the Underwriters may rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to them.

(xxv) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers and employees of the Cheniere Entities and upon information obtained from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to them as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to them conform to the originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents examined by them are genuine, (iii) state that its opinion is limited to matters governed by federal law and the Delaware LP Act, Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL, the applicable laws of the State of Texas, the applicable laws of the State of New York and the applicable laws of the State of California and (iv) include such other qualifications, limitations and assumptions as are reasonable.

In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the General Partner and the independent registered public accounting firm and the independent engineer for the Partnership, the Underwriters’ counsel and the Representatives, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed and, although they have not independently verified, are not passing upon, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs (xxiii), (xxiv) and (xxv) above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying with respect to factual matters to the extent they deem appropriate upon statements by officers and other representatives of the Cheniere Entities),

(A) such counsel confirms that, in their opinion, each of the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, the Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date and the Prospectus, as of its date, appeared on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel need not make a statement as to Regulation S-T);

(B) to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no documents that are required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so filed, or documents that are required to be summarized in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not so summarized; and

(C) no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that have led them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the applicable Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, it being understood that such counsel expresses no statement or belief with respect to (A) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (B) any other financial, accounting or statistical data included in, or excluded from, the Registration Statement, the

 

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Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and (C) representations and warranties and other statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement.

In addition, such counsel shall state that it has been advised orally (and in writing, if available) by the Commission that the Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act on March 20, 2007, and that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued. To the knowledge of such counsel based solely upon such oral communication with the Commission, no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or is pending or threatened by the Commission.

(c) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Cheniere’s general counsel addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:

(i) Litigation. To such counsel’s knowledge, except as described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which any of the Cheniere Entities is a party or to which any property of a Cheniere Entity is the subject, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the such Cheniere Entity, would have a Material Adverse Effect; and to such counsel’s knowledge, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others.

(d) The Representatives shall have received from Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Cheniere Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The General Partner shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Partnership, signed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Units, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Cheniere Parties in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and the Partnership has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

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(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(f) Holdings shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of Holdings, signed on behalf of Holdings by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of Holdings in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and Holdings has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Cheniere shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of Cheniere, signed on behalf of Cheniere by the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Cheniere, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of Cheniere in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and Cheniere has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

(h) The Cheniere Parties shall have requested and caused UHY LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Applicable Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that UHY LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act, and stating in effect that:

(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules and pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act;

(ii) on the basis of carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards), which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the members and directors of the General Partner; and inquiries of certain officials of the General Partner who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Partnership and

 

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its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to December 31, 2006, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that, with respect to the period subsequent to December 31, 2006, there were any changes, at a specified date not more than three days prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the Partnership and its subsidiaries or decreases in the partners’ equity of the Partnership as compared with the amounts shown on the December 31, 2006 consolidated balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or for the period from December 31, 2006 to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period from the prior year in total operating revenues or in total or per unit amounts of net income of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Partnership as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; or

(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Partnership and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus agrees with the accounting records of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.; and

(iv) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (the “pro forma financial statements”); carrying out certain specified procedures; inquiries of certain officials of the Partnership who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters; and proving the arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the pro forma financial statements, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that the pro forma financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements.

References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (i) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

(i) The Cheniere Parties shall have requested and caused the Independent Engineer to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Applicable Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that it:

(i) understands that the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will be delivered to potential investors in the Units;

 

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(ii) has performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which it determined that certain information set forth in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus agrees with the Independent Engineer’s Report;

(iii) consents to the (A) inclusion of the Independent Engineer’s Report in its entirety in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and in filings by the Partnership and Sabine Pass with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (B) use of its trade name and specific textual references to the conclusions of the Independent Engineer’s Report in the sections of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus entitled “Summary—Independent Engineer’s Report,” “Summary—Forecast of Cash Available to Pay Distributions” and “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions,” and (C) use of its trade name and the specific textual references in the section of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus entitled “Independent Engineer.”

(j) Subsequent to the Applicable Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Cheniere Entities taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Units as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(k) Prior to the Closing Date, the Cheniere Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(l) Subsequent to the Applicable Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of Sabine Pass’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

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(m) The Units shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the American Stock Exchange, and reasonably satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.

(n) At the Applicable Time, the Cheniere Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each officer and director of the General Partner.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Partnership in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the offices of Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 600 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002, on the Closing Date.

7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . If the sale of the Units provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Cheniere Parties to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Cheniere Parties will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Units.

8. Indemnification and Contribution

(a) Each of the Cheniere Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or in any amendment thereof, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue

 

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statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospects, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any other “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in or to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (ii) reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Cheniere Parties will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Cheniere Parties by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Cheniere Parties may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Cheniere Parties, each director of the General Partner, each of the General Partner’s officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls any Cheniere Party within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the parties foregoing indemnity from the Cheniere Parties to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Cheniere Parties by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have. Each Cheniere Party acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Units and, under the heading “Underwriting” (i) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Units, (ii) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iii) the paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) Each of the Cheniere Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch and each person who controls Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or Merrill Lynch within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act (“Pertinent Entities”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim), insofar as such losses, claims damages or

 

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liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) were caused by the failure of any Directed Unit Participant to pay for and accept delivery of the Directed Units that, following the Applicable Time, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase or (ii) are related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Unit Program, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability is finally judicially determined to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Pertinent Entities.

(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided , however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,

 

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if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, together with in each case the directors, officers, employees and agents thereof, and all persons, if any, who control the same within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the Directed Unit Program.

(e) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Cheniere Parties agree, jointly and severally, and the Underwriters severally agree, to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “ Losses ”) to which the Cheniere Parties and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Cheniere Parties, on the one hand, and by the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Units; provided , however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Units) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Units purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Cheniere Parties and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Cheniere Parties, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Cheniere Parties shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Cheniere Parties, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Cheniere Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the General Partner,

 

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the Partnership or Investments within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of any of the General Partner, the Partnership or Investments who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of any of the General Partner, the Partnership or Investments shall have the same rights to contribution as the Cheniere Parties, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (e).

9. Default by an Underwriter . If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Units agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions that number of Units set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate number of Units set forth opposite the names of all of the remaining Underwriters) the Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided , however, that, if the aggregate number of Units that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate number of Units set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Units, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Units, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Cheniere Parties. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Cheniere Parties and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination . This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Partnership and Holdings prior to delivery of and payment for the Units, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Partnership’s Units shall have been suspended by the Commission or the American Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities, (iii) a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Units as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Cheniere Parties or their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any

 

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Underwriter or the Cheniere Parties or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Units. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Partnership, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., at 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002 and confirmed to the Corporate Secretary.

13. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

14. No Fiduciary Duty . Each of the Cheniere Parties hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Cheniere Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliates through which they may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Cheniere Parties and (c) the Cheniere Parties’ engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, each of the Cheniere Parties agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Cheniere Parties on related or other matters). Each of the Cheniere Parties agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to any of the Cheniere Parties, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto.

15. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Cheniere Parties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

17. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the Cheniere Parties 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.

 

43


18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

19. Headings . The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

20. Definitions . The following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Applicable Time ” means 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 20, 2007.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Disclosure Package ” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Units, (ii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and (iii) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

Effective Date ” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

Preliminary Prospectus ” shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) hereof and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information.

 

44


Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Units that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Applicable Time.

Registration Statement ” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Units that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 164 ,” “ Rule 172 ,” “ Rule 405 ,” “ Rule 424 ,” “ Rule 430A ” and “ Rule 433 ” refer to such rules under the Act.

Rule 430A Information ” shall mean information with respect to the Units and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.

 

45


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Cheniere Parties and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
By:   /s/ Stanley C. Horton
Name:   Stanley C. Horton
Title:   President & Chief Operating Officer

 

CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley C. Horton
Name:   Stanley C. Horton
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC
its general partner
By:   /s/ Stanley C. Horton
Name:   Stanley C. Horton
Title:   President & Chief Operating Officer

 

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley C. Horton
Name:   Stanley C. Horton
Title:   President & Chief Operating Officer

 

46


CHENIERE ENERGY INVESTMENTS, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley C. Horton
Name:   Stanley C. Horton
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

47


  

The foregoing Agreement is hereby

confirmed and accepted as of the

date first above written.

C ITIGROUP G LOBAL M ARKETS I NC .

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH I NCORPORATED

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

 

By:   CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:   /s/ Sean Dolan
  Name: Sean Dolan
  Title: Director

For themselves and the other

several Underwriters named in

Schedule I to the foregoing

Agreement.

 

48


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Number of Firm Units
to be Purchased

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   4,050,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

   3,375,000

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   3,375,000

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

   1,350,000

Sanders Morris Harris Inc.

   607,500

Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc.

   607,500

Howard Weil Incorporated

   90,450

Pritchard Capital Partners

   31,050

FIG Partners, LLC

                     Energy Capital Group

   13,500

Total

   13,500,000
    

 

I-1


SCHEDULE II

Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

None.

 

II-1


SCHEDULE III

Parties to Lock-Up Agreements

Charif Souki

Stanley C. Horton

Don A. Turkleson

Craig Townsend

Meg Gentle

Lon McCain

Robert J. Sutcliffe

Walter L. Williams

 

III-1


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER

March 20, 2007

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), between Cheniere Energy, Inc., Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”), Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC (the “ General Partner ”) and Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC, and each of you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an underwritten public offering of units, representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Partnership Units ”).

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into this Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any Common Units of the Partnership or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such Common Units, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, other than Partnership Units disposed of as bona fide gifts approved by the Representatives.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, if (i) during the last 17 days of the 180-day lock-up period set forth above (the “ Lock-up Period ”), the Partnership issues an earnings release or announces material news or a material event; or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period, then the restrictions described in the preceding

 

A-1


paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or material event. The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the General Partner has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to provide written notice of any event that would result in an extension of the Lock-Up Period and agrees that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have given to, and received by, the undersigned.

If for any reason this Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in this Agreement), the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

Yours very truly,

 

A-2


EXHIBIT B

Covered Agreements

Part A – New York Law Material Agreements

 

1. Terminal Use Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2004 (the “ Total TUA ”), between Total LNG USA, Inc. and Sabine Pass, as amended and supplemented by the Omnibus Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2004, between Total LNG USA, Inc. and Sabine Pass, and acknowledged by Cheniere and Total Gas & Power North America, Inc., and as further amended by the Amendment of LNG Terminal Use Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2005 (the “Total TUA Amendment”), between Total LNG USA, Inc. and Sabine Pass

 

2. Terminal Use Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2004 (the “Chevron TUA”), between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Sabine Pass, as amended and supplemented by the Omnibus Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2004, between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Sabine Pass and the Amendment to LNG Terminal Use Agreement, dated December 1, 2005, by and between Chevron USA, Inc. and Sabine Pass

 

3. Parent Guarantee, dated as of November 5, 2004, between Total S.A. and Sabine Pass

 

4. Amended and Restated Terminal Use Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and between Cheniere Marketing and Sabine Pass

 

5. Letter regarding Assumption and Adoption of Obligations under Settlement and Purchase Agreement, dated May 9, 2005, and Indemnification Agreement, dated May 9, 2005, by Cheniere

Part B – Texas Law Material Agreements

 

6. Lump Sum Turnkey Agreement for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the Sabine Pass Receiving, Storage and Regasification Terminal, dated as of December 18, 2004 (the “Bechtel EPC Contract”), between Bechtel Corporation and Sabine Pass, as amended and supplemented by Change Orders 1 through 42 thereto

 

7. Agreement for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management of Construction Services for the Sabine Phase 2 Receiving, Storage and Regasification Terminal Expansion, dated July 21, 2006, between Sabine Pass and Bechtel Corporation, as amended and supplemented by Change Order 1 thereto

 

8. Engineer, Procure and Construct LNG Tank Contract, dated July 21, 2006, among Sabine Pass, Zachry Construction Corporation and Diamond LNG LLC

 

9. Engineer, Procure and Construct LNG Unit Rate Soil Contract, dated July 21, 2006, between Sabine Pass and Remedial Construction Services, L.P.

 

B-1


10. Management Services Agreement, dated as of February 25, 2005 (the “Management Services Agreement”), between Sabine Pass and Sabine Pass GP

 

11. Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated February 25, 2005, between O&M Services and Sabine Pass

 

12. Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, by Cheniere in favor of Sabine Pass

 

13. Letter Agreement, dated November 9, 2006 (the “ Option Letter Agreement ”), by and among Cheniere Marketing, Cheniere LNG, Inc. and Sabine Pass

 

14. Management Services Agreement, dated September 1, 2006 (the “ GP MSA ”), between the Sabine Pass GP and Cheniere Terminals

Part C – Other Agreements

 

15. Indenture, dated as of July 27, 2005, between Cheniere, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as trustee

 

16. Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2005, between Cheniere and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC

 

17. Indenture, dated as of November 9, 2006, by and between Sabine Pass, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as trustee

 

18. Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, by and among Sabine Pass and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers

 

19. Collateral Trust Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and among Sabine Pass, The Bank of New York, as collateral trustee, Sabine Pass GP and Sabine Pass LP

 

20. Amended and Restated Parity Lien Security Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and between Sabine Pass and The Bank of New York, as collateral trustee

 

21. Amended and Restated Parity Lien Pledge Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and among Sabine Pass, Sabine Pass GP, Sabine Pass LP and The Bank of New York, as collateral trustee

 

22. Security Deposit Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and among Sabine Pass, The Bank of New York, as collateral trustee, and The Bank of New York, as depositary agent

 

23. Third Amended and Restated Multiple Indebtedness Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Security Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, between Sabine Pass, as mortgagor and The Bank of New York, as collateral trustee and mortgagee

 

B-2


24. Lease Agreement, dated January 15, 2005, between George A. Davis, Carmen V. Gebhardt Trust, Linda D. Diouhy Trust, Mary P. Davis Lakhardi, Edwin Scott Henry, Charles Gregory Henry, Candace Henry Olivier, Wilma Davis Bride, James Austin Guthrie, Earl Guthrie, Lonnie A. Davis, Jr., Daniel D. Davis, Sandra Denise Davis, Martha Davis Johnson, Sharon Davis Faulk, Daniel Ellender, Sally Ellender Gay and Sabine Pass; (b) the Lease Agreement, dated January 15, 2005, between Crain Brothers Ranch, Inc., M.A. Domatti Management Trust, Domatti Family Living Trust, Eva L. Domatti, Erika Domatti, Renata Domatti and Sabine Pass; and (c) the Lease Agreement, dated January 15, 2005, between Crain Lands, L.L.C. and Sabine Pass

 

25. Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2004 (the “ Chevron Guaranty ”), between ChevronTexaco Corporation and Sabine Pass

 

26. State Tax Sharing Agreement, dated November 9, 2006, by and between Cheniere and Sabine Pass

 

27. Settlement and Purchase Agreement dated as of June 14, 2001, by and among Cheniere, CXY Corporation, Crest Energy, L.L.C., Crest Investment Company and Freeport LNG Terminal, LLC, and two related letter agreements, each dated February 27, 2003

 

B-3

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 


FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 


 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1

   Definitions    A-1

Section 1.2

   Construction    A-19
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1

   Formation    A-20

Section 2.2

   Name    A-20

Section 2.3

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices    A-20

Section 2.4

   Purpose and Business    A-20

Section 2.5

   Powers    A-21

Section 2.6

   Power of Attorney    A-21

Section 2.7

   Term    A-22

Section 2.8

   Title to Partnership Assets    A-22
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 3.1

   Limitation of Liability    A-22

Section 3.2

   Management of Business    A-22

Section 3.3

   Outside Activities of the Limited Partners    A-23

Section 3.4

   Rights of Limited Partners    A-23
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS;
TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1

   Certificates    A-24

Section 4.2

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates    A-24

Section 4.3

   Record Holders    A-25

Section 4.4

   Transfer Generally    A-25

Section 4.5

   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests    A-25

Section 4.6

   Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest    A-26

Section 4.7

   Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights    A-27

Section 4.8

   Restrictions on Transfers    A-27

Section 4.9

   Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees    A-28

Section 4.10

   Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees    A-29

Section 4.11

   Taxation Certificates and Related Matters    A-30
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1   

Organizational Contributions

   A-30

Section 5.2

  

Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates

   A-30

Section 5.3

  

Contributions by Initial Limited Partners

   A-31

Section 5.4

  

Interest

   A-31

Section 5.5

  

Capital Accounts

   A-31

 

A-i


Section 5.6

  

Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities

   A-33

Section 5.7

  

Conversion of Subordinated Units

   A-34

Section 5.8

  

Limited Preemptive Right

   A-35

Section 5.9

  

Splits and Combinations

   A-35

Section 5.10

  

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

   A-36

Section 5.11

  

Distribution Reserve Account

   A-36
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1

  

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

   A-37

Section 6.2

  

Allocations for Tax Purposes

   A-42

Section 6.3

  

Requirement and Characterization of Cash Distributions; Cash Distributions to Record Holders

   A-44

Section 6.4

  

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

   A-45

Section 6.5

  

Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus

   A-46

Section 6.6

  

Adjustment of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

   A-46

Section 6.7

  

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units

   A-47

Section 6.8

  

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights

   A-47

Section 6.9

  

Entity-Level Taxation

   A-47
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1

  

Management

   A-48

Section 7.2

  

Certificate of Limited Partnership

   A-49

Section 7.3

  

Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority

   A-50

Section 7.4

  

Reimbursement of the General Partner

   A-50

Section 7.5

  

Outside Activities

   A-51

Section 7.6

  

Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members

   A-52

Section 7.7

  

Indemnification

   A-52

Section 7.8

  

Liability of Indemnitees

   A-54

Section 7.9

  

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

   A-54

Section 7.10

  

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

   A-56

Section 7.11

  

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities

   A-56

Section 7.12

  

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates

   A-56

Section 7.13

  

Reliance by Third Parties

   A-59
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1

  

Records and Accounting

   A-59

Section 8.2

  

Fiscal Year

   A-60

Section 8.3

  

Reports

   A-60
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1

  

Tax Returns and Information

   A-60

Section 9.2

  

Tax Elections

   A-60

Section 9.3

  

Tax Controversies

   A-61

Section 9.4

  

Withholding

   A-61

 

A-ii


ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1

  

Admission of Initial Limited Partners

   A-61

Section 10.2

  

Admission of Substituted Limited Partners

   A-61

Section 10.3

  

Admission of Successor General Partner

   A-62

Section 10.4

  

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

   A-62

Section 10.5

  

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

   A-62
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1

  

Withdrawal of the General Partner

   A-63

Section 11.2

  

Removal of the General Partner

   A-64

Section 11.3

  

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

   A-64

Section 11.4

  

Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages

   A-66

Section 11.5

  

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

   A-66
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1

  

Dissolution

   A-66

Section 12.2

  

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership

   A-66

Section 12.3

  

Liquidator

   A-67

Section 12.4

  

Liquidation

   A-67

Section 12.5

  

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

   A-68

Section 12.6

  

Return of Contributions

   A-68

Section 12.7

  

Waiver of Partition

   A-68

Section 12.8

  

Capital Account Restoration

   A-68
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1

  

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

   A-68

Section 13.2

  

Amendment Procedures

   A-69

Section 13.3

  

Amendment Requirements

   A-70

Section 13.4

  

Special Meetings

   A-70

Section 13.5

  

Notice of a Meeting

   A-71

Section 13.6

  

Record Date

   A-71

Section 13.7

  

Adjournment

   A-71

Section 13.8

  

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

   A-71

Section 13.9

  

Quorum and Voting

   A-71

Section 13.10

  

Conduct of a Meeting

   A-72

Section 13.11

  

Action Without a Meeting

   A-72

Section 13.12

  

Right to Vote and Related Matters

   A-73
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

Section 14.1

  

Authority

   A-73

Section 14.2

  

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

   A-73

 

A-iii


Section 14.3

  

Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

   A-74

Section 14.4

  

Certificate of Merger; Certificate of Conversion

   A-75

Section 14.5

  

Amendment of Partnership Agreement

   A-75

Section 14.6

  

Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

   A-76

Section 14.7

  

Business Combination Limitations

   A-76
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

Section 15.1

  

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

   A-77
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1

  

Addresses and Notices

   A-78

Section 16.2

  

Further Action

   A-78

Section 16.3

  

Binding Effect

   A-78

Section 16.4

  

Integration

   A-78

Section 16.5

  

Creditors

   A-78

Section 16.6

  

Waiver

   A-78

Section 16.7

  

Counterparts

   A-79

Section 16.8

  

Applicable Law

   A-79

Section 16.9

  

Invalidity of Provisions

   A-79

Section 16.10

  

Consent of Partners

   A-79

Section 16.11

  

Facsimile Signatures

   A-79

Section 16.12

  

Third Party Beneficiaries

   A-79

 

A-iv


FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., dated as of March 26, 2007, is entered into by and between Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the Organizational Limited Partner, 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 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.

Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.

Additional Book Basis ” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:

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

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

Additional Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “ Excess Additional Book Basis ”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.4 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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Adjusted Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right 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 Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

Adjusted Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period (a) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such period and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b) plus (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such period, and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus. Cash amounts held in the Distribution Reserve Account or amounts released therefrom shall not constitute Adjusted Operating Surplus.

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “ control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

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

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

Agreed Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution 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 First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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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, as required by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.

Assignment Agreement ” means the Assignment Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, between O&M Services, the General Partner and Sabine Pass LNG.

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) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter and (iii) the amount in the Distribution Reserve Account equal to the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution times the number of Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding General Partner Units on the Record Date for such Quarter (or, for the Quarter in which the closing of the Initial Public Offering occurs, such amount multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days in the period from the closing of the Initial Public Offering through the end of such Quarter and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter) but only to the extent such amounts are necessary to make distributions pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(i) and 6.4(a)(ii) for such Quarter, less

(b) the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures, for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group and for refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided , however , that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further , that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed, for purposes of determining Available Cash, to have been made, established, increased or reduced within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

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

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to the Board of Directors of the General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner.

 

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Book Basis Derivative Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain or 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, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).

Book-Down Event ” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A 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 5.5 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 an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

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

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right 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 Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property (which, in the case of a Capital Contribution by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.2(b) may include Units (other than General Partner Units) owned by the General Partner) that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets (including pipelines, gathering lines, regasification facilities, processing plants, LNG carriers, docks, terminals, truck racks, pipeline compression facilities, tankage and other storage, gathering and distribution facilities and related or similar assets) or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest, to fund the Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets (including pipelines, gathering lines, regasification facilities, processing plants, LNG carriers, docks, terminals, truck racks, pipeline compression facilities, tankage and other storage, gathering and distribution facilities and related or similar assets), in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction; provided , however , that to the extent any such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made solely for investment purposes it shall not constitute a Capital Improvement under this Agreement.

Capital Surplus ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).

 

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Carrying Value ” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed 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. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

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

Certificate ” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (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.

Cheniere LNG Holdings ” means Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Cheniere Marketing” means Cheniere Marketing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Citizenship 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 such Assignee or Limited Partner (and if such Assignee or Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of such Assignee’s or Limited Partner’s knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

claim ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).

Closing Date ” means the first date on which Common Units are issued and sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.

Closing Price ” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the official closing price on such day, regular way, or, if no official closing price is available, 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 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 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 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.

 

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

Commences Commercial Service ” means the date upon which a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service following construction and testing.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Commodity Hedge Contract ” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons (including liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas) in their operations and not for speculative purposes.

Common Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.

Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Initial Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not a security holder, officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units or any other class of Limited Partner Units then listed for trading on any National Securities Exchange and (d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by any 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 5.5(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 the Closing Date, among the Partnership, the General Partner 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.

Crest Royalty Agreement ” means the assumption, assignment and indemnity agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Partnership, the General Partner, Cheniere LNG Holdings and Cheniere Energy, Inc.

Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).

 

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

Current Market Price ” 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.

DGCL ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.7 of this Agreement.

Distribution Reserve Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).

“Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date” means the date of distribution of Available Cash for the Quarter ending June 30, 2009.

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

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee the General Partner determines does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

Eligible Investments ” means

(1) United States dollars;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government 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);

(3) certificates of deposit 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 domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper or tax exempt obligations having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; and

(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute cash equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition or a money market fund or a qualified investment fund given one of the two highest long-term ratings available from S&P or Moody’s.

Employee Benefit Plans ” means any qualified or non-qualified plan of deferred compensation or other arrangement (whether or not covered by ERISA), plan or agreement providing compensation or incentives to current, future or retired officers, directors, employees or consultants for the performance of services.

 

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“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or any successor law, and all rules, regulations, rulings and interpretations adopted by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor thereunder.

Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.

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

Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding commitment to commence construction or development of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund such construction period interest payments or such construction period distributions on equity paid during such period, shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, issued to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement.

FERC ” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Final Subordinated Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x).

First Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).

First Target Distribution ” means $0.489 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.489 multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Sections 6.6 and 6.9.

Fully Diluted Basis ” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided , however , that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or the Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided , further , that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the excess, if positive, of (i) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange over (ii) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.

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

 

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General Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

General Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a Unit.

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).

Incentive Distribution Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.

Incentive Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), Sections 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).

“Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.

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

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, manager, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member (other than any Person who is or was a Limited Partner of the Partnership in such Person’s capacity as such), 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, manager, 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.

 

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Ineligible Holder ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.11.

Initial Common Unit ” means a Common Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering.

Initial Limited Partners ” means Cheniere LNG Holdings, the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2(a)), and the Underwriters upon issuance by the Partnership of Common Units as described in Section 5.3 in connection with the Initial Public Offering.

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

Initial Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.425 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.425 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units for sale to the public 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.

Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (excluding any such sales to the extent the proceeds thereof are placed in the Distribution Reserve Account); (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; (d) the termination of Commodity Hedge Contracts or interest rate swap agreements prior to the termination date otherwise specified therein; (e) capital contributions received; and (f) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.

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

Issue Price ” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, reduced by any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.

Letter Agreement ” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, among Sabine Pass LNG, Cheniere Marketing and Cheniere LNG, Inc. regarding the J & S Cheniere S.A. Option Agreement.

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, 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(b), 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; provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles

 

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XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law.

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights 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; provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may be required by law.

Limited Partner Unit ” means each of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and other Units representing fractional parts of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees (but shall not include the Incentive Distribution Rights).

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, pursuant to Section 12.3, to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to the asset base owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) if such expenditures are made to maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) Expansion Capital Expenditures or (b) Investment Capital Expenditures. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund construction or development period interest payments, or such construction or development period distributions on equity, shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity, as the case may be, issued to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset.

Management Services Agreements ” means, collectively, the Management Services Agreement, dated February 25, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG and Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and the Management Services Agreement, dated September 1, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc.

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

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.

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.

 

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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 5.5(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 year, 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 year 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 year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable year, 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 year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.

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 year, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Termination Loss ” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Non-citizen Assignee ” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.

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

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

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

 

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

O&M Agreement ” means the Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated February 25, 2005, between O&M Services and Sabine Pass LNG.

O&M Services ” means Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including, but not limited to, taxes, payments to the General Partner in reimbursement of expenses incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership Group, non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, interest payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under Commodity Hedge Contracts (excluding payments made in connection with any termination of a Commodity Hedge Contract prior to its stated expiration or termination date), provided that with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase or placing of a Commodity Hedge Contract, such amount(s) shall be amortized over the expected term of the applicable Commodity Hedge Contract and, if earlier, upon its termination, and Maintenance Capital Expenditures, subject to the following:

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

(b) payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and

(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iv) distributions to Partners or (v) non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units of any class made with the proceeds of an Interim Capital Transaction. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.

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

(a) the sum of (i) $30 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, (iv) all cash distributions from the Distribution Reserve Account, including cash in the Distribution Reserve Account released in accordance with Sections 5.11(d) and 5.11(e), and (v) the amount of distributions paid on equity issued in connection with the construction or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement assets and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding commitment to commence construction or development of such Capital Improvement or replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement or replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements), or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset for purposes of this clause (v)), less

 

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(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) subject to Section 5.11(b), the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures and (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred or repaid within such twelve-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings;

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

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

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.

Organizational Limited Partner ” means Cheniere LNG Holdings in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

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 and 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, or (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.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Selling Unitholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Partner ” means a General Partner or a Limited Partner and Assignees thereof, if applicable.

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

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

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

 

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Partnership ” means Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single 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, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder or Assignee with respect to 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 General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units and all General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.

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.

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

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners and Assignees or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.

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

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership including the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.

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

Record Date ” means any 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

 

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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 the Person in whose name a Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or 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 4.10.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statements on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-139572 and 333-141456), as they have been or as they 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 Public Offering.

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

Required Allocations ” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or 6.1(c)(ii) and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), 6.1(d)(ii), 6.1(d)(iv), 6.1(d)(vii) or 6.1(d)(ix).

Residual Gain ” or “ Residual Loss ” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

Retained Converted Subordinated Unit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.5(c)(ii).

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Sabine Pass LNG” means Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership .

Second Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).

Secondment Agreement ” means the Services and Secondment Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, between O&M Services and the General Partner.

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.531 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.531 multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Sections 6.6 and 6.9.

 

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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.

Services Agreement ” means the Services Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Partnership and Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc.

Selling Unitholder ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Underwriting Agreement.

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

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

Subordinated Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

Subordination Period ” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of the following dates:

(a) the first date on which there are no longer any Outstanding Subordinated Units due to the automatic conversion of the Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7; and

(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

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Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 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).

Tax Certificate ” means the certificate described in Section 4.11.

“Tax Sharing Agreement ” means the Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Energy, Inc.

Third Liquidation Target Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(F).

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.638 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.638 multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Sections 6.6 and 6.9.

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 are 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 Common Units; provided , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

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.

“Treasury Securities” means securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government 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).

Underwriter ” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 20, 2007 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other parties thereto, 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 and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

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Unit Majority ” means (a) during the Subordination Period, at least (i) a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Outstanding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a class and at least (ii) a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a single class, and (b) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

Unpaid IQD ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).

Unrealized Loss ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).

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

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

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

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

Section 1.2     Construction .

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, 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.

 

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ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1     Formation .

The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

Section 2.2     Name .

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

Section 2.3     Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices .

Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1645, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002 and, after May 15, 2007, at 711 Louisiana, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website). 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 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002 and, after May 15, 2007, at 711 Louisiana, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website).

Section 2.4     Purpose and Business .

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be (a) 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 in any event that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act, and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) to 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 and notwithstanding any obligation existing at law or in equity: the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and the General Partner may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited

 

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Partner or Assignee; and, in declining to so propose or approve the General Partner, 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, severally (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 5.6; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger or conversion) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

(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 vote on, consent to or approve the taking of 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

 

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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.

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.

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

 

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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, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, but otherwise notwithstanding any duty existing at law or in equity, 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.

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 ( provided that the requirements of this Section 3.4(a)(i) shall be satisfied by furnishing to a Limited Partner upon its demand pursuant to this Section 3.4(a)(i) the Partnership’s most recent filings with the Commission on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and 8-K);

(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 all executed 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 Common Units or Subordinated Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person (or, if issued in global form, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) 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 Units and (b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units or Subordinated Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common Units or Subordinated Units. Certificates shall be executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership by the President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the General Partner elects to issue certificates for Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7, the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7.

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.

 

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

Section 4.3     Record Holders .

The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner 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, and (b) 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 Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

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

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of 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 and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the 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) 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 changes in distributions or allocations will be made in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer Application has been delivered with respect to such Limited Partner Interests.

(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 10.2, 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) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the other provisions of this Agreement, including any statement of designations or amendment to this Agreement, establishing or otherwise relating to such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law, including the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, Limited Partner Interests (other than the Incentive Distribution Rights, the transfer of which is subject to Section 4.7) shall be freely transferable.

(g) The General Partner, the Organizational Limited Partner and their respective Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.

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

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to March 31, 2017, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) 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.

(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after March 31, 2017, the General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without the approval of the holder(s) of any class or series of Units.

(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

 

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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 or limited liability company interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, 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     Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights .

Prior to March 31, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights, provided that , in the case of a transfer pursuant to this clause (iii) the initial holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights continues to remain as the General Partner following such sale. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to March 31, 2017 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or after March 31, 2017, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partner’s exercise of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3 hereof.

Section 4.8     Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(d) 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 (i) 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 or (ii) the holding of Units by a Person (A) not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership or (B) in the case of entities that are pass-through entities for United States federal income tax purposes all of whose beneficial owners are not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership, would have a material adverse effect on the economic interests of the Partnership. 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) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7.

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

(e) Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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 CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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). CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., 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 CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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 4.9     Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees .

(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or Assignee, 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 Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, 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 Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, such Non-citizen Assignee shall cease to be a Partner and shall have no voting rights, whether arising hereunder, under the Delaware Act, at law, in equity or otherwise, in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests. The General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner or Assignee in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests and shall vote such Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Section 4.9(b).

 

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(b) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, 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-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee 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-citizen Assignee’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-citizen Assignee of such Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interest (representing such Non-citizen Assignee’s right to receive such Non-citizen Assignee’s share of such distribution in kind).

(d) At any time after a Non-citizen Assignee can and does certify that such Non-citizen Assignee has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, and upon such Non-citizen Assignee’s admission pursuant to Section 10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

Section 4.10     Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees .

(a) If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, 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 Citizen or has transferred such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship 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:

(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 such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s 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 5% 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 such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s 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.

 

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(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 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 Citizen.

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring such recipient’s 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 Citizenship Certification delivered in connection with the Transfer Application that such transferee is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

Section 4.11     Taxation Certificates and Related Matters .

If at any time the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that the Partnership’s status as an entity not taxable as a corporation and not otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, coupled with the tax status (or lack of proof of the federal income tax status) of one or more Limited Partners, has or will have a material adverse effect on the economic interests of the Partnership, then the General Partner may adopt such amendments to this Agreement, without the approval of any class or classes of Limited Partners, as it determines to be necessary or advisable to (i) obtain such proof of the federal income tax status of the Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their beneficial owners and thereby determine those Limited Partners whose federal income tax status has or will reasonably likely in the future have such a material adverse effect (such Limited Partners, together with any Limited Partner who fails to comply with the procedures instituted by the General Partner, an “ Ineligible Holder ”) and (ii) permit the General Partner to redeem Units held by any Ineligible Holder, at the Current Market Price. Such amendments may include provisions requiring all Limited Partners to certify as to their federal income tax status upon demand and on a regular basis, as determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Units to so certify prior to being admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND

ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1     Organizational Contributions .

In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20.00, for a General Partner Interest in the Partnership equivalent to a 2% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership equivalent to a 98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the interest of the Organizational Limited Partner shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner shall thereupon be refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions prior to the Closing Date shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and distributed to the General Partner.

Section 5.2     Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC in exchange for (A) 3,302,045 General Partner Units representing a continuation of its 2% Percentage Interest, subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, and (B) the

 

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Incentive Distribution Rights, and (ii) Cheniere LNG Holdings shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC in exchange for (A) 21,362,193 Common Units, (B) 135,383,831 Subordinated Units, (C) the right to receive distributions in certain circumstances from the Distribution Reserve Account pursuant to the terms of Section 5.11 and (D) the obligation to make contributions in certain circumstances to the Distribution Reserve Account pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement.

(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering), the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (I) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (B) 100% minus the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership times (II) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

Section 5.3     Contributions by Initial Limited Partners .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter on the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriter, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.

(b) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other than (i) Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof in an aggregate number equal to 5,054,164, (ii) the 135,383,831 Subordinated Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, (iii) the 21,362,193 Common Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 and (iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

Section 5.4     Interest .

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 dissolution 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 5.5     Capital Accounts .

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or

 

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property made to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and 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:

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by 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) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

(iv) Any income, gain or 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.

(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and (B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided , however , that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any method that the General Partner may adopt.

(vi) If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the year of such restoration in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.

(c)(i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

 

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(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A)  first , be allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B)  second , any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (“ Retained Converted Subordinated Units ”). Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.

(d)(i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and 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, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided , however , that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest, the Capital Accounts of all Partners and 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, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 5.6     Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities .

(a) 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; provided, however , that during the Subordination

 

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Period the Partnership must obtain Special Approval prior to issuing any additional Common Units or Units with designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties senior to or pari passu with the Common Units.

