As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2011

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-1647837

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Two Brush Creek Boulevard

Suite 200

Kansas City, Missouri 64112

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

 

Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan

Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plans)

Laura L. Ozenberger

Two Brush Creek Boulevard

Suite 200

Kansas City, Missouri 64112

(816) 842-8181

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

copy to:

David P. Oelman

Gillian A. Hobson

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 758-2222

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x    Smaller Reporting Company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount to be

registered (1)

 

Proposed

maximum offering

price per unit (2)

 

Proposed

maximum aggregate

offering price (2)

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Units, representing limited partner interests

  7,632,500 units   $17.68   $134,942,600   $15,465

 

 

 

(1) Includes 7,432,500 Common Units registered for issuance under the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”) and 200,000 Common Units registered for issuance under the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan (the “EUPP” and, together with the LTIP, the “Plans”). Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), there are also being registered such additional Common Units as may become issuable pursuant to the adjustment provisions of the Plans.
(2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act. The price for the 7,632,500 Common Units being registered hereby is based on a price of $17.68, which is the average of the high and low trading prices per Common Unit of Inergy Midstream, L.P. (the “Registrant”) as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on December 19, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

NRGM GP, LLC (the “Company”) will provide all participants in the Plans with the document(s) containing information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act. The Registrant has not filed such document(s) with the Commission, but such documents (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Form S-8 Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) shall constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents:

(a) The Registrant’s prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on December 16, 2011, relating to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-176445).

(b) The description of the Registrant’s Common Units, representing limited partner interests, contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001- 35377) filed with the Commission on December 12, 2011, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Subject to any terms, conditions, or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other persons from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.

 

2


The Registrant’s First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) provides that, in most circumstances, the Registrant will indemnify and hold harmless (1) the Company, as its general partner, (2) any departing general partner of the Registrant (a “Departing GP”), (3) any person who is or was an affiliate of the Company or a Departing GP, (4) any person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of the Registrant, any of its subsidiaries, the Company or a Departing GP, or any affiliate of any of the foregoing, (5) any person who is or was serving as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person owing a fiduciary duty to the Registrant or its subsidiaries, (6) any person who controls the Company or a Departing GP and (7) any person the Company designates as an indemnitee for purposes of the Partnership Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law (subject to the limitations expressed in the Partnership Agreement) from and against all losses, claims, damages, or similar events. Any indemnification described above will only be made out of the assets of the Registrant. Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of the Registrant’s assets. Unless the Company otherwise agrees, the Company will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to the Registrant to enable the Registrant to effectuate the indemnification.

The Registrant may also purchase insurance covering liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for the Registrant’s activities, regardless of whether the Registrant would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under the Partnership Agreement. To the extent these provisions purport to include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is contrary to public policy and, therefore, unenforceable.

Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the limited liability company agreement, Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act empowers a Delaware limited liability company to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

Under the Company’s Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), in most circumstances, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless (1) any person who is or was an affiliate of the Company (other than the Partnership and its subsidiaries), (2) any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, (3) 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, and (4) any person the Company designates as an indemnitee for purposes of the LLC Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, 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).

The Company has insurance policies covering its officers and directors against liabilities asserted and expenses incurred in connection with their activities as officers and directors of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

In addition, the Underwriting Agreement (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) provides for the indemnification of the Registrant, the Company, the Company’s officers and directors, and any person who controls the Company, including indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

3


Item 8. Exhibits.

Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Registrant with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

4.1    Certificate of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Form S-1 filed with the Commission on November 21, 2011 (File No. 333-176445)).
4.2*    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P.
4.3*    Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan.
4.4*    Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement under the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan.
4.5*    Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan.
5.1*    Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*    Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

* Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

4


(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri on December 21, 2011.

 

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

By:

 

NRGM GP, LLC

its general partner

By:

 

/s/ R. Brooks Sherman, Jr.

  R. Brooks Sherman, Jr.
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Each person whose signature appears below appoints John J. Sherman, R. Brooks Sherman, Jr. and Laura L. Ozenberger, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as such his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name and Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ John J. Sherman

John J. Sherman

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Director of NRGM GP, LLC

(Principal Executive Officer)

  December 21, 2011

/s/ R. Brooks Sherman, Jr.

R. Brooks Sherman, Jr.

  

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

  December 21, 2011

/s/ Warren H. Gfeller

Warren H. Gfeller

  

Director of NRGM GP, LLC

  December 21, 2011

/s/ Arthur B. Krause

Arthur B. Krause

  

Director of NRGM GP, LLC

  December 21, 2011


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

4.1    Certificate of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Form S-1 filed with the Commission on November 21, 2011 (File No. 333-176445)).
4.2*    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P.
4.3*    Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan.
4.4*    Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement under the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan.
4.5*    Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan.
5.1*    Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*    Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

* Filed herewith.

Exhibit 4.2

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

  

  

Section 1.1  

Definitions

     1   
Section 1.2  

Construction

     19   

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

  

  

Section 2.1  

Formation

     19   
Section 2.2  

Name

     19   
Section 2.3  

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

     20   
Section 2.4  

Purpose and Business

     20   
Section 2.5  

Powers

     20   
Section 2.6  

Term

     20   
Section 2.7  

Title to Partnership Assets

     21   

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

  

  

Section 3.1  

Limitation of Liability

     21   
Section 3.2  

Management of Business

     21   
Section 3.3  

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

     21   
Section 3.4  

Rights of Limited Partners

     22   

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

  

  

  

Section 4.1  

Certificates

     22   
Section 4.2  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

     23   
Section 4.3  

Record Holders

     23   
Section 4.4  

Transfer Generally

     24   
Section 4.5  

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

     24   
Section 4.6  

Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest

     25   
Section 4.7  

Restrictions on Transfers

     26   
Section 4.8  

Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders

     26   
Section 4.9  

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders

     28   

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

  

  

Section 5.1  

Organization of the Partnership

     29   
Section 5.2  

Recapitalization

     29   
Section 5.3  

Contributions by the Underwriters

     29   
Section 5.4  

Interest and Withdrawal

     29   

 

i


Section 5.5  

Capital Accounts

     29   
Section 5.6  

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

     32   
Section 5.7  

[Reserved]

     33   
Section 5.8  

Limited Preemptive Right

     33   
Section 5.9  

Splits and Combinations

     33   
Section 5.10  

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

     34   
Section 5.11  

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

     34   

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

  

  

Section 6.1  

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

     35   
Section 6.2  

Allocations for Tax Purposes

     41   
Section 6.3  

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

     43   
Section 6.4  

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

     43   
Section 6.5  

Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus

     44   
Section 6.6  

Adjustment of Initial Quarterly Distribution

     44   
Section 6.7  

[Reserved]

     44   
Section 6.8  

Entity-Level Taxation

     44   

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

  

  

Section 7.1  

Management

     45   
Section 7.2  

Replacement of Fiduciary Duties

     47   
Section 7.3  

Certificate of Limited Partnership

     47   
Section 7.4  

Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority

     47   
Section 7.5  

Reimbursement of the General Partner

     48   
Section 7.6  

Outside Activities

     48   
Section 7.7  

Indemnification

     49   
Section 7.8  

Liability of Indemnitees

     51   
Section 7.9  

Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

     52   
Section 7.10  

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Indemnitees

     53   
Section 7.11  

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

     54   
Section 7.12  

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates

     54   
Section 7.13  

Reliance by Third Parties

     56   

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

  