(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(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, subject to the provision contained in Section 5.6(a), 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 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights 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 or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading.

Section 5.7     Conversion of Subordinated Units .

(a) All of the Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.4(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2010, in respect of which:

(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date (which three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods commence on or after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during such periods;

(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date (which three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods commence on or after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and

(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a), all of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2008 in respect of which:

(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to each of the four consecutive Quarters immediately preceding such date (which four-consecutive Quarter period commences after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during such period;

(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the four consecutive Quarters immediately preceding such date (which four consecutive Quarter period commences after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis with respect to such Quarter; and

(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.

(d) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

Section 5.8     Limited Preemptive Right .

Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to any or all of those Percentage Interests that existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.

Section 5.9     Splits and Combinations .

(a) Subject to Sections 5.9(d), 6.6 and 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a Pro Rata distribution or a 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. In addition, with respect to any such a distribution, subdivision or combination of any class of Partnership Securities that is convertible into another class of Partnership Securities or into which any class of Partnership Securities is convertible or

 

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exchangeable, appropriate adjustment shall be made either to assure that the specified conversion or exchange ratio is maintained or, alternatively, is appropriately adjusted to give effect to such Pro Rata distribution or subdivision or combination, as the case may be, as the General Partner determines to be appropriate. 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.

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

Section 5.10     Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests .

All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the other provisions of this Agreement.

Section 5.11     Distribution Reserve Account

(a) Immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Partnership shall have established an account with a financial institution organized under the laws of the United States of America, or any state thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000 and a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 (the “ Distribution Reserve Account ”).

(b) All amounts held in the Distribution Reserve Account, including interest and any other income on the investments in the Distribution Reserve Account, (i) shall be segregated from all other assets of the Partnership, (ii) shall not be used to pay Operating Expenditures, Expansion Capital Expenditures, Investment Capital Expenditures or transaction expenses related to an Interim Capital Transaction or to repurchase Units, (iii) shall not be set aside as reserves against Available Cash or Operating Surplus and (iv) subject to Sections 5.11(e) and 5.11(f), shall be used by the Partnership only to make distributions of Available Cash to holders of Common Units and General Partner Units pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(i) and 6.4(a)(ii). The Partnership will not enter into any agreement that restricts the ability of the Partnership to distribute funds from the Distribution Reserve Account.

(c) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership shall deposit into the Distribution Reserve Account $98,442,481 in cash proceeds from the Initial Offering, which proceeds will be used on the Closing Date to purchase Treasury Securities maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as the General Partner determines will be sufficient to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the Initial Common Units and on the General Partner Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a) through the Quarter ending on June 30, 2009.

(d) Upon the issuance of any additional Common Units by the Partnership prior to the Record Date for distributions payable for the Quarter ending June 30, 2009, the Partnership shall deposit into the Distribution

 

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Reserve Account sufficient cash proceeds from such issuance to purchase Treasury Securities or Eligible Investments maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will equal the amount necessary to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the additional Common Units and additional General Partner Units, if any, so issued by the Partnership for each Quarter in the period commencing with the Quarter in which such additional Common Units and General Partner Units, if any, are so issued through the Quarter ending on June 30, 2009.

(e) If the General Partner determines at any time, with Special Approval, that there are more than sufficient funds in the Distribution Reserve Account to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units and General Partner Units then Outstanding through the Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date, then the Partnership may, at the request of Cheniere LNG Holdings, distribute such excess to Cheniere LNG Holdings.

(f) On the Distribution Reserve Termination Date, after the distribution of Available Cash to the Partners, any remaining amounts in the Distribution Reserve Account shall be distributed to Cheniere LNG Holdings.

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 and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

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

(i) First , 100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years;

(ii) Second , 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and

(iii) Third , the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

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

(i) First , 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for all previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);

 

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(ii) Second , 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided , that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) 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 year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

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

(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses . After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the 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 Sections 6.4 and 6.5 have been made; provided , however , that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.

(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(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;

(B) Second , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Initial Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or (b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter defined as the “ Unpaid IQD ”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;

(C) Third , if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Initial Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;

(D) Fourth , 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid IQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Initial Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(iv) and 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter defined as the “ First Liquidation Target Amount ”);

(E) Fifth , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage

 

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equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v) and 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “ Second Liquidation Target Amount ”);

(F) Sixth , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(vi) and 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “ Third Liquidation Target Amount ”); and

(G) Finally , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (G).

(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:

(A) First , if such Net Termination Loss is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;

(B) Second , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and

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

(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period

 

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

(iii) Priority Allocations .

(A) At any time following the Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date, if the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then (1) each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or property distribution shall be allocated gross income in an amount equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated gross income in an aggregate amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this paragraph 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 60 days after the end of the current taxable year; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

(iv) Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or (ii).

(v) 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 gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided , that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.

 

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(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse 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 Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

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

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

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

(x) Economic Uniformity . At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income, gain, deduction or loss for such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner with respect to such Partner’s Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“ Final Subordinated Units ”) or Common Units, as the case may be, in the proportion that the respective number of Common Units or Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner bears to the total number of Common Units or Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated the amount of gross income, gain, deduction or loss with respect to such Partner’s Common Units or Final Subordinated Units that causes the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to equal an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units after giving effect to any allocations to holders of Common Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x). This allocation method for establishing such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.

(xi) Curative Allocation .

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1.

 

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Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(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)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

(xii) Corrective 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 allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate additional items of gross income and gain away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights to the Unitholders and the General Partner, or additional items of deduction and loss away from the Unitholders and the General Partner to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders or the General Partner exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items. For this purpose, the Unitholders and the General Partner shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders or the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement ( e.g. , Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.

(B) 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.

(C) 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).

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.

 

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(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

(i)(A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(ii)(A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1)  first , be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii), and (2)  second , in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A); and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(iii) The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities, except as otherwise determined by the General Partner with respect to goodwill, if any.

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

(d) 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) 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.

(e) 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.

 

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(f) 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.

(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall for federal income tax purposes 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 American Stock Exchange or such other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted for trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided , however , that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership 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 American Stock Exchange or such other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted for trading 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.

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

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

(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on March 31, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed on such date by the Partnership after giving effect to the two preceding sentences shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “ Capital Surplus .” Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings determined to be Available Cash in accordance with (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

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

(d) 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.

 

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Section 6.4     Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .

(a) During Subordination Period . Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Second , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;

(iii) Third , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(iv) Fourth , to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(v) Fifth , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to sub-clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v) until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

(vi) Sixth , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this subclause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

(vii) Thereafter , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (vii);

provided , however , if the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vii).

(b) After Subordination Period . Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5, subject to the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First , 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

 

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(ii) Second , 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(iii) Third , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;

(iv) Fourth , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and

(v) Thereafter , (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);

provided , however , if the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).

Section 6.5     Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus .

Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired in the Initial Public Offering has received with respect to such Common Unit during the period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price of such Common Unit. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.

Section 6.6     Adjustment of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels .

(a) The Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.

(b) The Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.

 

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Section 6.7     Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units .

(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided , however , that immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided , however , that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(c).

(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).

(c) A Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer its converted Subordinated Units to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that a converted Subordinated Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the converted Subordinated Units in preparation for a transfer of such converted Subordinated Units, including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b), provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates (for this purpose the allocation of income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to Subordinated Units or Common Units will be deemed not to have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).

Section 6.8     Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Articles III and VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and 12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI.

Section 6.9     Entity-Level Taxation .

If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by a court of competent jurisdiction so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner may reduce the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution by the amount of income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “ Incremental Income Taxes ”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the

 

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First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “ Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount ”) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual tax liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1     Management .

(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner 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;

(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);

 

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(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 4.8);

(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, the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, and the Underwriting Agreement, Contribution Agreement, Letter Agreement, Management Services Agreements, Services Agreement, Secondment Agreement, O&M Agreement, Assignment Agreement, Crest Royalty Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement and other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as of the effective date of this Agreement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the 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 other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

Section 7.2     Certificate of Limited Partnership .

The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to

 

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

Section 7.3     Restrictions on the General 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 or Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc., without duplication, shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct 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 including overhead allocated to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices, and including the fees and expenses payable by the Partnership pursuant to the O&M Agreement and the Services Agreement), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred 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. The allocation of overhead to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices shall be deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership.

 

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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) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as 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 Section 7.5(c), 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 other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, but subject to Section 7.5(c) (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be breach of any duty including 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) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner). 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 it shall be deemed not to be breach of any duty including any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (including the General Partner) to not communicate or offer such opportunity to

 

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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; provided, however , that the preceding terms of this Section 7.5(c) shall not apply to any business opportunity (i) of which any Person who is an employee of any member of the Partnership Group or an officer, director or employee of the General Partner acquires knowledge while acting in his capacity as such officer, director or employee and not acting in his capacity as an officer, director or employee of an entity that is not a member of the Partnership Group or (ii) taken by an Indemnitee who is an individual for such Indemnitee’s personal benefit.

(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership 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.

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).

(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i) enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.

Section 7.7     Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of the Indemnitee’s serving or having served, or taking or having taken any action or inaction in, any capacity that causes or caused the Indemnitee to be, an Indemnitee; provided , that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final

 

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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 Underwriting Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a 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 (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, 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.

(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

 

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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.

(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.

(e) In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of any Partner individually (including, without limitation, the particular tax consequences to any Partner individually) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or to decline to take) any action, and the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.

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 any actual or 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 existing at law, in equity or otherwise, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (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

 

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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 sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and 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 either case, 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, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(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.

(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary or other 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, but subject to Sections 4.6 and 4.7, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units, General Partner Units or Incentive Distribution Rights, as appropriate, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, General Partner Units or Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, 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.

 

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(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, 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.

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

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. The General Partner shall be fully protected from liability to the Partnership, the Partners or other Persons bound to this Agreement for such reliance made in good faith.

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

Section 7.11     Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities .

The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities; provided that, except as may be required pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. 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.

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

(a) If, (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership 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 such holder of Partnership Securities (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

 

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number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than five registrations pursuant to Sections 7.12(a) and 7.12(b); 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) or Section 7.12(b) 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 immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership 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(d), 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, any Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder 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 shelf registration statement have been sold, a “shelf” registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than five registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided further , however , that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use 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 suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or this Section 7.12(b) 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 shelf 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 shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the

 

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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 shelf registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf 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(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

(c) 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 any 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(c) 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(d), 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.

(d) 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(d) 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.

(e) The provisions of Sections 7.12(a), 7.12(b) and 7.12(c) 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

 

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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(d) shall continue in effect thereafter.

(f) 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.

(g) 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1     Records and Accounting .

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the

 

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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.

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

 

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Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

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

Section 9.3     Tax Controversies .

Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in 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 Initial Limited Partners .

Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, and the Underwriters as described in Section 5.2 and 5.3 in connection with the Initial Offering, the General Partner shall admit such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.

Section 10.2     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 or Tax Certificate 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,

 

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such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each 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.

Section 10.3     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 10.4     Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

(a) A Person (other than the General Partner, an Initial Limited Partner or a Substituted 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 10.4, 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 10.5     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 General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6;

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on March 31, 2017, 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, Central Time, on March 31, 2017, 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;

 

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(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 (to the extent permitted or required by their governing documents) of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution. If, prior to the effective date of the General 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 10.3.

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 Limited Partner Units (including Limited Partner Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units voting as a class and a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a class (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3. 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 10.3, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members (to the extent permitted or required by their governing documents) of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.

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

(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or 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 and all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its 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

 

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Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 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.

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

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

 

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Section 11.4     Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages .

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis ( provided, however , that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(c)), (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner that is so removed will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor, as provided in Section 11.3.

Section 11.5     Withdrawal of Limited Partners .

No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided , however , that when a transferee of a Limited 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 other event of withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Sections 11.1, 11.2 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;

(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by 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 .

Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (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) 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 without

 

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dissolution 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 dissolve and 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 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).

Section 12.3     Liquidator .

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

Section 12.4     Liquidation .

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

(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the 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.

 

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

(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).

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 other 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;

 

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

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

(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect in any material respect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

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

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

(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation or authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;

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

(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3 including any amendment permitted by Section 14.5;

(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;

(k) a merger or conveyance 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, to the full extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no

 

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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. 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 requires the vote, consent or approval of holders of a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) 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.

(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 Limited Partner 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 Limited Partner Units.

Section 13.4     Special Meetings .

All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Limited Partner 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

 

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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.

Section 13.5     Notice of a Meeting .

Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1 at least 10 days in advance of such meeting. 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.

Section 13.9     Quorum and Voting .

The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units of such class or classes deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless

 

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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, without a vote and without prior notice if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including 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. 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’

 

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

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

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

Section 14.1     Authority .

The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited partnership)) or convert into any such entity, 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 plan of conversion (“ Plan of Conversion ”) 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may decline to do so free of any duty (including 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, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement ( provided , that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain 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 conversion of the Partnership, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;

(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;

(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;

(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of the converting entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;

(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing documents of the converted entity;

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

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

Section 14.3     Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as the

 

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case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as the case may be, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

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

(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 or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the 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 substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability 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; Certificate of Conversion .

Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion 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

 

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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.

Section 14.6     Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

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

(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action 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, the nature and characteristics of the converted entity will be determined by the Plan of Conversion, applicable laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the jurisdiction to which the Partnership is converted.

(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.

Section 14.7     Business Combination Limitations .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, with respect to any “Business Combination” (as such term is defined in Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 8 Del. C. Section 101, et seq. (the “DGCL”), the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL shall be applied with respect to the Partnership as though (i) the Partnership is a Delaware corporation subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, (ii) the General Partner is the board of directors of such corporation, and (iii) the holders of Limited Partner Interests are stockholders of such corporation and the Limited Partner Interests are shares of stock and voting stock in such corporation.

(b) Amendments to, or actions to repeal or adopt provisions inconsistent with, Section 14.7(a) shall require the approval of the Unitholders holding at least 66  2 / 3 % of the Outstanding Limited Partner Units (including Limited Partner Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).

(c) Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall be considered an “interested stockholder” under Section 203 of the DGCL for purposes of this Section 14.7.

 

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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.

(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 or classes (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).

(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.

 

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ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1     Addresses and Notices .

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 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner 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 16.2     Further Action .

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

Section 16.3     Binding Effect .

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

Section 16.4     Integration .

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

Section 16.5     Creditors .

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

Section 16.6     Waiver .

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

 

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Section 16.7     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 16.8     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 16.9     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 16.10     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 16.11     Facsimile Signatures .

The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

Section 16.12     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.]

 

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

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

By:

 

/ S /    S TANLEY C. H ORTON        

 

Name:  

Stanley C. Horton

 

Title:  

President & Chief Operating Officer

 

ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:

CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC

By:

 

/ S /    D ON A. T URKLESON          

 

Name:  

Don A. Turkleson

 

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner.
CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

By:

 

/ S /    S TANLEY C. H ORTON        

 

Name:  

Stanley C. Horton

 

Title:  

President & Chief Operating Officer

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

 

No.                     

 

                     Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                         (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed 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 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002. 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, (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 CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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 CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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). CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., 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 CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. 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.

 

Exhibit 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:                        C HENIERE E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.
Countersigned and Registered by:    By:  

Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC,

its General Partner

 

as Transfer Agent and Registrar

   By:  

 

      Name:  

 

By:   

 

   By:  

 

   Authorized Signature      Secretary

[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM -    as tenants in common    UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT

TEN ENT -

 

JT TEN -

  

as tenants by the entireties

 

as joint tenants with right of

survivorship and not as

tenants in common

  

                             Custodian

(Cust)                                                     (Minor)

 

under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD

Minors Act (State)

 

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

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

 

 

  

 

(Please print or typewrite name

and address of Assignee)

  

(Please insert Social Security or other

identifying number of Assignee)

 

Exhibit A-2


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 Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

 

Date:   NOTE:   The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change.
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15    

(Signature)

 

 

(Signature)

   

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 properly completed and 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 Application for Transfer of Common Units in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.

 

Exhibit A-3


APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS

Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., c/o Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, 717 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002; Attn: CFO , to be admitted as limited partners to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., 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

  

 

Signature of Assignee

 

Purchase Price including commissions, if any

  

 

Name and Address of Assignee

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.