  

Section 8.1  

Records and Accounting

     57   
Section 8.2  

Fiscal Year

     57   
Section 8.3  

Reports

     58   

 

ii


ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

  

  

Section 9.1  

Tax Returns and Information

     58   
Section 9.2  

Tax Elections

     58   
Section 9.3  

Tax Controversies

     59   
Section 9.4  

Withholding; Tax Payments

     59   

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

  

  

Section 10.1  

Admission of Limited Partners

     59   
Section 10.2  

Admission of Successor General Partner

     60   
Section 10.3  

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

     60   

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

  

  

Section 11.1  

Withdrawal of the General Partner

     60   
Section 11.2  

Removal of the General Partner

     62   
Section 11.3  

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

     62   
Section 11.4  

[Reserved]

     64   
Section 11.5  

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

     64   

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

  

  

Section 12.1  

Dissolution

     64   
Section 12.2  

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

     64   
Section 12.3  

Liquidator

     65   
Section 12.4  

Liquidation

     65   
Section 12.5  

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

     66   
Section 12.6  

Return of Contributions

     66   
Section 12.7  

Waiver of Partition

     66   
Section 12.8  

Capital Account Restoration

     66   

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

  

  

Section 13.1  

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

     67   
Section 13.2  

Amendment Procedures

     68   
Section 13.3  

Amendment Requirements

     69   
Section 13.4  

Special Meetings

     69   
Section 13.5  

Notice of a Meeting

     70   
Section 13.6  

Record Date

     70   
Section 13.7  

Adjournment

     70   
Section 13.8  

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

     71   
Section 13.9  

Quorum and Voting

     71   

 

iii


Section 13.10  

Conduct of a Meeting

     71   
Section 13.11  

Action Without a Meeting

     72   
Section 13.12  

Right to Vote and Related Matters

     72   
Section 13.13  

Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights

     73   

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION

  

  

Section 14.1  

Authority

     73   
Section 14.2  

Procedure for Merger or Consolidation

     74   
Section 14.3  

Approval by Limited Partners

     75   
Section 14.4  

Amendment of Partnership Agreement

     76   
Section 14.5  

Certificate of Merger

     76   
Section 14.6  

Effect of Merger or Consolidation

     76   

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

  

  

Section 15.1  

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

     77   

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  

  

Section 16.1  

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications

     78   
Section 16.2  

Further Action

     79   
Section 16.3  

Binding Effect

     79   
Section 16.4  

Integration

     79   
Section 16.5  

Creditors

     79   
Section 16.6  

Waiver

     79   
Section 16.7  

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     79   
Section 16.8  

Counterparts

     79   
Section 16.9  

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction

     79   
Section 16.10  

Invalidity of Provisions

     80   
Section 16.11  

Consent of Partners

     80   
Section 16.12  

Facsimile Signatures

     81   

 

iv


FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT

OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P.

THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P., dated as of December 21, 2011, is entered into by and among NRGM GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and the Initial Limited Partners (as defined herein), together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

Additional Book Basis ” means 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. With respect to a Disposed of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative items shall be the amount of Additional Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of Adjusted Property.

 

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

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

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 Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ” is defined in Section 5.11(a).

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

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

Agreed Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property at the time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in Section 5.5(d), in both cases as determined by the General Partner.

Agreement ” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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

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

(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents (including amounts available for working capital purposes under a credit facility, commercial paper facility or other similar financing arrangement) of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less

(b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

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

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the General Partner.

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

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

 

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Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

Book-Up Event ” means 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 Missouri shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

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

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets, or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary, in which a Group Member has, or after such capital contribution will have, 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 or the improvement of existing, capital assets, in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the long-term operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the long-term operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from that existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.

Capital Surplus ” means Available Cash distributed by the Partnership in excess of Operating Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a).

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

 

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Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.5(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

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

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

Certificate of Conversion ” means the Certificate of Conversion of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 2.1, as such Certificate of Conversion may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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.

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

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

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

 

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

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

Commences Commercial Service ” means a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service by a Group Member following completion of construction and testing, as applicable.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit ” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

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

Contributed Property ” means each property in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership or deemed contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.2. 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, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2011, among the General Partner, the Partnership, NRGY 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.

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.

 

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Deferred Issuance and Distribution ” means both (a) the issuance by the Partnership of a number of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of (x) 2,400,000 over (y) the aggregate number, if any, of Common Units actually purchased by and issued to the Underwriters pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option on the Option Closing Date(s), and (b) a distribution of any cash contributed by the Underwriters to the Partnership on or in connection with any Option Closing Date with respect to Common Units issued by the Partnership upon the applicable exercise of the Over-Allotment Option as described in Section 5.3(b), if any.

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

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

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

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

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

Eligible Holder ” means a Limited Partner or, as the context requires, a beneficial owner of a Limited Partner whose (a) U.S. federal income tax status would not, in the determination of the General Partner, have the material adverse effect described in Section 4.8(a)(i) or (b)nationality, citizenship or other related status would not, in the determination of the General Partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture as described in Section 4.8(a)(ii).

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

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

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

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

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

Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Capital Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence construction 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 to fund such construction period interest payments or to fund distributions in respect of equity issued (including incremental Incentive Distributions related thereto) to fund the construction of a Capital Improvement as described in clause (a)(iv)

 

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of the definition of Operating Surplus shall also be deemed to be debt incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.

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

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

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

Group ” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any 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.

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

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

IDR Reset Common Units ” is defined in Section 5.11(a).

 

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IDR Reset Election ” is defined in Section 5.11(a).

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

Incentive Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4 or Section 6.5.

Incremental Income Taxes ” is defined in Section 6.8.

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

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

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

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

Initial Limited Partners ” means Inergy, L.P., the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights) and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.

Initial Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement, including any Common Units issued pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

Initial Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.37 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.8.

 

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Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to or replacement of the capital assets 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 the long-term operating capacity of the Partnership Group.

Merger Agreement ” is defined in Section 14.1.

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

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liability either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).

 

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

Net Termination Gain ” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5) that are (a) recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Termination Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5) that are (a) recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

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

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

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

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

NRGY ” means Inergy, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and any successors thereto.

Omnibus Agreement ” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2011, among the General Partner, the Partnership, NRGY and Inergy GP, LLC, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(a) the sum of (i) $55 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and provided that cash receipts from the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be included in equal quarterly installments over what would have been the remaining scheduled term of such Hedge Contract had it not been so terminated, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) the amount of cash distributions paid (including incremental Incentive Distributions) in respect of equity issued, other than equity issued in the Initial Offering, to finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date the Capital Improvement or replacement capital asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued, other than equity issued in the Initial Offering, to fund the

 

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construction period interest payments on debt incurred, or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement for purposes of this clause (iv)), less

(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures, (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within 12 months after having been incurred and (iv) any cash loss realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure; 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. Cash receipts from an Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a return on principal, but in no event shall a return of principal be treated as cash receipts.

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.

Option Closing Date ” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

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

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group shall be entitled to be voted on any matter or be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i)

 

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provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply.