 

Exhibit A-4

Exhibit 3.2

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

(a Delaware Limited Liability Company)

March 26, 2007

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I Definitions

   1

SECTION 1.01

   Definitions    1

SECTION 1.02

   Construction    5

Article II Organization

   6

SECTION 2.01

   Formation    6

SECTION 2.02

   Name    6

SECTION 2.03

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office    6

SECTION 2.04

   Purposes    6

SECTION 2.05

   Term    6

SECTION 2.06

   No State Law Partnership    6

SECTION 2.07

   Title to Company Assets    7

SECTION 2.08

   Liability of Members, Directors And Officers    7

Article III Membership

   7

SECTION 3.01

   Membership Interests; Additional Members    7

SECTION 3.02

   Access To Information    7

SECTION 3.03

   Liability    8

Article IV Capital Contributions

   8

SECTION 4.01

   Initial Capital Contributions    8

SECTION 4.02

   Loans    8

SECTION 4.03

   Return of Contributions    8

SECTION 4.04

   Capital Accounts    9

Article V Distributions And Allocations

   9

SECTION 5.01

   Allocations for Capital Account Purposes    9

SECTION 5.02

   Distributions    10

SECTION 5.03

   Varying Interests    10

SECTION 5.04

   Limitations on Distributions    10

Article VI Management

   10

SECTION 6.01

   Management by Board of Directors    10

SECTION 6.02

   Number; Qualification; Tenure    11

SECTION 6.03

   Regular Meetings    11

SECTION 6.04

   Annual Meetings    11

SECTION 6.05

   Special Meetings    11

SECTION 6.06

   Action By Consent of Board or Committee of Board    12

SECTION 6.07

   Conference Telephone Meetings    12

SECTION 6.08

   Quorum    12

SECTION 6.09

   Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors    12

SECTION 6.10

   Committees    12

SECTION 6.11

   Resignation or Removal    14

SECTION 6.12

   Compensation    14

 

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Article VII Officers

   14

SECTION 7.01

   Elected Officers    14

SECTION 7.02

   Election and Term of Office    15

SECTION 7.03

   Chairman of the Board    15

SECTION 7.04

   Chief Executive Officer    15

SECTION 7.05

   President    15

SECTION 7.06

   Chief Financial Officer    16

SECTION 7.07

   Chief Operating Officer    16

SECTION 7.08

   Vice Presidents    16

SECTION 7.09

   Treasurer    16

SECTION 7.10

   Secretary    16

SECTION 7.11

   Powers of Attorney    17

SECTION 7.12

   Delegation of Authority    17

SECTION 7.13

   Compensation and Expenses    17

SECTION 7.14

   Removal    17

SECTION 7.15

   Vacancies    17

Article VIII Member Meetings

   18

SECTION 8.01

   Meetings    18

SECTION 8.02

   Notice of a Meeting    18

SECTION 8.03

   Action by Consent of Members    18

SECTION 8.04

   Member Vote    18

SECTION 8.05

   Election of Directors    18

SECTION 8.06

   In the Event of a Sole Member    18

Article IX Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents

   19

SECTION 9.01

   Indemnification    19

Article X Taxes

   20

SECTION 10.01

   Tax Returns    20

SECTION 10.02

   Tax Elections    21

SECTION 10.03

   Tax Matters Member    21

Article XI Books, Records, Reports, and Bank Accounts

   21

SECTION 11.01

   Maintenance of Books    21

SECTION 11.02

   Reports    22

SECTION 11.03

   Bank Accounts    22

Article XII Dissolution, Winding-Up, Termination and Conversion

   22

SECTION 12.01

   Dissolution    22

SECTION 12.02

   Winding-Up and Termination    22

SECTION 12.03

   Deficit Capital Accounts    23

SECTION 12.04

   Certificate of Cancellation    24

 

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Article XIII Transfer of Membership Interest

   24

Article XIV General Provisions

   24

SECTION 14.01

   Offset    24

SECTION 14.02

   Notices    24

SECTION 14.03

   Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect    25

SECTION 14.04

   Effect of Waiver or Consent    25

SECTION 14.05

   Amendment or Restatement    25

SECTION 14.06

   Binding Effect    25

SECTION 14.07

   Governing Law; Severability    25

SECTION 14.08

   Further Assurances    26

SECTION 14.09

   Counterparts    26

 

iii


AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

A Delaware Limited Liability Company

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), dated as of March 26, 2007, is adopted, executed and agreed to by Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cheniere Holdings ”), as the sole Member of the Company.

RECITALS

1. The name of the Company is Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC.

2. The Company was originally formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation, dated as of November 21, 2006 (the “ Original Filing Date ”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, with Cheniere Holdings as the sole Member.

3. The Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company was executed effective November 21, 2006, by its sole Member, Cheniere Holdings (the “ Existing Agreement ”).

4. Cheniere Holdings now deems it advisable to amend and restate the Existing Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections referred to below (unless otherwise expressly provided herein):

Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (Delaware General Coporations Code Sections 18-101, et seq.), as the same may be amended from time to time, and any corresponding provisions of succeeding law.

Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant fiscal year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

(i) credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and


(ii) 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 Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Allocation Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “ control ” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, as amended from time to time.

Allocation Regulations ” means Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b), 1.704-2 and 1.704-3 (including temporary regulations), as such regulations may be amended and in effect from time to time and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

AMEX ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.02.

Applicable Law ” means (a) any United States federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or permit of any Governmental Authority and (b) any rule or listing requirement of any applicable national securities exchange or listing requirement of any national securities exchange or Securities and Exchange Commission recognized trading market on which securities issued by the Partnership are listed or quoted.

Bankruptcy ” or “ Bankrupt ” means, with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Applicable Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties; or (b) a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Applicable Law has been commenced against such Person and 120 Days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 Days have expired without such appointment having been

 

2


vacated or stayed, or 90 Days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in the Act.

Board ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.01.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day which is a nationally recognized holiday in the United States of America or when banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Applicable Law to be closed.

Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the account to be maintained by the Company for each Member in accordance with Section 4.04.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the agreed fair value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member in respect of the issuance of a Membership Interest to such Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.

Certificate ” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as it shall be amended from time to time.

Cheniere Holdings ” means Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the sole member of the Company.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall include a reference to any amendatory or successor provisions thereto.

Common Units ” means the common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.

Company ” means Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Company Property ” means any and all property, both real and personal, tangible and intangible, whether contributed or otherwise acquired, owned by the Company.

Compensation Committee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.10(d).

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.10(c).

Contribution Agreement ” means the Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, among Cheniere Holdings, the Company, the Partnership and the other parties thereto.

 

3


Day ” means a calendar day; provided, however, that, if any period of Days referred to in this Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended until the end of the next succeeding Business Day.

Director ” or “ Directors ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.02.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning given such term in Section 12.01(a).

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States.

Governmental Authority ” or “ Governmental ” means any federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental or regulatory agency or authority or any arbitration board, tribunal or mediator having jurisdiction over the Company or its assets or Members.

Indemnitee ” means (a) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Company, (b) any Person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company and (c) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, however , that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.

Independent Director ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.10(b).

Initial Capital Contribution ” means the initial contribution to the capital of the Company made by the Member pursuant to the Existing Agreement.

Member ” means Cheniere Holdings as the sole member of the Company executing this Agreement and any Person hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member in the Company.

Membership Interest ” means, with respect to any Member at any time, (a) that Member’s status as a Member; (b) that Member’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including that Member’s rights to vote, consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the Company; and (d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including any obligations to make Capital Contributions.

Officer ” means any person elected as an officer of the Company as provided in Section 7.01, but such term does not include any person who has ceased to be an officer of the Company.

Original Filing Date ” has the meaning given such term in the Recitals.

 

4


Partnership ” means Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated March 26, 2007, as amended from time to time, or any successor agreement.

Person ” means any natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization, joint venture, trust, court, Governmental Authority or any political subdivision thereof, or any other legal entity.

Registered Public Accountants ” means a firm of independent registered certified public accountant selected from time to time by the Board.

Sharing Ratio ” means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement, (a) in the case of a Member executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement or a Person acquiring such Member’s Membership Interest, the percentage specified for that Member as its Sharing Ratio on Exhibit A , and (b) in the case of Membership Interests issued pursuant to Section 3.01, the Sharing Ratio established pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the total of all Sharing Ratios shall always equal 100%.

Tax Matters Member ” has the meaning given such term in Section 10.03.

Term ” has the meaning given such term in Section 2.05.

Treasury Regulations ” means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final, Treasury Regulations.

Section 1.02 Construction .

Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter; (b) the singular forms of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (c) all references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections in this Agreement, each of which is made a part for all purposes; (d) all references to Applicable Laws refer to such Applicable Laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of an Applicable Law include any corresponding provisions or any succeeding Applicable Law; (e) references to money refer to the legal currency of the United States of America; and (f) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.

 

5


ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.01 Formation .

The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Certificate, dated as of the Original Filing Date, with the Secretary of State of Delaware pursuant to the Act.

Section 2.02 Name .

The name of the Company is “ Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC ” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with Applicable Law as the Directors may select.

Section 2.03 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office .

The name of the Company’s registered agent for service of process is Corporation Services Company, and the address of the Company’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808. The principal place of business of the Company shall be located at 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002. The Members may change the Company’s registered agent or the location of the Company’s registered office or principal place of business as the Members may from time to time determine. The Company may have such other offices as the Members may designate.

Section 2.04 Purposes .

The purposes of the Company are to act as the general partner of the Partnership as described in the Partnership Agreement and to engage in any lawful business or activity ancillary or related thereto. The Company shall possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted by the Act, by any other Applicable Law or by this Agreement, together with any powers incidental thereto, including such powers and privileges as are necessary or appropriate to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the businesses, purposes or activities of the Company.

Section 2.05 Term .

The period of existence of the Company (the “ Term ”) commenced on the Original Filing Date and shall end at such time as a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 12.04.

Section 2.06 No State Law Partnership .

It is intended that the Company shall be a limited liability company formed under the Applicable Laws of the State of Delaware and shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other party for any purposes other than federal, state, local and foreign income tax purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.

 

6


Section 2.07 Title to Company Assets .

Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or portion thereof.

Section 2.08 Liability of Members, Directors And Officers .

No Member, Director or Officer, solely by reason of being a Member, Director or Officer, shall be liable, under a judgment, decree or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation or liability of the Company or the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, for the acts or omissions of any other Member, Director, Officer, agent or employee of the Company or its Affiliates. The failure of the Company (acting in its own capacity or as the general partner of the Partnership) to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its (or the Partnership’s) business or affairs shall not be grounds for imposing liability for any such debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company or the Partnership.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.01 Membership Interests; Additional Members .

Cheniere Holdings is the sole initial Member of the Company, as reflected on Exhibit A hereto. Additional Person(s) may be admitted to the Company as Members upon the unanimous approval of the existing Members, without any approval of the Board, on such terms and conditions as the Members determine at the time of such admission. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the Sharing Ratios applicable thereto and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members having different rights, powers and duties. The Members may reflect the creation of any new class or group in an amendment to this Agreement, executed in accordance with Section 13.05, indicating the different rights, powers and duties thereof. Any such amendment shall be approved and executed by the Members. Any such admission is effective only after such new Member has executed and delivered to the Members and the Company an instrument containing the notice address of the new Member and such new Member’s ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it. Upon the admission of a new Member, Exhibit A will be updated to reflect such admission.

Section 3.02 Access To Information .

Each Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request concerning the Company; provided, however, that this Section 3.02 shall not obligate the Company to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice and at all reasonable times during usual business hours, to inspect the properties of the Company and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of the Company. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. All costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made on such Member’s behalf shall be borne by such Member.

 

7


Section 3.03 Liability .

Except as otherwise required under the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or beneficial owner of any Membership Interest shall be personally liable for or otherwise obligated with respect to any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company by reason of being a Member or beneficial owner of such Membership Interest. The Members and beneficial owners agree that their rights, duties and obligations in their capacities as Members and beneficial owners are only as set forth in this Agreement and as otherwise arise under the Act. Furthermore, the Members and beneficial owners agree that the existence of any rights of a Member or beneficial owner, or the exercise or forbearance from exercise of any such rights shall not create any duties or obligations of the Member or beneficial owner in their capacities as such, nor shall such rights be construed to enlarge or otherwise alter in any manner the duties and obligations of the Member or beneficial owner.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.01 Initial Capital Contributions .

At the time of the formation of the Company, as reflected on Exhibit A , Cheniere Holdings made a Capital Contribution in the amount of $1,000.00 in exchange for all of the Membership Interests in the Company. In addition, on the date hereof, Cheniere Holdings made such additional Capital Contributions to the Company as are described in the Contribution Agreement. Upon the admission of a subsequent Member, Exhibit A shall be updated to reflect the Capital Contribution attributable to such Member. After admission as a Member, no Member shall be obligated to make any additional capital contributions to the Company.

Section 4.02 Loans .

If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member may advance all or part of the needed funds to or on behalf of the Company. An advance described in this Section 4.02 constitutes a loan from the Member to the Company, shall bear interest at a rate comparable to the rate the Company could obtain from third parties, from the date of the advance until the date of payment, and is not a Capital Contribution.

Section 4.03 Return of Contributions .

Except as expressly provided herein, no Member is entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.

 

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Section 4.04 Capital Accounts .

A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Member in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) et. seq. , as such regulations may be amended and in effect from time to time and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

ARTICLE V

DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

Section 5.01 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes .

(a) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 5.01(b), for purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Members among themselves, the Company’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated and charged to the Members in accordance with their respective Sharing Ratios.

(b) The following special allocations shall be made prior to making any allocations provided for in 5.01(a) above:

(i) Qualified Income Offset . Except as provided in Section 5.01(b)(ii) hereof, in the event any Member 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 Company income and gain shall be specifically allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Allocation Regulations, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible.

(ii) Nonrecourse Debt Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.01, each Member shall be allocated items of Company income and gain in each fiscal year as necessary, in the Board’s discretion, to comply with the Allocation Regulations relating to nonrecourse debt.

(iii) Gross Income Allocations . In the event any Member has a deficit balance in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account at the end of any Company taxable period, such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however , that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.01(b)(iii) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided in this Section 5.01 have been tentatively made as if Section 5.01(b)(iii) were not in the Agreement.

(iv) Code Section 754 Adjustment. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to the Allocation Regulations, to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to the Allocation Regulations.

 

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(v) Curative Allocation . The special allocations set forth in Section 5.01(b)(i), (ii) and (iii) (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with the Allocation Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 5.01, the Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members such that, to the extent possible, the net amount of allocations of such items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.

Section 5.02 Distributions .

Except as otherwise provided in Section 12.02, cash may be distributed at such time and in such amounts as the Board shall determine to the Members in accordance with their respective Sharing Ratios. Such distributions shall be made concurrently to the Members as reflected on the books of the Company on the date set for purposes of such distribution.

Section 5.03 Varying Interests .

All items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the Persons shown on the records of the Company to have been Members as of the last calendar day of the period for which the allocation or distribution is to be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if during any taxable year there is a change in any Member’s Sharing Ratio, the Members agree that their allocable shares of such items for the taxable year shall be determined on any method determined by the Members in their sole discretion to be permissible under Code Section 706 and the related Treasury Regulations to take account of the Members’ varying Sharing Ratios.

Section 5.04 Limitations on Distributions .

No distribution shall be declared and paid unless, if after the distribution is made, the value of assets of the Company would exceed the liabilities of the Company, except liabilities to the Members on account of their Capital Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate any Applicable Law.

ARTICLE VI

MANAGEMENT

Section 6.01 Management by Board of Directors .

The business and affairs of the Company shall be fully vested in, and managed by, a Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) and, subject to the discretion of the Board, Officers elected pursuant to Article VII. The Directors and Officers shall collectively constitute “managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of having the status of a Member, shall have or attempt to

 

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exercise or assert any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or shall have or attempt to exercise or assert actual or apparent authority to enter contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the Board, on the one hand, and of the Officers, on the other hand, shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Officers shall be vested with such powers and duties as are set forth in Article VII and as are specified by the Board. Accordingly, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board, and the day-to-day activities of the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the Officers who shall be agents of the Company.

Section 6.02 Number; Qualification; Tenure .

The number of directors constituting the Board shall not be less than one (1) nor more than nine (9) (each a “ Director ” and, collectively, the “ Directors ”), unless otherwise fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Members. A Director need not be a Member nor a resident of the State of Delaware. Each Director shall be elected or approved by the Members at an annual meeting of the Members and shall serve as a Director of the Company for a term of one year (or their earlier death or removal from office) or until their successors are elected and qualified. The Board in its discretion may elect from among the Directors a chairman of the Board of Directors who shall preside at meetings of the Directors.

The initial Directors of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, shall be Charif Souki, Stanley C. Horton, Don A. Turkleson, Meg Gentle, Robert J. Sutcliffe, Lon McCain and Walter L. Williams. The Members shall appoint one additional Independent Director within one year of the listing of the Common Units on the American Stock Exchange, LLC (the “ AMEX ”) or within such other time period as may be required by the AMEX.

Section 6.03 Regular Meetings .

Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.

Section 6.04 Annual Meetings .

Annual meetings of the Board shall be held, without further notice, immediately following the annual meeting of the Members, and at the same place, or at such other time and place as shall be fixed with the consent in writing of all of the Directors.

Section 6.05 Special Meetings .

A special meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be called by any member of the Board or a committee thereof on at least three (3) days notice to the other members of such Board or committee, either personally or by mail, telephone, telegraph or electronic mail. Any such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting, except for amendments to this Agreement and as may otherwise be required by Applicable Law.

 

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Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such Director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 6.06 Action By Consent of Board or Committee of Board .

Subject to Article XV, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, so long as a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by at least as many members of, and the types of members of, the Board or committee thereof as would have been required to take such action at a meeting of the Board or such committee thereof.

Section 6.07 Conference Telephone Meetings .

Directors or members of any committee of the Board may participate in and hold a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone, video conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 6.08 Quorum .

A majority of all Directors, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 6.07, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a greater number is required by Applicable Law; but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, all decisions of the Board, or any committee thereof, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board, or any committee thereof, respectively, present at a meeting duly called in accordance with this Article VII. The Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum.

Section 6.09 Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors .

Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by the Members in their sole discretion. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until his successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced.

Section 6.10 Committees .

(a) The Board may establish committees of the Board and may delegate any of its responsibilities, except as otherwise prohibited by Applicable Law, to such committees.

(b) The Board shall have an audit committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) consisting of three Directors, all of whom shall be Independent Directors (as defined in this Section 6.10(b)).

 

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Such Audit Committee shall establish a written audit committee charter in accordance with the rules of the AMEX (or such other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Common Units may be listed), as amended from time to time. “ Independent Director ” shall mean a Director meeting the standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by (i) the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and (ii) the AMEX (or such other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Common Units may be listed).

(c) The Board shall have a conflicts committee (the “ Conflicts Committee ”) consisting of two or more Directors, all of whom shall be Independent Directors and none of whom shall be (i) security holders, officers or employees of the Company, (ii) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the Company or (iii) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries other than Common Units. The Conflicts Committee shall function in the manner described in the Partnership Agreement.

(d) The Board may elect to have a compensation committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) comprised of three Directors, all of whom shall be Independent Directors. Such Compensation Committee shall establish a written compensation committee charter in accordance with the applicable rules of AMEX (or such other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Common Units may be listed), as amended from time to time.

(e) A majority of any committee, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 6.07, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the committee members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution, unless the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of any such committee is required by Applicable Law or otherwise.

(f) A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 13.02. The Board shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.

(g) Any committee designed pursuant to this Section 6.10 shall choose its own chairman and keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when requested.

(h) The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee; provided, however , that any such designated alternate of the Audit and Conflicts Committee must meet the standards for an Independent Director. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member; provided, however , that any such replacement member of the Audit and Conflicts Committee must meet the standards for an Independent Director.

 

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Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not Directors; provided, however, that no such committee shall have or may exercise any authority of the Board.

Section 6.11 Resignation or Removal .

Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board or any Director or Officer of the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in such written notice, and unless otherwise specified therein, no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective.

Any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Members.