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

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

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

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

Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership ” means Inergy Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

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

Partnership Interest ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests but shall exclude any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership.

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

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

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

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

 

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Pre-Initial Offering Interests ” means the membership interests in Inergy Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the predecessor to the Partnership.

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and 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 that commences immediately after the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.

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

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

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

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

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

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-176445) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

 

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

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

Reset IQD ” is defined in Section 5.11(a).

Reset Notice ” is defined in Section 5.11(b).

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.

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

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

 

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

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

transfer ” is defined in Section 4.4(a).

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

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 December 15, 2011, among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and NRGY, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

Unit ” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units but shall not include Incentive Distribution Rights.

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

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

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(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

 

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distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.

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

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

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

Working Capital Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners, made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or other similar financing arrangement; provided that when incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from sources 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; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation . The Partnership was formed on November 14, 2011 pursuant to the Certificate of Conversion and Certificate of Limited Partnership converting Inergy Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, into the Partnership. 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. 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.

Section 2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Inergy Midstream, 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,” the letters “L.P.,” or “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the

 

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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 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at Two Brush Creek Boulevard, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be Two Brush Creek Boulevard, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

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

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

Section 2.6 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Conversion and 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 Conversion and the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

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

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

Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, each Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

 

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Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners .

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law (other than Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act, the obligations of which are expressly replaced in their entirety by the provisions below), and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose that is reasonably related, as determined by the General Partner, to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense to obtain:

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates . Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Certificate for a class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent for such class of Partnership Interests; provided, however, that if the General

 

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Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 4.3 Record Holders . The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice

 

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thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner as the case may be hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein.

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally .

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

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

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

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

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

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

 

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the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

(c) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this Section 4.5 and except as provided in Section 4.8, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

(d) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.7, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment of this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

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

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

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

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest held by the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

 

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Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers .

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

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

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

Section 4.8 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders .

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

(i) the U.S. federal income tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax status) of one or more Limited Partners or their beneficial owners has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member with respect to assets that are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or similar regulatory body (a “ Rate Eligibility Trigger ”); or

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 4.9 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders .

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

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

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

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

(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Partnership Interests.

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

 

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(c) Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Partnership 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 Partnership Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 Organization of the Partnership . In connection with the conversion of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership without any economic interest in the Partnership and the Initial Limited Partners, other than the Underwriters, have been admitted to the Partnership.

Section 5.2 Recapitalization . On the Closing Date, all Pre-Initial Offering Interests shall be exchanged for Common Units, as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, Incentive Distribution Rights, and such other rights and privileges received by Inergy, L.P. and the General Partner pursuant to this Agreement and the Contribution Agreement. In connection therewith, for federal income tax purposes, Inergy, L.P. shall be treated as contributing to the Partnership all of the Partnership’s properties subject to any liabilities assumed by the Partnership.

Section 5.3 Contributions by the Underwriters .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

(b) Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal . The Partnership shall pay no interest on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon liquidation of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.5 Capital Accounts .

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury

 

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Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.

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

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

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

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

 

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

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

(d) (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.11, or the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may determine that it is appropriate to first determine an aggregate value for the Partnership, based on the current trading price of the Common Units, and taking fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and then allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated among

 

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the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual or deemed distribution other than a distribution made pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests .

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

(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.

(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6, including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

 

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

Section 5.7 [Reserved] .

Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right . Except as provided in this Section 5.8 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. 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 Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.

Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations .

(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.

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

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

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and 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).

 

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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 Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.11 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights .

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) for the most recently completed Quarter, to make an election (the “ IDR Reset Election ”) to cause the Initial Quarterly Distribution to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the “ IDR Reset Common Units ”) derived by dividing (i) the amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for the full Quarter immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the amount of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the full Quarter immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the “ Reset IQD ”) (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “ Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units ”). The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Initial Quarterly Distribution to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).

(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “ Reset Notice ”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate number of Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.

(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of Common

 

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Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such Common Units by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.

(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.11 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion (on terms acceptable to the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).

(e) At the time of the issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11, the Initial Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal to the Reset IQD.

(f) Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (i) first, be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (ii) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distributions Rights. In the event that there is not a sufficient Capital Account associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (A) of this Section 5.11(f), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) and (B).

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)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.

 

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(a) Net Income . Net Income for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period) shall be allocated:

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

(ii) The balance, if any, to the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(b) Net Loss . Net Loss for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period) shall be allocated:

(i) First, to the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

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

(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses . Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for each taxable period shall be allocated in the manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c). All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.

(i) Net Termination Gain (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain) shall be allocated:

(A) First, to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price; and

(B) Thereafter, 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata.

(ii) Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Loss) shall be allocated:

 

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(A) First, 100% to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and

(B) Thereafter, 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 provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(i), 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 Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

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

(iii) Priority Allocations .

(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with respect to a Unit exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit (the amount of the excess, an “ Excess Distribution ” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid, an “ Excess Distribution Unit ”), then there shall be allocated gross income and gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to such Excess Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution.

 

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

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

(v) Gross Income Allocation . In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount (if any) such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to contribute to the Partnership at such time 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 after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.

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

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

 

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

(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 as a result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) taken into account pursuant to Section 5.5, and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

(x) Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law .

(A) With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) during any taxable period of the Partnership ending upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, any Unrealized Gains and Unrealized Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 equaling the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.

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

(C) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such

 

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amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x)(C) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or the Partnership.

(xi) Curative Allocation .

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A), the General Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners.

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

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

(A) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to (1) the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights to the same extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to Section 5.5(d) and (2) all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to any Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

(B) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“ Disposed of Adjusted Property ”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of

 

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Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.

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

(D) For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the Unitholders shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement. In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii). Without limiting the foregoing, if an Adjusted Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “ lower tier partnership ”), the General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) - (C) to the extent the General Partner determines such allocations are necessary to account for the Partnership’s allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the lower tier partnership that relate to the contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).

Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes .

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

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

 

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(c) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the 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.

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

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

(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Closing Date occurs shall be allocated to the Partners (and including for this purpose all Persons who are issued Units as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement) as of the closing of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the last Business Day of such month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized or the following month if determined more appropriate by the General Partner for U.S. 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.

 

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(g) 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 Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .

(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on December 31, 2011, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to 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 by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement or otherwise made by the Partnership shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all cash received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from Working Capital Borrowings, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

(c) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through any Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .

(a) Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:

(i) First , 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Thereafter , (A) 50% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (B) 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata;

provided, however, if the Initial Quarterly Distribution has 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)(ii).

 

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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 be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Initial Quarterly Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a). 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 .

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

(b) The Initial Quarterly Distribution shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.8.

Section 6.7 [Reserved] .

Section 6.8 Entity-Level Taxation . If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce the Initial Quarterly Distribution by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “ Incremental Income Taxes ”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.8. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Initial Quarterly 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 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 shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the then applicable Initial Quarterly Distribution times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such

 

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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, but without limitation on the ability of the General Partner to delegate its rights and powers to other Persons, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner 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 7.4, shall have full power and authority to do all things necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

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

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

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

(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; 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);

(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement (in the case of each agreement other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements after the date hereof); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform 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,

 

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the other Persons who acquires an interest in Partnership Interests and the other Persons who is bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise that the General Partner may owe the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the other Persons who acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or the other Persons who are bound by this Agreement .