Vacancies in the Board caused by any such resignation or removal shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.09.

Section 6.12 Compensation .

The members of the Board who are neither Officers nor employees of the Company or any affiliate thereof shall be entitled to compensation for their service as directors and committee members at rates established from time to time by resolution of the Board and shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board or committees thereof.

ARTICLE VII

OFFICERS

Section 7.01 Elected Officers .

The Officers of the Company shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. Such Officers shall have the authority and duties delegated to each of them, respectively, by the Board from time to time. No Officer need be a Member or Director. Any number of Offices may be held by the same Person. The Officers of the Company shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers (including, without limitation, a President, a Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents) as the Board from time to time may deem proper.

The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. All Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VII and shall perform such additional duties as the Board may, from time to time, delegate to them. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect or appoint, as the case may be, such other Officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Controllers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Company. Such other Officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in this Agreement or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee, as the case may be.

 

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Section 7.02 Election and Term of Office .

The names and titles of the initial Officers of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, are set forth on Exhibit B hereto. Thereafter, the Officers of the Company shall be elected annually by the Board at the regular meeting of the Board held after the annual meeting of the Members or at such time and for such term as the Board shall determine. Each Officer shall hold office until such Person’s successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until such Person’s death or until he or she shall resign or be removed pursuant to Section 7.14.

Section 7.03 Chairman of the Board .

The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board. If the Chairman is unable to preside at a meeting of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer is also unable to preside at such meeting pursuant to Section 7.04, then the Directors may appoint another Director to preside at such meeting. The Directors also may elect a Vice-Chairman to act in the place of the Chairman upon his absence or inability to act.

Section 7.04 Chief Executive Officer .

The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Company and shall perform all duties incidental to such Person’s office that may be required by Applicable Law and all such other duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall supervise generally the affairs of the Company, its other Officers, employees and agents and may take all actions that the Company may legally take. He or she shall make reports to the Board and the Members and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall have full authority to execute all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, documents or other instruments, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise executed. The Chairman of the Board may serve in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer. If the Chairman of the Board does not so serve, then the Chief Executive Officer, if he or she is also a Director, shall, in the absence of or because of the inability of the Chairman of the Board to act, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of the Board.

Section 7.05 President .

The Chief Executive Officer may serve in the capacity as President. If the Chief Executive Officer does not so serve, then the President shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Company’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The President shall have full authority to execute all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, documents or other instruments, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise executed. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer, the President, if he or she is also a Director, shall preside at all meetings of the Board.

 

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Section 7.06 Chief Financial Officer .

The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for financial reporting for the Company and shall perform all duties incidental to such Person’s office that may be required by Applicable Law and all such other duties as are properly required by of him or her by the Board. He or she shall make reports to the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and any committee thereof relating to financial reporting are carried into effect. He or she shall also render to the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, whenever any of them request it, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Executive Officer and of the financial condition of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the same power as the Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.

Section 7.07 Chief Operating Officer .

The Chief Operating Officer of the Company shall assist the President and Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Company’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs.

Section 7.08 Vice Presidents .

Each Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President and any Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board, the President or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 7.09 Treasurer .

(a) The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of Company funds. The Treasurer shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed from time to time by the Board and the Chief Financial Officer.

(b) Assistant Treasurers shall have such authority and perform such duties of the Treasurer as may be provided in this Agreement or assigned to them by the Board or the Treasurer. Assistant Treasurers shall assist the Treasurer in the performance of the duties assigned to the Treasurer and, in assisting the Treasurer, each Assistant Treasurer shall for such purpose have the powers of the Treasurer. During the Treasurer’s absence or inability or refusal to act, the Treasurer’s authority and duties shall be possessed by such Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Treasurers as the Board may designate.

Section 7.10 Secretary .

(a) The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings or actions of the Board, the committees of the Board and the Members. The Secretary shall (i) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as required by Applicable Law; (ii) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Company and affix and attest the seal to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its seal; (iii) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates

 

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and other documents and records required by Applicable Law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (iv) in general, perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board.

(b) Assistant Secretaries shall have such authority and perform such duties of the Secretary as may be provided in this Agreement or assigned to them by the Board or the Secretary. Assistant Secretaries shall assist the Secretary in the performance of the duties assigned to the Secretary, and in assisting the Secretary, each Assistant Secretary shall for such purpose have the powers of the Secretary. During the Secretary’s absence or inability or refusal to act, the Secretary’s authority and duties shall be possessed by such Assistant Secretary or Assistant Secretaries as the Board may designate.

Section 7.11 Powers of Attorney .

The Company may grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other Persons.

Section 7.12 Delegation of Authority .

Unless otherwise provided by this Agreement or by resolution of the Board, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Company.

Section 7.13 Compensation and Expenses .

The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers and agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Board; provided , however, that no such Officer or agent shall have any contractual rights against the Company for compensation by virtue of such election or appointment beyond the date of the election or appointment of such Person’s successor, such Person’s death, such Person’s resignation or such Person’s removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

The Officers and agents shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder.

Section 7.14 Removal .

Any Officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board may be removed, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of the Company would be served thereby.

Section 7.15 Vacancies .

A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

MEMBER MEETINGS

 

  SECTION 8.01 Meetings .

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all acts of the Members to be taken hereunder shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article VIII. An annual meeting of the Members for the election of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board shall specify from time to time. Special meetings of the Members may be called by the Board or by any Member. A Member shall call a meeting by delivering to the Board one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Member wishes to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the meeting is to be called.

 

  SECTION 8.02 Notice of a Meeting .

Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 8.01 shall be given to the Members in writing by mail or other means of communication in accordance with Section 13.02. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of communication.

Attendance of a Member at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

  SECTION 8.03 Action by Consent of Members .

Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Article VIII, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth such action is signed by the Members holding not less than the minimum percentage of the Membership Interests that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all of the Members entitled to vote on such matter were present and voted.

 

  Section 8.04 Member Vote .

Unless a provision of this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, any provision of this Agreement requiring the authorization of, or action taken by, the Members shall require the approval of the Members holding a majority of the Membership Interests.

 

  Section 8.05 Election of Directors .

Directors of the Company shall be elected by Members holding a majority of the Membership Interests.

 

  Section 8.06 In the Event of a Sole Member .

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, at any time at which there is only a single Person serving as a Member of the Company, any provision herein that requires a Member to make a delivery to, or to obtain the consent of, the other Members of the Company shall be disregarded until such time as an additional Person is admitted as Member of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE IX

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

SECTION 9.01 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 Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, whether 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 the Indemnitee’s serving or having served, or taking or having taken any action or inaction in, any capacity that causes or caused the Indemnitee to be an Indemnitee; provided, however , 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 9.01, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith, engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.01 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company 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 9.01(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt by the Company of 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 9.01.

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 9.01 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, 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 Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Company, its Affiliates, the Board, the Officers and such other Persons as the Board shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such

 

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Person in connection with the Company’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) For purposes of this Section 9.01, (i) the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) 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 9.01(a); and (iii) action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such Indemnitee 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 Company.

(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 9.01 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.

(g) The provisions of this Section 9.01 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.

(h) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.01 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 Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.01 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.

ARTICLE X

TAXES

 

  Section 10.01 Tax Returns .

The Tax Matters Member of the Company (as defined in Section 10.03) shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by the Company. Each Member shall furnish to the Company all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns to be timely prepared and filed. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns.

 

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Section 10.02 Tax Elections .

(a) The Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate tax returns:

(i) to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s fiscal year;

(ii) to adopt the accrual method of accounting;

(iii) if a distribution of the Company’s property as described in Section 734 of the Code occurs, or upon a transfer of Membership Interest as described in Section 743 of the Code occurs, on request by notice from any Member, to elect, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, to adjust the basis of the Company’s properties; and

(iv) any other election that the Members, in their sole discretion, may deem appropriate.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Member shall make an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign law, and no provision of this Agreement (including Section 2.06) shall be construed to sanction or approve such an election.

Section 10.03 Tax Matters Member .

Cheniere Holdings shall be the “tax matters partner” of the Company pursuant to Code Section 6231(a)(7) (the “ Tax Matters Member ”). Any cost or expense incurred by the Tax Matters Member in connection with its duties, including the preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall be paid by the Company. The Tax Matters Member shall take all actions with respect to taxes (including, but not limited to, (a) making, changing or revoking a material tax election, (b) taking a significant position in any tax return, (c) settling or otherwise resolving any audit or other proceeding relating to taxes and (d) extending the statute of limitations with respect to taxes) in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE XI

BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS

Section 11.01 Maintenance of Books .

(a) The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the Members, appropriate registers, books of records and accounts and such supporting documentation of transactions as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and as are required to be maintained by Applicable Law.

(b) The books of account of the Company shall be (i) maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year, (ii) maintained on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and (iii) audited by the Registered Public Accountants at the end of each calendar year.

 

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Section 11.02 Reports .

With respect to each calendar year, the Board shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.

Section 11.03 Bank Accounts .

Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION

Section 12.01 Dissolution .

(a) The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(i) the unanimous consent of the Board; or

(ii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.

(b) No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.

(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining Member in the Company.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

 

  Section 12.02 Winding-Up and Termination .

(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event of the type described in Section 12.01, the Board shall select one or more Persons to act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as

 

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provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Board. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:

(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last Day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;

(ii) the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding up) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and

(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members as follows:

(A) the liquidator may sell any or all Company Property, including to Members, and any resulting gain or loss from each sale shall be computed and allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with the provisions of Article V;

(B) with respect to all Company Property that has not been sold, the fair market value of that property shall be determined and the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income, gain, loss and deduction inherent in property that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously would be allocated among the Members if there were a taxable disposition of that property for the fair market value of that property on the date of distribution; and

(C) Company Property (including cash) shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with their relative positive Capital Account balances after the allocations pursuant to Section 5.01 have been made.

(b) The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.02 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its Membership Interest and all of the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.

 

  Section 12.03 Deficit Capital Accounts .

No Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in the Member’s Capital Account.

 

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Section 12.04 Certificate of Cancellation .

Upon completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Members (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate (and the Term shall end), except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or by Applicable Law.

ARTICLE XIII

TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTEREST

The Member may sell, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of the Member’s Membership Interest at any time to any Person.

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 14.01 Offset .

Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.

Section 14.02 Notices .

Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder or that are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex, facsimile or electronic mail, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex, facsimile or electronic mail. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given upon delivery of such notice:

To the Company:

Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: President

Telephone: (713) 659-1361

Fax: (713) 659-5459

 

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To Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC:

Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: President

Telephone: (713) 659-1361

Fax: (713) 659-5459

Whenever any notice is required to be given by Applicable Law, the Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

Section 14.03 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect .

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members, in such capacity, relative to the formation, operation and continuation of the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to such subject matter, whether oral or written.

Section 14.04 Effect of Waiver or Consent .

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.

Section 14.05 Amendment or Restatement .

This Agreement or the Certificate may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed (or, in the case of the Certificate, approved) by all of the Members.

Section 14.06 Binding Effect .

This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

Section 14.07 Governing Law; Severability .

THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and

 

25


any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Person or circumstances is not affected thereby and that provision shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and (b) the Members or Directors (as the case may be) shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.

Section 14.08 Further Assurances .

In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.

Section 14.09 Counterparts .

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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

MEMBER

CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC

By:   /s/  Stanley C. Horton

        Name: Stanley C. Horton

        Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

MEMBER

 

MEMBERSHIP

INTEREST

 

CAPITAL

CONTRIBUTION

Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC

  100%   $1,000.00

 

28


EXHIBIT B

Initial Officers of the Company

 

1. Chairman of the Board — Charif Souki

 

2. Chief Executive Officer — Charif Souki

 

3. Chief Operating Officer — Stanley C. Horton

 

4. Chief Financial Officer — Don A. Turkleson

 

5. President — Stanley C. Horton

 

6. Senior Vice President — Don A. Turkleson

 

7. Secretary — Anne V. Vaughan

 

8. Treasurer — Graham A. McArthur

 

9. Chief Accounting Officer — Craig K. Townsend

 

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Exhibit 10.1

March 26, 2007

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: President

 

  Re: Management and Administrative Services to be Provided by Cheniere LNG

Terminals, Inc. (“Terminals”) to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (the

“Partnership”)

Gentlemen:

Except as otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms shall have the meaning set out in the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended or modified and in effect from time to time, the “Partnership Agreement”).

1. Effective as of the above date (the “Effective Date”), Terminals agrees to provide or cause to be provided to or for the benefit of the Partnership and its Partners, all technical, commercial, regulatory, financial, accounting, treasury, tax and legal staffing and related support and all management and other services necessary or reasonably requested on behalf of the Partnership (by its general partner) in order to conduct its business as contemplated by the Partnership Agreement (such support and services, collectively, the “Services”); provided, however, that the Services shall not include support or services provided or to be provided (a) by Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P. (“O&M”) to Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. pursuant to their Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated February 25, 2005 and subsequently assigned by O&M to Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC (“MLP GP”), (b) by O&M to MLP GP pursuant to their Services and Secondment Agreement dated March 26, 2007, (c) by Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. to Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. pursuant to their Management Services Agreement dated February 25, 2005 or (d) by Terminals to Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. pursuant to their management agreement dated September 1, 2006.

2. In consideration of the Services to be provided by Terminals to the Partnership under paragraph 1 above, the Partnership agrees to pay Terminals, within 30 days of receipt of an invoice therefor: (i) a nonaccountable overhead reimbursement charge at the rate of $10 million per year, subject to adjustment for inflation as provided below, commencing on January 1, 2009, plus (ii) any and all out-of-pocket costs, expenses or other disbursements incurred by Terminals in connection with its provision of support under paragraph 1 above. The foregoing nonaccountable overhead reimbursement charge shall be adjusted annually effective each January 1 for changes in the United States Consumer Price Index using the United States Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers) as of January 1, 2007, as a base.

3. This letter agreement is solely and exclusively between Terminals and the Partnership, and any obligations created herein shall be the sole obligation of the parties hereto. Neither party shall have any recourse to any parent, partner, Subsidiary, joint venture, Affiliate,


director or officer of the other party for the performance of such obligations, unless such obligations are assumed in writing by the Person against whom recourse is sought. The aggregate amount of damages, compensation, or other liabilities payable by Terminals under this letter agreement shall be limited to, and shall in no event exceed in any year, the amount paid to Terminals by the Partnership pursuant to paragraph 2 above in such year.

4. Terminals may, in its discretion, assign this letter agreement and all rights and obligations of Terminals under this letter agreement to another entity wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by Cheniere Energy, Inc., such assignment to be effective upon delivery to the Partnership by Terminals and such assignee of a written instrument of assumption and assignment providing for the assumption of this letter agreement and all such rights and obligations by the assignee, and the prospective release of Terminals with respect thereto, and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership.

5. The term of this letter agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until twenty (20) years after the Commercial Start Date (as defined in the Terminal Use Agreement dated as of September 2, 2004 between Total LNG USA, Inc. and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., as amended). The term of this letter agreement shall continue for twelve (12) months following the end of the initial term and for each twelve-month period following each anniversary of the end of the initial term unless terminated prior the end of any twelve-month period by the Partnership.

6. This letter agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by, the laws of the State of Texas excluding its conflicts of laws principles that would apply the laws of another jurisdiction.

If the foregoing memorializes our agreement, please sign in the space provided below and return a fully executed counterpart to the undersigned.

 

Sincerely,

 

Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc.

By:   / S /    D ON A. T URKLESON        
 

Name: Don A. Turkleson

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Agreed as of the above date:

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

 

By: Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC,

its general partner

 

By:   / S /    S TANLEY C. H ORTON        
 

Name: Stanley C. Horton

Title: President and Chief Operating Officer

Exhibit 10.2

SERVICES AND SECONDMENT AGREEMENT

This Services and Secondment Agreement (“Agreement”), dated as of March 26, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into between CHENIERE LNG O&M SERVICES, L.P. (“O&M”), a Delaware limited partnership, and CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC (“MLP GP”), a Delaware limited liability company. O&M and MLP GP are hereinafter each referred to as a “Party” and collectively referred to as the “Parties.”

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Sabine Pass LNG”), is developing a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the “Project”);

WHEREAS, O&M and Sabine Pass LNG are parties to an Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated as of February 25, 2005 (the “O&M Agreement”) with respect to the operation and maintenance of the Project;

WHEREAS, as of March 26, 2007, O&M assigned to MLP GP and MLP GP assumed from O&M all of O&M’s obligations under the O&M Agreement;

WHEREAS, O&M will provide to MLP GP the operational and maintenance resources and services necessary for MLP GP to meet its obligations under the O&M Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the provision of the operational and maintenance resources and services under this Agreement, O&M desires to second, or cause its Affiliate to second, to MLP GP certain personnel employed by O&M or its Affiliates in connection with the Project.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, O&M and MLP GP hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION; USE OF SECONDING AFFILIATES

 

1.1 Definitions .

As used in this Agreement, (a) the terms defined in this Agreement will have the meanings so specified, and (b) capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement will have the meanings ascribed to those terms on Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

1.2 Interpretation .

In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears: (a) the singular includes the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, in the case of any Party, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (c) reference to any gender includes each other gender; (d) reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms of this Agreement; (e) reference to any Section means such Section of this Agreement, and references in any Section or definition to any clause means such clause of such Section or definition; (f) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import will be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other provision hereof or thereof; (g) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; and (h) relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding” and “through” means “through and including.”

 


1.3 Legal Representation of Parties .

This Agreement was negotiated by the Parties with the benefit of legal representation, and any rule of construction or interpretation requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any Party merely because such Party drafted all or a part of such Agreement will not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof or thereof.

 

1.4 Titles and Headings .

Section titles and headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES

 

2.1 Operational and Maintenance Services .

O&M shall second, or cause its applicable seconding Affiliate to second, the Provided Personnel to MLP GP to provide the Services.

 

2.2 Fees and Expenses .

Each month, MLP GP will pay to O&M, within a reasonable time following receipt thereof, all payments that MLP GP receives from Sabine Pass LNG pursuant to Articles VIII and IX of the O&M Agreement less any costs incurred by MLP GP in hiring personnel provided by a third party to provide Services pursuant to Section 3.6 hereof.

 

2.2 Suspension of Services .

In the event MLP GP fails to meet its payment obligations under Section 2.2 hereof for any reason other than a good faith Dispute and such failure continues for 30 days after MLP GP’s receipt of written notice of such failure, O&M may suspend the performance of its obligations under Section 2.1 hereof until such time as MLP GP cures such failure.

ARTICLE 3

SECONDMENT

 

3.1 Provided Personnel .

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, O&M agrees to second to MLP GP, and MLP GP agrees to accept the Secondment of, those certain specifically identified individuals listed in Exhibit B (the “Provided Personnel Schedule”) for the purpose of performing job functions related to the Project. The Provided Personnel will be temporary employees of MLP GP during the Period of Secondment and shall, at all times during the Period of Secondment, work under the direction, supervision and control of MLP GP. Provided Personnel shall have no authority or apparent authority to act on behalf of O&M during the Period of Secondment. The Provided Personnel Schedule sets forth the names of the Provided Personnel seconded by O&M, the job functions of the Provided Personnel, and the starting and ending dates for the Period of Secondment of the Provided Personnel. Individuals may be added or removed from the Provided Personnel Schedule from time to time by the execution by the Parties of a completed “Addition/Removal/Change of Responsibility of Provided Personnel” form, the form of which shall be similar to the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C , which will be fully binding on the Parties for all purposes under this Agreement. Those rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement that relate to individuals that were on the Provided Personnel Schedule but then later removed from the Provided Personnel Schedule, which rights and obligations accrued before the removal of such individual, will survive the removal of such individual from the Provided Personnel Schedule to the extent necessary to enforce such rights and obligations.

 

2


3.2 Period of Secondment .

O&M will second, or cause its applicable seconding Affiliate to second, to MLP GP such Provided Personnel on the start date set forth on the Provided Personnel Schedule and continuing, during the period (and only during the period) that the Provided Personnel are performing Services for MLP GP, until the earlier of:

(a) the end of the term of this Agreement;

(b) the end date set forth for the Provided Personnel on the Provided Personnel Schedule (or another end date for such Provided Personnel as mutually agreed in writing by the Parties) (the “End Date”);

(c) a withdrawal, departure, resignation or termination of such Provided Personnel under Section 3.3 ; or

(d) a termination of Secondment of such Provided Personnel under Section 3.4 .

The period of time that any Provided Personnel is provided by O&M to MLP GP is referred to in this Agreement as the “Period of Secondment.” At the end of the Period of Secondment for any Provided Personnel, such Provided Personnel will no longer be subject to the direction by MLP GP of the Provided Personnel’s day-to-day activities. The Parties acknowledge that certain of the Provided Personnel may also provide services to Cheniere Energy, Inc. and its Affiliates in connection with their respective operations, including other services provided to MLP GP and its Affiliates (“Shared Provided Personnel”), and the Parties intend that such Shared Provided Personnel shall only be seconded to MLP GP during those times that the Shared Provided Personnel are performing Services for MLP GP hereunder.

 

3.3 Withdrawal, Departure or Resignation .

O&M will use reasonable efforts to prevent any early withdrawal, departure or resignation of any Provided Personnel prior to the End Date for such Provided Personnel’s Period of Secondment. If any Provided Personnel tenders his resignation to O&M as its employee, O&M will promptly notify MLP GP. During the Period of Secondment of any Provided Personnel, O&M will not voluntarily withdraw or terminate any Provided Personnel except with the written consent of MLP GP (which may be through the execution of a completed “Addition/Removal/Change of Responsibility of Provided Personnel” form, which shall be similar to the form set forth on Exhibit C hereto), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. O&M will indemnify, defend and hold harmless MLP GP, its directors, officers and employees against all Losses arising out of or in any way connected with or related to the termination of employment of the Provided Personnel by O&M EVEN THOUGH SUCH LOSS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ONE OR MORE OF MLP GP AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, except to the extent that such Losses arise out of or result from the sole negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of any of MLP GP or its directors, officers or employees. Upon the termination of employment, the Provided Personnel will cease performing Services for MLP GP.

 

3.4 Termination of Secondment .

MLP GP will have the right to terminate the Secondment to MLP GP of any Provided Personnel for any reason at any time. Upon the termination of any Provided Personnel’s Period of Secondment, O&M will be solely liable for any costs or expenses associated with the termination of the Secondment, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement. O&M will indemnify, defend and hold harmless MLP GP, its directors, officers and employees against all Losses arising out of or in any way connected with the termination of Secondment of the Provided Personnel by O&M EVEN THOUGH SUCH LOSS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ONE OR MORE OF MLP GP AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, except to the extent that such Losses arise out of or result from the sole negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of any of MLP GP or its directors, officers or employees. Upon the termination of a Secondment, the Provided Personnel will cease performing Services for MLP GP.

 

3


3.5 Supervision .

During the Period of Secondment, MLP GP shall:

(a) be ultimately and fully responsible for the daily work assignments of the Provided Personnel (and with respect to Shared Provided Personnel, during those times that the Shared Provided Personnel are performing Services for MLP GP hereunder), including supervision of their the day-to-day work activities and performance consistent with the purposes stated in Section 3.1 and the job functions set forth in the Provided Personnel Schedule;

(b) set the hours of work and the holidays and vacation schedules (other than with respect to Shared Provided Personnel, as to which MLP GP and O&M shall jointly determine) for Provided Personnel; and

(c) have the right to determine training which will be received by the Provided Personnel.

In the course and scope of performing any Provided Personnel job functions, the Provided Personnel will be integrated into the organization of MLP GP, will report into MLP GP’s management structure, and will be under the direct management and supervision of MLP GP employees or Provided Personnel designated by MLP GP to be responsible for the supervisory functions set forth in this Section 3.5 on behalf of MLP GP.

 

3.6 Provided Personnel Qualifications; Approval .

O&M will provide such suitably qualified and experienced Provided Personnel as O&M is able to make available to MLP GP, and MLP GP will have the right to approve such Provided Personnel. In the event that O&M is unable to provide suitably qualified and experienced personnel, MLP GP may hire personnel provided by a third party to provide Services.

ARTICLE 4

TERM

The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, will continue for the Initial Term and each Extension Term of the O&M Agreement until the O&M Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms thereof. MLP GP shall have the right to terminate this Agreement for convenience by giving O&M 30 days’ prior written notice of such termination.

ARTICLE 5

INDEMNIFICATION

 

5.1 Loss or Damage to the Facility .

O&M shall be responsible for any physical loss or damage to the Facility resulting from O&M’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the course of the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, in an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) the applicable deductible under MLP GP’s or its Affiliates’ physical damage insurance policies that covers such loss or damage or (ii) $400,000 for any such loss or damage caused during a given calendar year.

 

5.2 O&M Indemnity .

O&M SHALL DEFEND , INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE MLP GP G ROUP FROM AND AGAINST ALL DAMAGES , LOSSES , COSTS AND EXPENSES ( INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEYS FEES , AND LITIGATION OR ARBITRATION EXPENSES ) ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM OR RELATED TO ( I INJURY TO OR DEATH OF ANY MEMBER OF THE O&M G ROUP OR ( II DAMAGE TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OF ANY MEMBER OF THE O&M G ROUP OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES , REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OF SUCH INJURY , DEATH , PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION , INCLUDING THE SOLE OR JOINT NEGLIGENCE , BREACH OF CONTRACT OR OTHER BASIS OF LIABILITY OF ANY MEMBER OF THE MLP GP G ROUP .

 

4


O&M shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the MLP GP Group against any and all losses of whatever kind and nature, including all related costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, in respect of personal injury to or death of third parties and in respect of loss of or damage to any third party property to the extent that the same arises out of:

(a) any breach by O&M of its obligations hereunder;

(b) any negligent act or omission on the part of O&M; and

(c) any gross negligence or willful misconduct of O&M.

Any indemnification payable by O&M to MLP GP hereunder shall be net of any insurance proceeds received by MLP GP under MLP GP’s, O&M’s or any of their respective Affiliates’ insurance policies with respect to the circumstances giving rise to O&M’s indemnification of MLP GP hereunder, and shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 6.1 .

 

5.3 MLP GP Indemnity .

MLP GP SHALL DEFEND , INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE O&M G ROUP FROM AND AGAINST ALL DAMAGES , LOSSES , COSTS AND EXPENSES ( INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEYS FEES , AND LITIGATION OR ARBITRATION EXPENSES ) ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM OR RELATED TO ( I INJURY TO OR DEATH OF ANY MEMBER OF THE MLP GP G ROUP OR ( II DAMAGE TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OF MLP GP G ROUP ( EXCLUDING THE FACILITY ) OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES , REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OF SUCH INJURY , DEATH , PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION , INCLUDING THE SOLE OR JOINT NEGLIGENCE , BREACH OF CONTRACT OR OTHER BASIS OF LIABILITY OF ANY MEMBER OF THE O&M G ROUP .

MLP GP shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless O&M against any and all claims for Losses of whatever kind and nature, including all related costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, in respect of personal injury to or death of third parties and in respect of loss of or damage to any third party property to the extent that the same arises out of:

(a) any breach by MLP GP of its obligations hereunder;

(b) any negligent act or omission on the part of MLP GP; and

(c) any gross negligence or willful misconduct of MLP GP.

Any indemnification payable by MLP GP to O&M hereunder shall be net of any insurance proceeds received by O&M under O&M’s, MLP GP’s or any of their respective Affiliates’ insurance policies with respect to the circumstances giving rise to MLP GP’s indemnification of O&M hereunder.

 

5.4 Other Indemnity Rules .

If any Losses arise, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, out of the joint or concurrent negligence of both Parties, each Party’s liability therefor shall be limited to such Party’s proportionate degree of fault. Payments required to be paid by O&M to MLP GP under this Article 5 shall not constitute an Operating Expense or otherwise be reimbursable to O&M from MLP GP, and shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 6.1 .

ARTICLE 6

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

6.1 Limitation of Liability .

The aggregate amount of damages, compensation, or other such liabilities (other than with respect to the indemnity provided in the first paragraph of Section 5.3 ) payable by MLP GP under this Agreement shall be limited to, and

 

5


shall in no event exceed in each calendar year, an amount equal to the fee payable to O&M under Section 2.2 hereof plus reimbursable Operating Expenses for that year.

The aggregate amount of damages, compensation, or other such liabilities (other than with respect to the indemnity provided in the first paragraph of Section 5.2 ) payable by O&M under this Agreement shall be limited to, and shall in no event exceed in each calendar year, an amount equal to $1,560,000 for that year.

 

6.2 CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES .

NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR UNDER ANY CAUSE OF ACTION RELATED TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY, PRODUCT LIABILITY, CONTRIBUTION, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE OF ACTION FOR SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES OR DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFIT, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY, LOSS OF REVENUES, OR LOSS OF GOOD WILL; PROVIDED THAT THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT APPLY TO INDEMNITIES EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

ARTICLE 7

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

7.1 Accuracy of Recitals .

The paragraphs contained in the recitals to this Agreement are incorporated in this Agreement by this reference, and the Parties to this Agreement acknowledge the accuracy thereof.

 

7.2 Notices .

Any notice, demand, or communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, by reputable courier, or by telecopier, and shall be deemed to have been duly given as of the date and time reflected on the delivery receipt if delivered personally or sent by reputable courier service, or on the automatic telecopier receipt if sent by telecopier, addressed as follows:

Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Anne V. Vaughan, Secretary

Telecopy: (713) 659-5459

Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P.

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Anne V. Vaughan, Corporate Secretary

Telecopy: (713) 659-5459

A Party may change its address for the purposes of notices hereunder by giving notice to the other Party specifying such changed address in the manner specified in this Section 7.2 .

 

7.3 Further Assurances .

The Parties agree to execute such additional instruments, agreements and documents, and to take such other actions, as may be necessary to effect the purposes of this Agreement.

 

6


7.4 Modifications .

Any actions or agreement by the Parties to modify this Agreement, in whole or in part, shall be binding upon the Parties, so long as such modification shall be in writing and shall be executed by all Parties with the same formality with which this Agreement was executed.

 

7.5 No Third Party Beneficiaries .

No Person not a Party to this Agreement will have any rights under this Agreement as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, including, without limitation, Provided Personnel.

 

7.6 Relationship of the Parties .

Nothing in this Agreement will constitute the Partnership Entities, O&M or its Affiliates as members of any partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate or other entity.

 

7.7 Assignment .

Neither Party will, without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, assign, mortgage, pledge or otherwise convey this Agreement or any of its rights or duties hereunder; provided , however , that (i) either Party may assign or convey this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party to an Affiliate and (ii) no such consent is required for assignment or grant of a security interest to any Person for purposes of any financing arrangement. Unless written consent is not required under this Section 7.7 , any attempted or purported assignment, mortgage, pledge or conveyance by a Party without the written consent of the other Party shall be void and of no force and effect. No assignment, mortgage, pledge or other conveyance by a Party shall relieve the Party of any liabilities or obligations under this Agreement.

 

7.8 Binding Effect .

This Agreement will be binding upon, and will inure to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns and legal representatives.

 

7.9 Counterparts .

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Each Party may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.

 

7.10 Time of the Essence .

Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.

 

7.11 Governing Law .

This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by, the laws of the State of Texas excluding its conflicts of laws principles that would apply the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

7.12 Delay or Partial Exercise Not Waiver .

No failure or delay on the part of any Party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy granted hereby or any related document. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provisions of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of a similar breach in the future or of any other breach or nullify the effectiveness of such provision.

 

7


7.13 Entire Agreement .

This Agreement constitutes and expresses the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. All previous discussions, promises, representations and understandings relative thereto are hereby merged in and superseded by this Agreement.

 

7.14 Waiver .

To be effective, any waiver or any right under this Agreement will be in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer or representative of the Party bound thereby.

 

7.15 Signatories Duly Authorized .

Each of the signatories to this Agreement represents that he is duly authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of the Party for which he is signing, and that such signature is sufficient to bind the Party purportedly represented.

 

7.16 Incorporation of Exhibits by References .

Any reference herein to any exhibit to this Agreement will incorporate it herein, as if it were set out in full in the text of this Agreement.

 

7.17 Dispute Resolution .

(a) Negotiation . In the event that any Dispute cannot be resolved informally within 30 days after the Dispute arises, either Party may give written notice of the Dispute (a “Dispute Notice”) to the other Party requesting that a representative of MLP GP’s senior management and O&M’s senior management meet in an attempt to resolve the Dispute. Each such management representative shall have full authority to resolve the Dispute and shall meet at a mutually agreeable time and place within 30 days after receipt by the non-notifying Party of such Dispute Notice, and thereafter as often as they deem reasonably necessary to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Dispute. In no event shall this Section 7.17(a) be construed to limit either Party’s right to take any action under this Agreement. The Parties agree that if any Dispute is not resolved within 90 days after receipt of the Dispute Notice given in this Section 7.17(a) , then either Party may by notice to the other Party refer the Dispute to be decided by final and binding arbitration in accordance with Section 7.17(b) .

(b) Arbitration . Any arbitration held under this Agreement shall be held in Houston, Texas, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, shall be administered by the Dallas, Texas office of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and shall, except as otherwise modified by this Section 7.17(b) , be governed by the AAA’s International Arbitration Rules (the “AAA Rules”). The number of arbitrators required for the arbitration hearing shall be determined in accordance with the AAA Rules. The arbitrator(s) shall determine the rights and obligations of the Parties according to the substantive law of the state of Texas, excluding its conflict of law principles, as would a court for the state of Texas; provided , however , the law applicable to the validity of the arbitration clause, the conduct of the arbitration, including resort to a court for provisional remedies, the enforcement of any award and any other question of arbitration law or procedure shall be the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.A. § 2. Issues concerning the arbitrability of a matter in dispute shall be decided by a court with proper jurisdiction. The Parties shall be entitled to engage in reasonable discovery, including the right to production of relevant and material documents by the opposing Party and the right to take depositions reasonably limited in number, time and place; provided that in no event shall any Party be entitled to refuse to produce relevant and non-privileged documents or copies thereof requested by the other Party within the time limit set and to the extent required by order of the arbitrator(s). All disputes regarding discovery shall be promptly resolved by the arbitrator(s). This agreement to arbitrate is binding upon the Parties, O&M’s surety (if any) and the successors and permitted assigns of any of them. At either Party’s option, any other Person may be joined as an additional party to any arbitration conducted under this Section 7.17(b) , provided that the party to be joined is or may be liable to either Party in connection with all or any part of any dispute between the Parties. The arbitration award shall be final and binding, in writing, signed by all arbitrators, and shall state the reasons upon which the award thereof is based. The Parties agree that judgment on the arbitration award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

8


(c) Continuation of Work During Dispute . Subject to Section 2.2 hereof, notwithstanding any Dispute it shall be the responsibility of each Party to continue to perform its obligations under this Agreement pending resolution of Disputes.

[Signature page follows]

 

9


AS WITNESS HEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives on the date herein above mentioned.

 

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:   / S /    D ON A. T URKLESON        
 

Name: Don A. Turkleson

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

CHENIERE LNG O&M SERVICES, L.P.

 

By:   Cheniere Resources, Inc.,

its General Partner

By:   / S /    S TANLEY C. H ORTON        
 

Name: Stanley C. Horton

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

10


EXHIBIT A

Definitions

“AAA” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.17(b) .

“AAA Rules” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.17(b) .

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, (b) any Person owning or controlling fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting interests of such Person, (c) any officer or director of such Person, or (d) any Person who is the officer, director, trustee, or holder of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting interest of any Person described in clauses (a) through (c). For purposes of this definition, the term “controls,” “is controlled by” or “is under common control with” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, no Partnership Entities shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of O&M nor shall O&M be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Partnership Entities.

“Agreement” shall mean this Services and Secondment Agreement, including all Exhibits and amendments to this Agreement.

“Dispute” means any dispute, controversy or claim (of any and every kind or type whether based on contract, tort, statute, regulation or otherwise) arising out of, relating to or connected with this Agreement, including any dispute as to the construction, validity, interpretation, termination, enforceability or breach of this Agreement, as well as any dispute over arbitrability or jurisdiction.