(c) As used in the following provisions of this Article VII other than Section 7.12, the term Partnership Interest shall include any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, phantom or tracking interests relating to an equity interest in the Partnership.

Section 7.2 Replacement of Fiduciary Duties . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted (a) to have the effect of replacing, restricting or eliminating the duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner or any other Indemnitee to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, or (b) to constitute a waiver or consent by the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement to any such replacement or restriction, such provision shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partnership, all the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement.

Section 7.3 Certificate of Limited Partnership . The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

Section 7.4 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority . Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge,

 

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hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

Section 7.5 Reimbursement of the General Partner .

(a) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person (including Affiliates of the General Partner) to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the General Partner or any member of the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. This provision does not prohibit the General Partner or its Affiliates from entering into an agreement to provide services to the Partnership or other Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.

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

Section 7.6 Outside Activities .

(a) The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a managing member or general partner, 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

 

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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 managing member or general partner, 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 securities or equity interests in any Group Member.

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

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

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

Section 7.7 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or omitting to act) in such capacity; provided, that the Indemnitee

 

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shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee knowingly acted in bad faith, 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 Omnibus Agreement. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Partners, any other Persons who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal. The Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, each on their own behalf and on behalf of the Partnership, waives any and all rights to claim punitive damages or damages based upon the Federal or State income taxes paid or payable by any such Limited Partner or other Person.

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

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

 

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

Section 7.9 Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

(a) Whenever the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner, such committee, or such Affiliates causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any higher standard 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 not 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, other action or failure to act is not in the best interests of the Partnership. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such action, determination or failure to act, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or failure to act was not in good faith.

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

 

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(c) Whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement on the other hand, the General Partner may in its discretion submit any resolution or course of action with respect to such conflict of interest for (i) Special Approval or (ii) approval by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates). If such course of action or resolution receives Special Approval or approval of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), then such course of action or resolution shall be conclusively deemed approved by the Partnership, all the Partners, each Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise or obligation of any type whatsoever.

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

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

(f) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise or obligation of any type whatsoever, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, 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 any other Indemnitee (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 ability of the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights to make and IDR Reset Election.

Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Indemnitees .

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

 

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(b) The General Partner and any other Indemnitee 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 in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

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

Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any other Indemnitee of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Article IV and Article X.

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, but excluding individual Affiliates who are officers, directors or employees of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell, (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the “ Holder ”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time, in such manner and in such amounts as it desires without registration under the Securities Act and (iii) at such time the Holder and the Partnership are not subject to any contractual restrictions or restrictions attributable to the insider trading or other written policies of the Partnership, which would prohibit the registration and/or sale of such Partnership Interests at such time, 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, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Interests specified by the Holder. The Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain effective for a period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement and ending on the date that is the earlier of (i) six months following the effective date of the registration statement or (ii) the date when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold. However, if the Conflicts Committee (which may be requested to review the matter by any member of the Board of Directors) determines that a postponement of the filing or effectiveness of the requested registration would be in the best

 

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

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

(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the 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 ”) against any losses, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(c)

 

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as a “ claim ” and in the plural as “ claims ”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Interests were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (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 free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

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

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

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

Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act

 

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

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

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

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending September 30.

 

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Section 8.3 Reports .

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means, to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

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

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

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information . The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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

 

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Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

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

Section 9.3 Tax Controversies . 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; Tax Payments .

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

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

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners .

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

 

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accordance with Section 4.8. Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, the Organizational Limited Partner and the Underwriters as described in Article V in connection with the Initial Offering, such parties will be automatically admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .

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

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

 

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(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) 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; or (ii) 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. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal

 

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pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

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

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

(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “ Combined Interest ”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest. In either

 

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

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

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

 

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event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.

Section 11.4 [Reserved].

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Section 12.3 Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. 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. 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. 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:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

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

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

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

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

(d) a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Partnership Interests (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Partnership Interests into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Partnership Interests) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests 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 period of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures . Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so in its sole discretion, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. An amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has either (a) filed such amendment with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such amendment is publicly available on such system or (b) made such amendment available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.

 

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Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements .

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

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

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

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

(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) holding at least 90% of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners.

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

 

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

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

Section 13.6 Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11, the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (i) 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 (ii) 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.

 

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

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

 

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Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage, by Percentage Interest, of the Partnership Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner), as the case may be, that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners entitled to vote at such meeting were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner and (b) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners. Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require the General Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the holders of the requisite percentage of Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters .

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

(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is

 

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the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

Section 13.13 Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights .

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

(b) If less than a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of Unitholders, other than amendments and other matters that the General Partner determines do not adversely affect the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights in any material respect. On any matter in which the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights are entitled to vote, such holders will vote together with the Common Units, as a single class except as otherwise required by Section 13.3(c), and such Incentive Distribution Rights shall be treated in all respects as Common Units when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement. The relative voting power of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the Common Units will be set in the same proportion as cumulative cash distributions, if any, in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights for the four consecutive Quarters prior to the record date for the vote bears to the cumulative cash distributions in respect of such class of Units for such four Quarters.

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

ARTICLE XIV MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION

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

 

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Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger or Consolidation .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.5 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain and stated in the certificate of merger); and

 

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

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners .

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

(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement.

(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.5, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

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

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or

 

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otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already treated as such), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Partnership Interest outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Partnership Interest of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

Section 14.4 Amendment of Partnership Agreement . Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

Section 14.5 Certificate of Merger . Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.

Section 14.6 Effect of Merger or Consolidation . At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

(a) 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;

(b) 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;

(c) 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

(d) 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.

 

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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 in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its 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 (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 the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, 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 shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the

 

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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.

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

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications .

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction .

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

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

 

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(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;

(ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;

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

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

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

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

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

 

80


Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

81


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
NRGM GP, LLC
By:   /s/ John J. Sherman
 

 

Name:   John J. Sherman
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:
INERGY, L.P.
By:   Inergy GP, LLC (its general partner)
By:   /s/ John J. Sherman
 

 

Name:   John J. Sherman
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page to

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership


EXHIBIT A

to the First Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

 

No.                                              Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Inergy Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                     (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of             Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at Two Brush Creek Boulevard, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64112. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF INERGY MIDSTREAM, 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 INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). NRGM GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF INERGY MIDSTREAM, 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 INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

A-1


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

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

 

Dated:                                                                       
Countersigned and Registered by:       

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,

N.A., As Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

By:                                                                       

Name:                                                                 

Title:                                                                     

      

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

 

By: NRGM GP, LLC

 

By:                                                                        

Name:                                                                 

Title:                                                                     

 

 

A-2


[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common    UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties    ___________Custodian ___________
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common   
   (Cust)
   (Minor)
   Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State)

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

 

A-3


ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P.

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

 

       
(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)       (Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

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

Date:

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

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

(Signature)

(Signature)

 

A-4

Exhibit 4.3

INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Establishment . The Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted effective December 21, 2011 by NRGM GP, LLC., a Delaware limited liability company, (the “General Partner”), the general partner of Inergy Midstream, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”).