“Dispute Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.17(a) .

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“End Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b) .

“Extension Term” has the meaning set forth in the O&M Agreement.

“Facility” means the liquefied natural gas receiving terminal being developed by Sabine Pass LNG in western Cameron Parish, Louisiana on the Sabine Pass Channel.

“Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in the O&M Agreement.

“Losses” means any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), claims, demands, losses, liabilities, obligations, actions, lawsuits and other proceedings, judgments and awards.

“MLP GP” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“MLP GP Group” means (i) MLP GP and its Affiliates (other than O&M) and (ii) the respective directors, officers, agents, partners, employees and representatives of each Person specified in clause (i) above.

“O&M” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“O&M Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

“O&M Group” means (i) O&M and its Affiliates (other than MLP GP) and (ii) the respective directors, officers, agents, employees, partners, representatives of each Person specified in clause (i) above.

“Operating Expense” has the meaning set forth in the O&M Agreement.

 

EX.A-1


“Partnership” means Cheniere Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

“Partnership Entities” means the Partnership and MLP GP.

“Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Period of Secondment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 .

“Person” means any individual or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or other legal entity.

“Project” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

“Provided Personnel” means the employees of O&M seconded by O&M to MLP GP pursuant to this Agreement.

“Provided Personnel Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 .

“Sabine Pass LNG” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

“Secondment” means each assignment of any Provided Personnel to MLP GP from O&M in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“Services” means all of the services to be provided by MLP GP to Sabine Pass LNG pursuant to the O&M Agreement, including the “Services” as defined in the O&M Agreement.

“Shared Provided Personnel” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 .

 

EX.A-2


EXHIBIT B

Provided Personnel

In reference to that certain Services and Secondment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007 (the “Secondment Agreement”; terms with initial capital letters used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Secondment Agreement), between CHENIERE LNG O&M SERVICES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. All information on this form must be filled in for this form to be valid.

 

Seconding Company

  

Name of Provided
Personnel

  

Title and Job Functions

   Start Date   

Location

Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Pfeffer, James A. (James)    Project Engineering Manager.002    11-Apr-2005    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Turner, Mr. James H (Pete)    Senior Contracts Administrator.002    17-Jul-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Colon, Mr. Angel D    Process Specialist.000    14-Aug-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Dumlao, Jose C (Jose)    Project Engineer.002    09-Jan-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Garcia, Ms. Erica R    Document Control Specialist.002    27-Jul-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Macias, Carlos (Carlos)    Senior Manager, Projects.004    01-Dec-2004    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Mouton, Stephanie A (Stephanie)    Project Administrator.011    31-Jan-2005    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Shelburg, James D (James)    Supervisor, Project Controls.004    15-Feb-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Strickland, Robert D (Bob)    Specialist, Materials Management.002    04-Jan-2006    Bechtel Engineering Office - Sabine Pass LNG LP
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Austin, Mr. Larry M    Inspector, Piping/Welding.002    31-Jul-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Cremer, Mr. James T (Jim)    QA/QC Superintendent.001    19-Feb-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Driscoll, Mr. Mark E (Mark)    Associate Engineer.002    26-Jun-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Hendricks, Owen Keith (Keith)    Tank Specialist.002    23-Jan-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Jinks, Brandy C    Administrative Assistant, Site.002    25-May-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Lacock, Louis T (Louis)    Safety & Security Engineer.002    16-Jan-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2

 

EX.B-1


Seconding Company

  

Name of Provided
Personnel

  

Title and Job Functions

   Start Date   

Location

Engineering & Construction - Sabine Pass    Lawson, Mr. Elvin D (Doug)    Manager, Construction.004    17-Jul-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Mayo, Terry L (Terry)    Mechanical Engineer.003    16-May-2005    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Merritt, Ms. Theresa H    Project Administrator.010    29-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Prudhomme, Richard F. (Richard)    Civil Inspector.004    25-Jul-2005    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Schulz, James P (Jim)    Senior Manager, Projects.003    21-Feb-2005    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Scott, Robert (Bob)    Piping & Equipment Specialist.002    22-May-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Shircliffe, Mr. Michael W (Mike)    Inspector, E&I.003    28-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass    Wyninger, David L (David)    Supervisor, Project Controls.003    06-Mar-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Kelly, Mr. Michael T.    Manager, Construction.005    29-Jun-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
Engineering & Construction—Sabine Pass 2    Leger, Ms. Amanda K    Cost Specialist.001    25-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Bimle, Mr. Jeffrey J. (Jeff)    Operator A.004    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Boudreaux, Layne C    Operator A.007    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Coots, Darryl W    Technician A.004    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    de Wit, Hans Jr.    Senior Technician.004    10-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Dugat, Stephen D    Operator A.005    19-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Fabriguze, Gary L    Operator A.001    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Giles, Mr. David B    Manager, Maintenance.003    10-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Goebel, Mr. John G.    Supervisor, Security.002    14-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Goff, Rodney S    Operator A.003    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2

 

EX.B-2


Seconding Company

  

Name of Provided
Personnel

  

Title and Job Functions

   Start Date   

Location

O&M Services - Sabine Pass    Graham, Bruce E    Manager, Safety & Security.003    22-May-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Hanson, Mr. Dallas L (Les)    Supervisor, Shift Operations.004    07-Dec-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Higginbotham, Michael (Mike)    Operator A.012    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Hofer, Mr. Donald L (Don)    Manager, Operations.002    15-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Ivey, Charles P (Chuck)    Shift Supervisor, Operations.004    15-Jan-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Jardell, Mr. Philip K    Planner, Maintenance.002    04-Jan-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Kaucher, James E (Jim)    Plant Manager.003    09-Feb-2004    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Keel, Clyde E    Operator A.009    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Kellogg, Kenneth J (John)    Shift Supervisor, Operations.003    15-Jan-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Kounter, Mr. Stephen C (Courtney)    Senior Engineer, E&I.002    20-Nov-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Landry, Shawn    Technician A.006    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    McGee, Mr. Magnus W (Sonny)    Supervisor, Shift Operations.005    01-Nov-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    McNabb, Thomas K    Operator A.002    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Miller, David L (Lance)    Supervisor, Maintenance.002    09-Aug-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Mills, Mr. Stephen G    Supervisor, Marine.002    02-Jan-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Mincks, Paul K    Technician A.003    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Patten, Mr. Charles    Supervisor, Day Operations.003    11-Sep-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Quinn, Blaine K.    Technician A.005    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Reed, Mr. Calvin Andrew (Andy)    Technician A.001    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Reichhoff, Kandi K    Operator A.006    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2

 

EX.B-3


Seconding Company

  

Name of Provided
Personnel

  

Title and Job Functions

   Start Date   

Location

O&M Services - Sabine Pass    Richard, Ronald J    Senior Technician.003    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Simon, Jessie J    Operator A.011    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Stanley, Derek G    Operator A.010    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Thibodeaux, Craig L    Technician A.002    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Trahan, Alfred    Operator A.008    12-Mar-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Trahan, Gregory K (Greg)    Manager, Marine.003    12-Jun-2006    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2
O&M Services—Sabine Pass    Trahan, Travis L    Senior Scheduler, Operations.003    10-Jan-2007    Sabine Pass LNG, LP - Mile Marker #2

 

EX.B-4


EXHIBIT C

Addition/Removal/Change of Responsibility of Provided Personnel Form

In reference to that certain Secondment Agreement, dated March 26, 2007 (the “Secondment Agreement”; terms with initial capital letters used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Secondment Agreement), CHENIERE LNG O&M SERVICES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

In accordance with Section 3.1 of the Secondment Agreement, the Parties hereto wish to add, remove or change the responsibilities of the following individual or individuals to the Provided Personnel Schedule (all information must be filled in for this form to be valid):

 

Seconding

Company

  

Name of

Provided

Personnel

  

Title and Job Functions

   Start Date    End Date
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           

 

CHENIERE LNG O&M SERVICES, L.P.     CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:           By:      
 

Name: Stanley C. Horton

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

     

Name: Don A. Turkleson

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

EX.C

Exhibit 10.3

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose of the Plan.

The Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) has been adopted by Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the general partner of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership and the Company and their Affiliates by providing to employees, consultants, and directors of the Company and employees and consultants of its Affiliates who perform services for or on behalf of the Partnership and its subsidiaries incentive compensation awards for superior performance that are based on Units. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership and its subsidiaries.

2. Definitions.

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

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. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding two sentences, to the extent that Section 409A of the Code applies to Options or Unit Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, the term “Affiliate” means all Persons with whom the Company could be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) or Section 414(c) of the Code substituting “20 percent” in place of “80 percent” in determining a controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code and in determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control for purposes of Section 414(c) of the Code.

Award ” means an Option, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit or Unit Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, and may include tandem DERs granted with respect to an Option, Phantom Unit or Unit Appreciation Right.

Award Agreement ” means the written agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Change of Control ” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or the Company to any Person and/or its Affiliates, other than to the Partnership, the Company and/or any of their Affiliates; (ii) the consolidation, reorganization, merger or other transaction pursuant to which more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding equity interests in the Partnership or the Company cease to be owned by the Persons who own such interests as of the effective date of the initial public offering of Units; or (iii) the limited partners of the Company or the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or the Partnership.

Solely with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and to the extent that the definition of change in control under Section 409A applies to limited liability companies and affects federal income taxation of an affected Award, this definition is intended to comply with the definition of change in control under Section 409A of the Code and, to the extent


that the above definition does not so comply, such definition shall be void and of no effect and, to the extent required to ensure that this definition complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the definition of such term set forth in regulations or other regulatory guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code by the appropriate governmental authority is hereby incorporated by reference into and shall form part of this Plan as fully as if set forth herein verbatim and the Plan shall be operated in accordance with the above definition of Change in Control as modified to the extent necessary to ensure that the above definition complies with the definition prescribed in such regulations or other regulatory guidance insofar as the definition relates to any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Committee ” means the Board or such committee of the Board as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

Consultant ” means an individual, other than an Employee or a Director, providing bona fide services to the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries as a consultant or advisor, as applicable, provided that (i) such individual is a natural person, and (ii) the grant of an Award to such Person could not reasonably be expected to result in adverse federal income tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code.

DER ” or “ Distribution Equivalent Right ” means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific Option, Unit Appreciation Right or Phantom Unit, to receive an amount in cash equal to the cash distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such tandem Award is outstanding.

Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

Disability ” means an inability of the Participant to perform material services for the Company for a period of 90 consecutive days or a total of 180 days, during any 365-day period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness, which is determined to be total and permanent. A determination of Disability shall be made by a physician satisfactory to both the Participant (or his guardian) and the Company, provided that if the Participant (or his guardian) and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Participant and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together shall select a third physician, whose determination as to Disability shall be binding on all parties. Eligibility for disability benefits under any policy for long-term disability benefits provided to the Participant by the Company shall conclusively establish the Participant’s Disability.

Employee ” means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate who performs services for the Partnership or its subsidiaries.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fair Market Value ” means the closing sales price of a Unit on the applicable date (or if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee). In the event Units are not publicly traded at the time a determination of fair market value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of fair market value shall be made in good faith by the Committee.

Option ” means an option to purchase Units granted under the Plan.

Participant ” means any Employee, Consultant or Director granted an Award under the Plan.

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.

Phantom Unit ” means a phantom (notional) Unit granted under the Plan which upon vesting entitles the Participant to receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit. Whether cash or Units are received for Phantom Units shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

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Restricted Period ” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture or is either not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.

Restricted Unit ” means a Unit granted under the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.

Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

UAR ” of “ Unit Appreciation Right ” means an Award that, upon exercise, entitles the holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date over the exercise price established for such Unit Appreciation Right. Such excess may be paid in cash and/or in Units as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.

UDR ” or “ Unit Distribution Right ” means a distribution made by the Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.

Unit ” means a common unit of the Partnership.

3. Administration.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award (including but not limited to performance requirements for such Award); (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any Affiliate, any Participant, and any beneficiary of any Award.

4. Units.

(a) Limits on Units Deliverable . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) , the maximum number of Units that may be delivered or reserved for delivery or underlying any Award with respect to the Plan is 1,250,000. If any Award expires, is canceled, exercised, paid or otherwise terminates without the delivery of Units, then the Units covered by such Award, to the extent of such expiration, cancellation, exercise, payment or termination, shall again be Units with respect to which Awards may be granted. Units that cease to be subject to an Award because of the exercise of the Award, or the vesting of Restricted Units or similar Awards, shall no longer be subject to or available for any further grant under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be granted under the Plan and paid in cash.

 

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(b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards . Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open market, from any Affiliate, the Company or the Partnership or any other Person, or any combination of the foregoing as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(c) Adjustments . In the event that any distribution (whether in the form of cash, Units, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Units or other securities of the Partnership, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Units or other securities of the Partnership, or other similar transaction or event affects the Units, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, that the number of Units subject to any Award shall always be a whole number and, provided further, that the Committee shall not take any action otherwise authorized under this subparagraph (c) to the extent that such action would cause (A) the application of Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (B) create adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code should that Code section apply to the Award.

5. Eligibility.

Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan.

6. Awards.

(a) Options . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option, whether DERs are granted with respect to such Option, the purchase price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(i) Exercise Price . The purchase price per Unit purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted, provided such purchase price may not be less than 100% of its Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, which may include, without limitation, accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, a “cashless-broker” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, with the consent of the Committee, the withholding of Units that would otherwise be delivered to the Participant upon the exercise of the Option, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, having a fair market value (as determined by the Committee) on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price.

(iii) Forfeiture . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason prior to the date an Option becomes vested, all unvested Options shall be forfeited by the Participant.

(iv) DERs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Options may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be credited to

 

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a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(b) Restricted Units . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units to be granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units may become vested or forfeited, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

(i) UDRs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units may provide that distributions made by the Partnership with respect to the Restricted Units shall be subject to the same forfeiture and other restrictions as the Restricted Unit and, if restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest, until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR being paid or forfeited at the same time, as the case may be. Absent such a restriction on the UDRs in the Award Agreement, UDRs shall be paid to the holder of the Restricted Unit without restriction.

(ii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Restricted Units awarded the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units.

(iii) Lapse of Restrictions . Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b) , the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit certificate so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.

(c) Phantom Units . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the time or conditions under which the Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited, which may include, without limitation, the accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards, including whether DERs are granted with respect to such Phantom Units.

(i) DERs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Phantom Units may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(ii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested outstanding Phantom Units awarded the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Phantom Units.

(iii) Lapse of Restrictions . Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Phantom Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b) , the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one Unit or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

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(d) Unit Appreciation Rights . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Unit Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each grant and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Unit Appreciation Right, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right shall be not less than 100% of its Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

(ii) Vesting/Time of Payment . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which a Unit Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable and the time or times at which a Unit Appreciation Right shall be paid in whole or in part (and any payments shall be subject to the provisions of Section 8(b) .

(iii) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason prior to vesting, all unvested Unit Appreciation Rights awarded the Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Unit Appreciation Rights, in which case, such Unit Appreciation Rights shall be deemed vested upon termination of employment or service and paid as soon as administratively practical thereafter.

(iv) Unit Appreciation Right DERs . To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Unit Appreciation Rights may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Unit Appreciation Rights Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(e) General .

(i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together . Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. No Award shall be issued in tandem with another Award if the tandem Awards would result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards .

(A) Except as provided in Section 6(e)(ii)(C) below, each Award shall be exercisable or payable only to the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or to the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(B) Except as provided in Section 6(e)(ii)(C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

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(C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to an Award, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.

(iii) Term of Awards . The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee, but shall not exceed 10 years.

(iv) Unit Certificates . All certificates for Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(v) Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee determines.

(vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such Award without violating the rules or regulations of any applicable law or securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award grant agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

(vii) Change in Control . Unless specifically provided otherwise in the Award Agreement, upon a Change in Control or such time prior thereto as established by the Committee, all outstanding Awards shall automatically vest or become exercisable in full, as the case may be. In this regard, all Restricted Periods shall terminate and all performance criteria, if any, shall be deemed to have been achieved at the maximum level.

Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any positive “spread” (determined based on the Fair Market Value of Units on the payment date) on an Option or UAR that is or becomes fully vested and exercisable as of the date of a Change in Control (or any earlier date related to the Change in Control and established by the Committee) shall be paid in a single payment in Units, or cash and/or other property, or any combination of Units and cash and/or other property, as determined by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any Award of Phantom Units or Restricted Units that pursuant to this Section 6(e)(vii) are deemed to have the applicable Restriction Period lapse (and to have all applicable performance criteria achieved at the maximum level, if any) as of the date of a Change in Control (or any earlier date related to the Change in Control and established by the Committee), shall be settled by (i) issuance of unrestricted Units based on the number of Units that were subject to the Award on the date of grant of the Award or (ii) payment of cash and/or other property equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the payout date for each Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit or (iii) any combination of payouts under clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, as determined by the Committee. Any accelerated payout pursuant to this Section 6(e)(vii) shall be made in a single payment within 30 days after the date of the Change in Control.

To the extent an Option or UAR is not vested or exercisable, or a Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit does not vest, pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 6(e)(vii) or the Award Agreement upon the Change in Control, the Committee may, in its discretion, cancel such Award or provide for an assumption of such Award or a replacement grant on substantially the

 

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same terms; provided, however, upon any cancellation of an Option or UAR that has a positive “spread” or a Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit, the holder shall be paid an amount in Units or cash and/or other property or any combination of cash and/or other property, as determined by the Committee, equal to such “spread” if an Option or UAR or equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, if a Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit.

(viii) Section 409A of the Code . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan shall contain terms that (i) are designed to avoid application of Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (ii) are designed to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A should that Code section apply to the Award.

7. Amendment and Termination.

Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

(a) Amendments to the Plan . Except as required by the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any Participant other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other Person.

(b) Amendments to Awards Subject to Section 7(a) . The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided no change in any Award shall materially reduce the benefit to a Participant without the consent of such Participant.

8. General Provisions.

(a) No Rights to Award . No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(b) Tax Withholding . The Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, other securities, or other property) of any applicable taxes payable at the minimum statutory rate in respect of the grant of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.

(c) No Right to Employment or Services . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, to continue as a consultant, or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or terminate a consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other agreement.