 

1.2 Purpose . The purpose of this Plan is to encourage employees of the Partnership, the General Partner, and their Affiliates to acquire a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Partnership. The Plan is also designed to assist the Partnership, the General Partner and their Affiliates in attracting and retaining employees, non-employee directors and consultants by providing them with the opportunity to participate in the financial success and profitability of the Partnership.

SECTION 2

DEFINITIONS

 

2.1 Capitalized terms used in this document shall have the meanings as defined herein and in Appendix A to this Plan.

 

2.2 Gender and Number . Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the masculine gender shall also include the feminine gender, and the definition of any term herein in the singular shall also include the plural.

SECTION 3

PARTICIPATION

 

3.1 Participants in the Plan shall be those Service Providers, who, in the judgment of the Committee, are performing, or during the term of their incentive arrangement will perform, important services in the management, operation and financial success of the General Partner or the Partnership, and significantly contribute, or are expected to significantly contribute, to the achievement of long-term economic objectives. If the Units issuable pursuant to an Award are intended to be registered with the SEC on Form S-8, then only employees, consultants, and directors of the Partnership or a parent or subsidiary of the Partnership (within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8) will be eligible to receive such an Award. Participants may be granted from time to time one or more Awards; provided, however, that the grant of each such Award shall be separately approved by the Committee and, except as provided for in Section 6.4, the receipt of one such Award shall not result in the automatic receipt of any other Award. In each case, written notice shall be given to the Award recipient, specifying the terms, conditions, rights and duties related thereto. Each Participant shall enter into an Award Agreement with the General Partner, in such form as the Committee shall determine and which is consistent with the provisions of this Plan, specifying such terms, conditions, rights and duties. Awards shall be considered as having been granted on the date specified as the Date of Grant in the grant resolution of the Committee.

SECTION 4

UNIT OPTIONS

 

4.1 Grant of Options . A Participant may be granted one or more Options; provided, that the Committee may grant Options that are intended to comply with Section 1.409A-l(b)(5)(i)(A) of the 409A Regulations only to Service Providers performing services on the date of grant for the


Partnership or a corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a “controlling interest” in another corporation or entity in the chain, starting with the Partnership and ending with the corporation or other entity for which the employee, consultant or director performs services. The Committee may grant Options that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Code section 409A to any eligible Service Provider. The Committee may grant one or more Options to the same Participant at the same time or at different times. Options shall be clearly identified, and in no event shall the right to exercise one Option affect the right to exercise any other Option or affect the number of Units for which any other Option may be exercised. For purposes of this Section 4.1, “controlling interest” means (i) in the case of a corporation, ownership of stock possessing at least 50% of total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation; (ii) in the case of a partnership, ownership of at least 50% of the profits interest or capital interest of such partnership; (iii) in the case of a sole proprietorship, ownership of the sole proprietorship; or (iv) in the case of a trust or estate, ownership of an actuarial interest (as defined in Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations) of at least 50% of such trust or estate.

 

4.2 Terms of Options . Each Option granted under the Plan (i) shall be evidenced by a written Option Award Agreement entered into by the General Partner and the Participant to whom the Option is granted (the “Option Holder”), (ii) shall contain those terms and conditions required by this Section 4.2, and (iii) may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Section 4.2, as the Committee may consider appropriate in each case.

 

  (a) Number of Units . Each Option Award Agreement shall set forth the number of Units subject to the Option, as determined by the Committee.

 

  (b) Price . Each Option Award Agreement shall state the Option Price for each Unit subject to the Option. Such price shall be determined in each case by the Committee and may be more or less than the Unit’s Fair Market Value as of the Date of Grant; provided, however, that any Option granted with an exercise price below the Unit Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant must (i) only be exercised on a date that would otherwise be a permissible distribution date for deferred compensation under Code section 409A and (ii) in all other respects comply with Code section 409A.

 

  (c) Duration of Options and Exercisability . Each Option Award Agreement may state the duration of the Option and the extent to which it shall become exercisable. To the extent that an Option Award Agreement does not state the Option Period, the Option Period shall be ten years from the Option’s Date of Grant. If any Option is not exercised during its Option Period, it shall be deemed to have been forfeited and of no further force or effect.

To the extent that an Option Award Agreement does not state the extent to which the Option shall become exercisable, the following rules shall apply:

Subject to subsections (c)(i) and (c)(ii), no Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable until the fifth (5th) anniversary of an Option’s Date of Grant or, if earlier, the fifth (5th) anniversary of an Option’s Vesting Commencement Date, if any such Vesting Commencement Date is specified in the Award Agreement. In the event of a Change in Control, all Options shall become immediately exercisable.

 

  (i) In the event that an Option Holder ceases to be a Service Provider because of the Option Holder’s death or Disability, the Option shall be exercisable according to the following schedule based upon the number of years that have elapsed since the Option’s Date of Grant or, if a longer period of time, the number of years that

 

2


  have elapsed since the Option’s Vesting Commencement Date, if such a date is specified in the Award Agreement.

 

Anniversary of Option’s

Date of Grant or

Vesting Commencement Date

   Percentage Exercisable  

1st

     40

2nd

     60

3rd

     80

4th and beyond

     100

 

  (ii) In the event that an Option Holder ceases to be a Service Provider because of the termination of the Option Holder’s service by his or her Employer without Cause, the Option shall be exercisable according to the following schedule based upon the number of years that have elapsed from the Option’s Date of Grant or, if a longer period of time, the number of years that have elapsed since the Option’s Vesting Commencement Date, if such a date is specified in the Award Agreement.

 

Anniversary of Option’s

Date of Grant or

Vesting Commencement Date

   Percentage Exercisable  

1st

     20

2nd

     40

3rd

     60

4th

     80

5th and beyond

     100

 

  (d) Termination of Service, Death, Disability, etc . Each Option Award Agreement may state the period of time the Option, or exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised after a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider on account of the Service Provider’s death, Disability, retirement, voluntary resignation, removal from the Board, or the Employer having terminated the Service Provider’s employment with or without Cause. To the extent that an Option Award Agreement does not state the period of time the exercisable portion of an Option may be exercised after a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, or to the extent an Option Award Agreement does not explain in as much specificity how the below expiration rules operate (e.g., time of day an Option expires) the following rules shall apply:

 

  (i) If the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider within the Option Period due to the termination by the Employer of the Participant’s service (or removal as a non-employee director) for Cause, the entire Option, regardless of whether it is then exercisable, shall immediately expire and be void for all purposes. The effect of this Section 4.2(d)(i) shall be limited to determining the conditions under which an Option may be rendered null and void, and nothing in this Section 4.2(d)(i) shall restrict or otherwise interfere with the employer’s discretion with respect to the termination of any Service Provider’s employment or continuance as a director.

 

  (ii)

If the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider in a manner determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to constitute retirement (which determination shall be communicated to the Option Holder), that portion of an Option which is

 

3


  exercisable on the date the Option Holder retires, shall remain exercisable until 5:00 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the 365 th calendar day (or the first Business Day thereafter if the 365 th day is a non-Business Day) following the date of the Participant’s retirement; provided, however, in no event may any portion of the Option be exercised following the expiration of the Option Period.

If the exercisable portion of the Option is not exercised within the above permitted period of time, the entire Option shall expire at 5:01 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the last day such portion of the Option is exercisable and, thereafter, the Option shall be void for all purposes.