(d) Governing Law . The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

(e) Section 409A of the Code . Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan shall contain terms that (i) are designed to avoid application of Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (ii) are designed to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code should that section apply to the Award. If any Plan provision or Award under the Plan

 

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would result in the imposition of an applicable tax under Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and pronouncements, that Plan provision or Award will be reformed to the extent reformation would avoid imposition of the applicable tax and no action taken to comply with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award or to require the Participant’s consent.

(f) Severability . If any provision of the Plan or any award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Other Laws . The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(h) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Partnership, Company or any participating Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Partnership, Company or any participating Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Partnership, Company or any participating Affiliate.

(i) No Fractional Units . No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(j) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

(k) Facility Payment . Any amounts payable hereunder to any person under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to properly manage his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such person, or may be applied for the benefit of such person in any manner which the Committee may select, and the Partnership, Company and its Affiliates shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

(l) Gender and Number . Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

(m) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . None of the Board, the Partnership, the Company, any Affiliate nor the Committee makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will apply or be available to any person participating or eligible to participate hereunder.

9. Term of the Plan.

The Plan shall be effective on the date of its approval by the Board and shall continue until the date terminated by the Committee. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 


CONTRIBUTION AND CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

CHENIERE ENERGY INVESTMENTS, LLC

SABINE PASS LNG-GP, INC.

AND

SABINE PASS LNG-LP, LLC

EFFECTIVE AS OF

March 26, 2007

 



CONTRIBUTION AND CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT

This CONTRIBUTION AND CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 26, 2007, is entered into by and among CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“MLP”), CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cheniere Holdings”), CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLP GP”), CHENIERE ENERGY INVESTMENTS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Subsidiary LLC”), SABINE PASS LNG-GP, INC., a Delaware corporation (“LNG-GP”), and SABINE PASS LNG-LP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LNG-LP”). The parties to this agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1.1.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, MLP GP and Cheniere Holdings have formed the MLP, pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”), for the purpose of engaging in any business activity that is approved by MLP GP and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware LP Act.

WHEREAS, in order to accomplish the objectives and purposes in the preceding recital, the following actions have been taken prior to the date hereof:

1. Cheniere Holdings formed MLP GP, to which Cheniere Holdings contributed $1,000 in exchange for all of the member interests in MLP GP.

2. MLP GP and Cheniere Holdings formed the MLP; to which MLP GP contributed $20.00 in exchange for a 2% general partner interest in the MLP and Cheniere Holdings contributed $980.00 in exchange for a 98% limited partner interest (the “Holdings Initial LP Interest”).

3. The MLP formed Subsidiary LLC, to which it contributed $1,000 in cash in exchange for 100% of the member interests in Subsidiary LLC.

WHEREAS, concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”), each of the following matters shall occur:

1. Cheniere Holdings will convey to Subsidiary LLC, as a capital contribution, 100% of the outstanding common stock of LNG-GP and 100% of the member interests in LNG-LP (the “Contributed Equity”) in return for 10,000 units in Subsidiary LLC (the “Holdings Interests”).

2. Cheniere Holdings will contribute as a capital contribution to MLP GP a portion of the Holdings Interests having a value equal to 2% of the equity value of the MLP immediately after the Closing (the “GP Interest”).

3. The MLP will enter into the Services Agreement with Cheniere Terminals.


4. O&M Services will assign the O&M Agreement to MLP GP, with the consent of Sabine Pass LNG, pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

5. O&M Services and MLP GP will enter into the Services and Secondment Agreement.

6. MLP GP will convey to the MLP, as a capital contribution, the GP Interest in exchange for (a) a continuation of its 2% general partner interest in the MLP and (b) the issuance to MLP GP of the IDRs of the MLP.

7. Cheniere Holdings will convey, as a capital contribution, the remainder of the Holdings Interests to the MLP in exchange for (a) 135,383,831 Subordinated Units in the MLP (representing an 82% interest), (b) 21,362,193 Common Units in the MLP (representing a 16% interest), (c) the right to receive distributions, if any, from the Distribution Reserve Account as determined pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Partnership Agreement and (d) to the extent that the Net Funding Amount is not sufficient to purchase Treasury Securities maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as MLP GP has determined will be sufficient to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the Initial Common Units and the General Partner Units, the obligation to make an additional capital contribution to the MLP of cash in an amount needed to purchase the necessary Distribution Treasury Securities.

8. The public, through the Underwriters, will (i) contribute $106,137,444 in cash, less the Underwriters’ discount of $7,164,277 and the structuring fee of $530,687, in exchange for 5,054,164 Common Units in the MLP and (ii) purchase 8,445,836 Common Units (plus an additional 2,025,000 Common Units if the Underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional Common Units from Cheniere Holdings) for $177,362,556, less the Underwriters discount of $11,971,973 and the structuring fee of $886,812 ($42,525,000, $2,870,438 and $212,625, respectively, if the Underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional Common Units).

9. Cheniere Holdings will pay transaction expenses associated with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in the amount of approximately $3,800,000 (exclusive of the Underwriters’ discount and the structuring fee).

10. The MLP will deposit $98,442,481 (the “Net Funding Amount”) in the Distribution Reserve Account.

11. The MLP will use the Net Funding Amount, plus any amounts contributed by Cheniere Holdings, pursuant to Section 2.7, to purchase Treasury Securities.

12. The MLP will redeem from Cheniere Holdings and retire the Holdings Initial LP Interest in exchange for a payment in cash to Cheniere Holdings of $980.00.

13. The Partnership Agreement and the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MLP GP, which as amended and restated reflect the applicable matters set forth above and as contained in this Agreement, will be executed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual undertakings and agreements hereunder, the Parties undertake and agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings given below.

(a) “Agreement” means this Contribution and Conveyance Agreement.

(b) “Assets” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

(c) “Assignment and Assumption Agreement” means that certain Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among O&M Services, MLP GP and Sabine Pass LNG.

(d) “Cheniere Terminals” means Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(e) “Closing Date” means March 26, 2007.

(f) “Common Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(g) “Distribution Reserve Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(h) “Distribution Reserve Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(i) “Effective Date” shall mean the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(j) “Effective Time” shall mean 10:30 a.m. New York, New York time on the Closing Date.

(k) “General Partner Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(l) “IDRs” means “Incentive Distribution Rights” as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

(m) “Initial Common Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(n) “Initial Quarterly Distribution” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(o) “O&M Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(p) “O&M Services” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

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(q) “Offering” means the initial public offering by the MLP and Cheniere Holdings of Common Units.

(r) “Partnership Agreement” means that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. dated as of the Closing Date.

(s) “Partnership Group” means the MLP, MLP GP and Subsidiary LLC.

(t) “Registration Statement” means the registration statements on Form S-1 (Registration Nos. 333-139572 and 333-141456) filed by the MLP relating to the Offering.

(u) “Sabine Pass LNG” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(v) “Services Agreement” means that certain Services Agreement dated as of the Closing Date between the MLP and Cheniere Terminals.

(w) “Services and Secondment Agreement” means that certain Services and Secondment Agreement dated as of the Closing Date between O&M Services and MLP GP.

(x) “Subordinated Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

(y) “Underwriters” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Underwriting Agreement.

(z) “Underwriting Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

CONTRIBUTIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 2.1 Contribution by Cheniere Holdings to Subsidiary LLC . Cheniere Holdings hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to Subsidiary LLC, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the Contributed Equity, as a capital contribution, in exchange for (a) 10,000 units in Subsidiary LLC and (b) other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and Subsidiary LLC hereby accepts the Contributed Equity as a contribution to the capital of Subsidiary LLC and agrees as the sole member of LNG-LP to be bound by the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of LNG-LP.

Section 2.2 Contribution by Cheniere Holdings of the GP Interest to MLP GP . Cheniere Holdings hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to MLP GP, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the GP Interest, as a capital contribution, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and MLP GP hereby accepts the GP Interest as a contribution to the capital of MLP GP.

 

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Section 2.3 Contribution by MLP GP of the GP Interest to the MLP . MLP GP hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the MLP, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the GP Interest, as a capital contribution, in exchange for (a) a continuation of its 2% general partner interest in the MLP, (b) the issuance by the MLP to MLP GP of the IDRs, and (c) other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and the MLP hereby accepts the GP Interest as a contribution to the capital of the MLP.

Section 2.4 Contribution by Cheniere Holdings of Holding Interests to the MLP . Cheniere Holdings hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the MLP, its successors and assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the remainder of the Holdings Interests in exchange for (a) the issuance by the MLP to Cheniere Holdings of 135,383,831 Subordinated Units in the MLP, representing an 82% interest in the MLP, (b) the issuance by the MLP to Cheniere Holdings of 21,362,193 Common Units in the MLP, representing a 16% interest in the MLP, (c) the right to receive distributions, in certain circumstances, from the Distribution Reserve Account as determined pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Partnership Agreement, (d) the obligation to make contributions to the Distribution Reserve Account, pursuant to the terms of Section 2.7, and (e) other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and the MLP hereby accepts such Holdings Interests as a contribution to the capital of the MLP and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Subsidiary LLC as its sole member.

Section 2.5 Cash Contribution by the Public . The Parties acknowledge that the public has made a capital contribution through the underwriters to the MLP of approximately $106,137,444 in cash ($98,442,481 net to the MLP after the underwriting discount of $7,164,277 and the structuring fee of $530,687) in exchange for the issuance by the MLP to the public of 5,054,164 Common Units, representing an 8.2% interest in the MLP.

Section 2.6 Transaction Costs and Distribution Reserve Account . The Parties acknowledge (a) the payment by Cheniere Holdings, in connection with the Closing, of transaction expenses in the amount of approximately $3,800,000 (exclusive of the Underwriters’ discount and the structuring fee) and (b) the deposit of the Net Funding Amount into the Distribution Reserve Account.

Section 2.7 Purchase of Treasury Securities . The MLP shall use the Net Funding Amount to purchase the Treasury Securities on the Closing Date maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as MLP GP determines will be sufficient to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the Initial Common Units and General Partner Units. In the event the Net Funding Amount is not sufficient to purchase the necessary Treasury Securities, on the Closing Date, Cheniere Holdings shall contribute the difference to the MLP as an additional Capital Contribution.

Section 2.8 Redemption of Cheniere Holdings Initial MLP Interest . The MLP hereby agrees to redeem from Cheniere Holdings and agrees to retire the Cheniere Holdings Initial MLP Interest in exchange for a payment in cash to Cheniere Holdings of $980.00.

 

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ARTICLE 3

TITLE MATTERS

Section 3.1 Encumbrances

(a) Except to the extent provided in any other document executed in connection with this Agreement or the Offering, the contribution and conveyance (by operation of law or otherwise) of the various physical assets owned as reflected in this Agreement (collectively, the “Assets”) are made expressly subject to all recorded and unrecorded liens (other than consensual liens), encumbrances, agreements, defects, restrictions, adverse claims and all laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments and orders of governmental authorities or tribunals having or asserting jurisdictions over the Assets and operations conducted thereon or in connection therewith, in each case to the extent the same are valid and enforceable and affect the Assets, including all matters that a current survey or visual inspection of the Assets would reflect.

(b) To the extent that certain jurisdictions in which the Assets are located may require that documents be recorded in order to evidence the transfers of title reflected in this Agreement, then the provisions set forth in Section 3.1(a) immediately above shall also be applicable to the conveyances under such documents.

Section 3.2 Disclaimer of Warranties; Subrogation; Waiver of Bulk Sales Laws

(a) EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OFFERING, THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT NONE OF THE PARTIES HAS MADE, DOES NOT MAKE, AND EACH SUCH PARTY SPECIFICALLY NEGATES AND DISCLAIMS, ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, PROMISES, COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ORAL OR WRITTEN, PAST OR PRESENT, REGARDING (A) THE VALUE, NATURE, QUALITY OR CONDITION OF THE ASSETS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WATER, SOIL, GEOLOGY OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE ASSETS GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OR LACK OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR OTHER MATTERS ON THE ASSETS, (B) THE INCOME TO BE DERIVED FROM THE ASSETS, (C) THE SUITABILITY OF THE ASSETS FOR ANY AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND USES THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED THEREON, (D) THE COMPLIANCE OF OR BY THE ASSETS OR THEIR OPERATION WITH ANY LAWS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY ZONING, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, POLLUTION OR LAND USE LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS OR REQUIREMENTS), OR (E) THE HABITABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, MARKETABILITY, PROFITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE ASSETS. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OFFERING, THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT EACH HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE RESPECTIVE ASSETS, AND EACH IS RELYING SOLELY ON ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF THE RESPECTIVE ASSETS AND NOT ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED OR TO BE PROVIDED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN

 

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CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OFFERING, NONE OF THE PARTIES IS LIABLE OR BOUND IN ANY MANNER BY ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE ASSETS FURNISHED BY ANY AGENT, EMPLOYEE, SERVANT OR THIRD PARTY. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OFFERING, EACH OF THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE ASSETS AS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN IS MADE IN AN “AS IS”, “WHERE IS” CONDITION WITH ALL FAULTS, AND THE ASSETS ARE CONTRIBUTED AND CONVEYED SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION. THIS SECTION SHALL SURVIVE SUCH CONTRIBUTION AND CONVEYANCE OR THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE EXCLUSION AND NEGATION OF ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSETS THAT MAY ARISE PURSUANT TO ANY LAW NOW OR HEREAFTER IN EFFECT, OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OFFERING.

(b) The contributions of the Assets made under this Agreement are made with full rights of substitution and subrogation of the respective Parties receiving such contributions, and all persons claiming by, through and under such parties, to the extent assignable, in and to all covenants and warranties by the predecessors-in-title of the Parties contributing the Assets, and with full subrogation of all rights accruing under applicable statutes of limitation and all rights of action of warranty against all former owners of the Assets.

(c) Each of the Parties agrees that the disclaimers contained in this Section 3.2 are “conspicuous” disclaimers. Any covenants implied by statute or law by the use of the words “grant,” “convey,” “bargain,” “sell,” “assign,” “transfer,” “deliver” or “set over” or any of them or any other words used in this Agreement or any exhibits hereto are hereby expressly disclaimed, waived or negated.

(d) Each of the Parties hereby waives compliance with any applicable bulk sales law or any similar law in any applicable jurisdiction in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE 4

FURTHER ASSURANCES

Section 4.1 Further Assurances . From time to time after the Effective Time, and without any further consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds, assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases, acquittances and other documents, and will do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate (a) more fully to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, or (b) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed and assigned by this Agreement or intended so to be and to more fully and effectively carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

 

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Section 4.2 Other Assurances . From time to time after the Effective Time, and without any further consideration, each of the Parties shall execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional instruments, notices and other documents, and will do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate to more fully and effectively carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge that the parties have used their good faith efforts to attempt to identify all of the assets being contributed to the MLP or its subsidiaries as required in connection with the Offering. However, due to the age of some of those assets and the difficulties in locating appropriate data with respect to some of the assets it is possible that assets intended to be contributed to the MLP or its subsidiaries were not identified and therefore are not included in the assets contributed to the MLP or its subsidiaries. It is the express intent of the Parties that the MLP or its subsidiaries own all assets necessary to operate the assets that are identified in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement. To the extent that any assets were not identified but are necessary to the operation of assets that were identified, then the intent of the Parties is that all such unidentified assets are intended to be conveyed to the appropriate member(s) of the Partnership Group. To the extent such assets are identified at a later date, the Parties shall take the appropriate actions required in order to convey all such assets to the appropriate member(s) of the Partnership Group. Likewise, to the extent that assets are identified at a later date that were not intended by the Parties to be conveyed as reflected in the Registration Statement, the Parties shall take the appropriate actions required in order to convey all such assets to the appropriate Party.

ARTICLE 5

EFFECTIVE TIME

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the provisions of Article 2 of this Agreement shall be operative or have any effect until the Effective Time, at which time all the provisions of Article 2 of this Agreement shall be effective and operative in accordance with Article 6, without further action by any party hereto.

ARTICLE 6

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Order of Completion of Transactions . The transactions provided for in Article 2 of this Agreement shall be completed immediately following the Effective Time in the order set forth therein.

Section 6.2 Costs . Except for the transaction costs set forth in Section 2.6, Subsidiary LLC shall pay all expenses, fees and costs, including, but not limited to, all sales, use and similar taxes arising out of the contributions, conveyances and deliveries to be made hereunder and shall pay all documentary, filing, recording, transfer, deed, and conveyance taxes and fees required in connection therewith. In addition, Subsidiary LLC shall be responsible for all costs, liabilities and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the implementation of any conveyance or delivery pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2.

 

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Section 6.3 Headings; References; Interpretation . All Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles and Sections shall, unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement. All personal pronouns used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, shall include all other genders, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.

Section 6.4 Successors and Assigns . The Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 6.5 No Third-Party Rights . The provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other and are not intended to and do not create rights in any other person or confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies, and no person is or is intended to be a third-party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 6.6 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on the parties hereto.

Section 6.7 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within such state.

Section 6.8 Severability . If any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by any court of competent jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid under, the laws of any political body having jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof, such contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire Agreement. Instead, this Agreement shall be construed as if it did not contain the particular provision or provisions held to be invalid, and an equitable adjustment shall be made and necessary provision added so as to give effect to the intention of the Parties as expressed in this Agreement at the time of execution of this Agreement.

Section 6.9 Amendment or Modification . This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all of the Parties. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face as an Amendment to this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.10 Integration . This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein supersede all previous understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to their subject matter. This document and such instruments contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether oral or written, is intended to be or shall be included in or form part of this Agreement unless it is contained in a written amendment hereto executed by the parties hereto after the date of this Agreement.

Section 6.11 Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment . To the extent required and permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale” or “assignment” of the assets and interests referenced herein.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first above written.

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  President and Chief Operating Officer

CHENIERE LNG HOLDINGS, LLC

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  Chief Executive Officer

CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  President and Chief Operating Officer

CHENIERE ENERGY INVESTMENTS, LLC

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  Chief Executive Officer

SABINE PASS LNG-GP, INC.

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  Chief Executive Officer

SABINE PASS LNG-LP, LLC

By:   /s/    Stanley C. Horton                                         

        Name:  Stanley C. Horton

        Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

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