 

  (iii)

If the Participant dies (A) while he or she is a Service Provider, or (B) within the 365-day period referred to in clause (ii) above, that portion of an Option which is exercisable on the date the Option Holder dies, shall remain exercisable by those Beneficiaries entitled to do so until 5:00 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the 365 th calendar day (or the first Business Day thereafter if the 365 th day is a non-Business Day) following the Participant’s death; provided, however, in no event may the Option be exercised following the expiration of the Option Period.

If the exercisable portion of the Option is not exercised within the above permitted period of time, the entire Option shall expire at 5:01 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the last day such portion of the Option is exercisable and, thereafter, the Option shall be void for all purposes.

 

  (iv)

If the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider because the Participant is Disabled, that portion of an Option which is exercisable on the date of such cessation of service shall remain exercisable until 5:00 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the 365 th calendar day (or the first Business Day thereafter if the 365 th day is a non-Business Day) following the date the Participant ceased to be a Service Provider because of his or her Disability; provided, however, in no event may the Option be exercised following the expiration of the Option Period.

If the exercisable portion of the Option is not exercised within such above permitted period of time, the entire Option shall expire at 5:01 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the last day such portion of the Option is exercisable and, thereafter, the Option shall be void for all purposes.

 

  (v)

If the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider due to (A) the Participant’s voluntary resignation or (B) the removal of the Participant from the Board or the Employer’s termination of employment without Cause, that portion of the Option which is exercisable on the date the Option Holder ceased to be a Service Provider, shall remain exercisable until 5:00 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the 180 th calendar day (or the first Business Day thereafter if the 180th day is a non-Business Day) following the date the Participant ceased to be a Service Provider; provided, however, in no event may the Option be exercised following the expiration of the Option Period.

If the exercisable portion of the Option is not exercised within the above permitted period of time, the entire Option shall expire at 5:01 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri time, on the last day such portion of the Option is exercisable and, thereafter, the Option shall be void for all purposes.

 

  (e) Transferability . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee and as provided in Section 11.3, Options shall not be transferable by the Option Holder except by will or

 

4


pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution; each Option shall be exercisable (to the extent permitted under the Plan and terms of the applicable Award Agreement) during the Option Holder’s lifetime only by him or her, or in the event of Disability or incapacity, by his or her guardian or legal representative; and Units issuable pursuant to any Option shall be delivered only to or for the account of the Option Holder, or in the event of Disability or incapacity, his or her guardian or legal representative.

 

  (f) Exercise, Payments, etc . Each Option Award Agreement may set forth the acceptable method(s) under which the Option may be exercised and the permissible payment method(s) for exercising the Option granted therein. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, acceptable payment methods permitted under this Plan include, but are not limited to: (i) cash; (ii) cashier’s check payable to the order of the General Partner; (iii) a “cashless broker” exercise; (iv) withholding Units from an Option; (v) delivery of other securities or other property; (vi) a recourse note from the Option Holder, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the policies and procedures of the General Partner and its Affiliates; or (vii) any combination (i) – (vi), above, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant aggregate exercise price. The exercise of the Option shall be deemed effective upon receipt of proper notice by the General Partner and payment to the General Partner.

 

  (g) Vesting Commencement Date . An Option Award Agreement may provide for a Vesting Commencement Date. An Option’s Vesting Commencement Date may be the same as or different from the Option’s Date of Grant. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Vesting Commencement Date is the Date of Grant.

 

4.3 Adjustment of Options . Subject to the limitations contained in this Section 4 and Sections 10 and 13, the Committee may make any adjustment to an outstanding Option it desires including, without limitation, (a) adjusting the Option Price or the number of Units subject to an outstanding Option and (b) subsequently granting a new Option or substituting an existing Option for a new Option. Such amendment, substitution, or re-grant may result in terms and conditions (including Option Price, number of Units covered, Restriction Period or Option Period) that differ from the terms and conditions of the original Option or previously granted Options. The Committee may not, however, adversely affect the rights of any Option Holder without the consent of such Option Holder or take any such action that would cause the Option to be subject to the additional 20% income tax provided by Code section 409A.

 

4.4 Member Privileges . No Option Holder shall have any rights as a limited partner with respect to any Unit covered by an Option until the Option Holder becomes the holder of record of such Unit, and no adjustments shall be made for distributions, dividends or other rights as to which there is a record date preceding the date such Option Holder becomes the holder of record of such Unit, except as provided in Section 10.6.

SECTION 5

PHANTOM UNITS

 

5.1 Awards Granted by Committee . Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Phantom Unit Awards consisting of Phantom Units. The number of Units subject to a Phantom Unit Award shall be determined by the Committee.

 

5.2 Restrictions/Vesting . Phantom Units received by a Holder will be subject to a Restricted Period. The terms of such Restricted Period shall be set forth in a Phantom Unit Award Agreement along with the conditions pursuant to which the Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited. A Phantom Unit Award Agreement may provide for, without limitation, the accelerated vesting of

 

5


Phantom Units upon the achievement of specified performance goals, whether DERs are granted with respect to such Phantom Units, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards. A Holder’s right to sell, encumber or otherwise transfer a Phantom Unit shall be subject to the limitations of Section 12 hereof. The Committee may in its sole discretion decide the methods of enforcing the restrictions referred to in Section 5.2 and 5.3.

 

5.3 Termination of Service. Unless otherwise stated in the Phantom Unit Award Agreement and subject to Section 8, in the event a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason, any Phantom Unit Award then held by the Holder and as to which the Restricted Period has not lapsed shall be forfeited as of the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Phantom Units; provided, however that no such action shall be taken by the Committee that would cause an Award to be subject to the additional 20% income tax provided by Code section 409A.

SECTION 6

RESTRICTED UNITS

 

6.1 Grant of Restricted Units . Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Restricted Unit Awards consisting of Restricted Units. The number of Restricted Units granted to a Participant shall be determined by the Committee.

 

6.2 Restrictions/Vesting . Restricted Units received by a Holder will be subject to a Restricted Period. The terms of such Restricted Period shall be set forth in a Restricted Unit Award Agreement and will set forth the conditions under which the Restricted 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.

 

6.3 Termination of Service. Unless otherwise stated in a Restricted Unit Award Agreement and subject to Section 8, in the event a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason, any Restricted Unit Award then held by the Holder and as to which the Restricted Period has not lapsed shall be forfeited as of the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units.

 

6.4 UDRs . Unless otherwise specifically provided for in an Award Agreement, all Restricted Units shall be granted along with UDRs relating to such Restricted Units. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units may provide that distributions made by the Company 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 UDRs 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.

 

6.5 Lapse of Restrictions . Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, 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.

 

6.6 Section 83(b) Election . To the extent a Participant desires to make a Code section 83(b) election, the Participant must notify the Company within the period beginning on the Date of Grant of the Restricted Units and ending thirty (30) calendar days thereafter. If no such notification is made by the Participant within such thirty (30) day period, the Participant shall be precluded from making such a Code section 83(b) election.

 

6


SECTION 7

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

 

7.1 Unit Awards . The Committee shall have the authority to grant a Unit Award under the Plan to any Service Provider in a number determined by the Committee in its discretion, as a bonus or additional compensation or in lieu of cash compensation the individual is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts as the Committee determines to be appropriate.

 

7.2 Other Unit Based Awards . The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Units, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Units, purchase rights for Units, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Partnership or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Units or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Units delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 7.2 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Units, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to, or independent of any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 7.2.

 

7.3 DERs . The Committee is authorized to grant DERs, either alone or in tandem with an Award (other than a Restricted Unit or Unit Award), and may provide that such DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be reinvested into additional Awards, 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 (if applicable), or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, DERs shall be paid to the Participant without restriction at the same time as ordinary cash distributions are paid by the Partnership to its unitholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DERs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or in compliance with Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations.

 

7.4 Substitute Awards . Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become Service Providers as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity or the assets of another entity. Such Substitute Awards that are Options may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations and other applicable laws and exchange rules.

 

7.5 Performance Awards . The right of a Participant to receive a grant, and the right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions.

 

  (a)

Performance Goals Generally . The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 7.5. The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised, and/or settled upon achievement of

 

7


any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. The Committee shall establish any such performance conditions and goals based on one or more business criteria for the General Partner and/or the Partnership, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Affiliates or business or geographical units of the Partnership, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, which may include (but are not limited to) one or more of the following: (A) earnings per Unit, (B) increase in revenues, (C) increase in cash flow, (D) increase in cash flow from operations, (E) increase in cash flow return, (F) return on net assets, (G) return on assets, (H) return on investment, (I) return on capital, (J) return on equity, (K) economic value added, (L) operating margin, (M) contribution margin, (N) net income, (O) net income per Unit, (P) pretax earnings, (Q) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, (R) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items, (S) total unitholder return, (T) debt reduction, (U) market share, (V) change in the Fair Market Value of the Units, (W) operating income, and (X) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

 

  (b) Performance Periods . Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established by the Committee not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards.

 

  (c) Settlement . At the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of the amount of the potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant and such amount shall be paid to the Participant no later than March 15 of the year following the year that included the last day of the performance period. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Units, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce or increase the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

SECTION 8

REORGANIZATION, CHANGE IN CONTROL OR LIQUIDATION

 

8.1 In the event of a Change in Control, all Awards then outstanding shall become fully exercisable and payable in full, as the case may be, on such Change in Control or at such earlier time as the Committee may provide. In the event the Partnership, the General Partner, Inergy GP or Inergy shall become a party to any corporate or partnership merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, reorganization, change in the membership of the board of directors (or its equivalent), or liquidation that does not constitute a Change in Control (a “Similar Event”), the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the complete or partial acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or vesting of any outstanding Award so that such Award may be exercised or paid in full, as the case may be, on or before the date such Award would otherwise have been exercisable or payable. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control or a Similar Event the

 

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Committee may, without the approval of any Person, including any Participant, in its sole discretion (A) cause any Award then outstanding to be assumed by the surviving entity in such transaction; (B) require the mandatory surrender to the General Partner by any Participant or beneficiary of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such Person (irrespective of whether such Awards are then exercisable or payable under the provisions of the Plan) as of a date specified by the Committee, in which event such Awards shall be cancelled and each Person paid an amount of cash per unit equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise or vesting of such Award or realization of the holder’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable; (C) require the substitution of a new Award for some or all of the outstanding Awards held by a holder (irrespective of whether such Awards are then exercisable or vested under the provisions of the Plan) provided that any replacement or substituted Award shall be equivalent in economic value to the holder, as determined by the Committee; (D) make such adjustments to any Award then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or Similar Event; and (E) require that any Award must be exercised in connection with or prior to the closing of such Change in Control or Similar Event, and that if not so exercised such Award will expire. Any such determinations by the Committee may be made generally with respect to all Participants, or may be made on a case-by-case basis with respect to particular Participant(s). However, no action shall be taken by the Committee that would cause an Award to be subject to the additional 20% income tax provided by Code section 409A.

SECTION 9

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

9.1 Authority of Committee . The Plan shall be administered by 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) select the Service Providers to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to eligible Service Providers; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, and to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Units, other Awards or other property, (vi) determine whether, to what extent, under what circumstances, and the method(s) by which Awards may be exercised, vested, settled, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vii) determine, subject to the requirements of Code section 409A, whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Units, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (viii) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be transferred under circumstances other than by transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; (ix) correct any defect, supply an omission, reconcile any inconsistency and otherwise interpret and administer the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to the Plan or any Award hereunder; (x) modify and amend the Plan, establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules, regulations and procedures of the Plan, and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate the terms of payment of any Award that provides for a deferral of compensation under Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations if such acceleration would make such Award subject to the additional 20% income tax provided by

 

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Code section 409A. A majority of the members of the Committee may determine its actions and fix the time and place of its meetings.

 

9.2 Manner and Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act in respect of the Partnership may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (ii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided, however, that upon such abstention or recusal the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for all purposes 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, without limitation, the General Partner, the Partnership, any Affiliate, any Participant, and any beneficiary of a Participant. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting the power or authority of the Committee. Subject to the Plan and any applicable law, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan, including the power to grant Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner, subject to such limitations on such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose, if any, and provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state corporate law, or with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Participants who are subject to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” other than in Section 13 shall be deemed to include the Chief Executive Officer. Any such delegation shall not limit the Chief Executive Officer’s right to receive Awards under the Plan; provided, however, the Chief Executive Officer may not grant Awards to himself, a director or any executive officer of the General Partner or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself, an individual who is an executive officer or a director. Under no circumstances shall any such delegation result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act in respect of the Partnership.

 

9.3 Determination Under 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 Inergy, Inergy GP, the General Partner, the Partnership, any Participant, any Holder and any unitholder. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith, and all members of the Committee shall, in addition to their rights as directors, be fully protected by the Partnership with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

SECTION 10

UNITS SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

10.1 Number of Units . Subject to adjustment as provided for in this Section 10, the maximum number of Units that may be issued under the Plan is 7,432,500; provided, however, that the maximum number of Units that may be issued under the Plan shall increase automatically on the first business day of the Partnership’s fiscal year, commencing January 1, 2012, to equal 10% of the Partnership’s total common units outstanding as of such date. The Committee shall have the right

 

10


in its reasonable discretion to accelerate the date of the annual automatic increase in the event of a merger, acquisition or other significant transaction involving the Partnership. In no event shall number of Units available for issuance under the Plan be reduced as a result of this provision.

 

10.2 Unused and Forfeited Units . Units withheld from an Award or surrendered by a Participant to satisfy the Partnership’s or an Affiliate’s tax withholding obligations (including the withholding of Units with respect to Restricted Units) or to satisfy the payment of any exercise price with respect to the Award shall not be considered to be Units delivered under the Plan for this purpose. If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, settled in cash, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award (the grant of Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units for this purpose), the Units subject to such Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan (including Units not delivered in connection with the exercise of an Option).

 

10.3 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 Partnership or other combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

10.4 Adjustments for Change in Capitalization . In the event that the Committee determines that any distribution (whether in the form of cash, Units, other securities, or other property), liquidation, recapitalization, unit split, stock 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 such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, 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, if deemed appropriate, 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. In the case of any such substitution or adjustment affecting an Option, such substitution or adjustments shall be made in a manner that complies with Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations.

 

10.5 Anti-dilution Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10 to the contrary, with respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the General Partner or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 718 if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such restructuring event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted after such event. With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an accounting charge under FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 718 if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event. In the event the Committee makes any adjustment pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.5, the Committee shall make a corresponding and proportionate adjustment with respect to the maximum number of Units that may be delivered with respect to

 

11


Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 10.1 and the kind of Units or other securities available for grant under the Plan.

 

10.6 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.

 

10.7 Determination by Committee, etc . Adjustments under this Section 10 shall be made by the Committee, whose determinations with regard thereto shall be final and binding upon all persons.

SECTION 11

RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES; PARTICIPANTS

 

11.1 Employment . Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award granted under the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her services as a Service Provider or interfere in any way with the right of his or her employer, subject to the terms of any separate employment or consulting agreement to the contrary, at any time to terminate such services or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an Award. Whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government service, shall constitute a termination of the Participant’s services as a Service Provider shall be determined by the Committee at the time.

 

11.2 Nontransferability . Except as provided in Section 11.3, no right of any Holder in an Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be assignable or transferable during the lifetime of the Holder either voluntarily or involuntarily, or be subjected to any lien, directly or indirectly, by operation of law, or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy. In the event of a Holder’s death, a Holder’s rights in all Awards shall, to the extent permitted by the Committee and as provided for in accordance with this Plan, be transferable by testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution, and payment of any amounts due under the Plan shall be made to, and the exercise of any Options may be made by, the Holder’s legal representatives, heirs or legatees. If, in the opinion of the Committee, a person entitled to payments or to exercise rights with respect to the Plan is disabled from caring for his or her affairs because of a mental condition, physical condition or age, payment due such person may be made to, and such rights shall be exercised by, such person’s guardian, conservator, or other legal personal representative upon furnishing the Committee with evidence satisfactory to the Committee of such disabled status.

 

11.3 Permitted Transfers . Pursuant to conditions and procedures established by the Committee from time to time, the Committee may permit Awards to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to certain persons or entities related to a Participant, including but not limited to members of the Participant’s immediate family, charitable institutions, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the Participant’s immediate family and/or charitable institutions. In the case of initial Awards, at the request of the Participant, the Committee may permit the naming of the related person or entity as the Option recipient. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes on a gratuitous or donative basis and without consideration (other than nominal consideration).

 

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SECTION 12

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS

 

12.1 Investment Representations . The General Partner may require any person to whom an Option or other Award is granted, as a condition of exercising such Option or receiving Units under the Award, to give written assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the General Partner and its counsel to the effect that such person is acquiring the Unit subject to the Option or the Award for his own account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws. Legends evidencing such restrictions may be placed on the certificates evidencing the Unit.

 

12.2 Compliance with Securities Laws . Each Award shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time counsel to the Partnership shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the Units subject to such Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of Units thereunder, such Award may not be accepted or exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Partnership to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration or qualification.

 

12.3 Unit Restriction Agreement . The Committee may provide that Units issuable upon the exercise of an Option or the vesting of a Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit or other Award shall, under certain conditions, be subject to restrictions whereby the General Partner has a right of first refusal with respect to such Units or a right or obligation to repurchase all or a portion of such Units, which restrictions may survive a Participant’s cessation or termination as a Service Provider.

SECTION 13

PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

 

13.1 The Committee may at any time terminate, and from time to time may amend or modify, the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment or modification may become effective without approval of the amendment or modification by the General Partner or the unitholders of the Partnership if the General Partner or unitholders’ approval is required to enable the Plan to satisfy any applicable statutory, regulatory or listing requirements, or if the General Partner, on the advice of counsel, determines that the General Partner’s approval is otherwise necessary or desirable.

Solely with respects to Awards then outstanding under the Plan, no amendment, modification or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect, in a material way, Holders of such outstanding Awards, without the consent of the Holder holding such Awards.

SECTION 14

WITHHOLDING

 

14.1 Withholding Requirement . Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the General Partner or an Affiliate, the Partnership or an Affiliate is authorized to deduct, withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, 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, Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant or settlement of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any other 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 General Partner or Affiliate to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes. Notwithstanding the

 

13


foregoing, with respect to any Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3, such tax withholding automatically shall be effected by the General Partner either by (i) “netting” or withholding Units otherwise deliverable to the Participant on the vesting or payment of such Award, or (ii) requiring the Participant to pay an amount equal to the applicable taxes payable in cash.

SECTION 15

NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN

 

15.1 The acceptance by the General Partner of the sponsorship of the Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power or authority of the General Partner to adopt such other or additional incentive or other compensation arrangements of whatever nature as the General Partner may deem necessary or desirable or preclude or limit the continuation of any other plan, practice or arrangement for the payment of compensation or fringe benefits to employees, non-employee directors, or consultants generally, or to any class or group of employees, directors, or consultants, which the General Partner now has lawfully put into effect, including, without limitation, any retirement, pension, savings and stock purchase plan, insurance, death and disability benefits and executive short-term incentive plans.

SECTION 16

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

16.1 Additional Agreements . Each Service Provider to whom an Award is granted under this Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Person’s termination of services with the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition agreement in favor of the General Partner, the Partnership, and their Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

16.2 Requirements of Law . The issuance of Units and the payment of cash pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations. 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 1934 Act, and any payment tendered to the General Partner 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.

 

16.3 Rule 16b-3. It is the intent of the General Partner that the grant of any Awards to, or other transaction by, a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act shall be exempt from Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 or another applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged by the Participant in writing to be non-exempt). Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or such other exemption as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

 

16.4 Code Section 409A. In the event that any provision of this Plan shall be determined to contravene Code section 409A, the regulations promulgated thereunder, regulatory interpretations or announcements with respect to Code section 409A or applicable judicial decisions construing Code section 409A, any such provision shall be void and have no effect. Moreover, this Plan shall be interpreted at all times in such a manner that the terms and provisions of the Plan comply with Code section 409A, the regulations promulgated thereunder, regulatory interpretations or

 

14


announcements with respect to Code section 409A of and applicable judicial decisions construing Code section 409A.

 

16.5 Specified Employee under Code Section 409A . Subject to any other restrictions or limitations contained herein, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations) becomes entitled to a payment under an Award which is a 409A Award on account of a “separation from service” (as defined under Code section 409A and the 409A Regulations), to the extent required by the Code, such payment shall not occur until the date that is six months plus one day from the date of such separation from service. Any amount that is otherwise payable within the six month period described herein will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest.

 

16.6 Governing Law . The Plan and all agreements hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

16.7 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 law 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. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Participants who are subject to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3).

 

16.8 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 General Partner or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the General Partner or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the General Partner or such Affiliate.

 

16.9 No Fractional Units . No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion 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 with or without consideration.

 

16.10 Allocation of Costs . Nothing herein shall be deemed to override, amend, or modify any cost sharing arrangement, omnibus agreement, or other arrangement between the General Partner, the Partnership, and any Affiliate regarding the sharing of costs between those entities.

 

16.11 No Guarantee of Legal Consequences . None of the Board, the Committee, the Partnership nor the General Partner makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment or exemption from Section 16 of the 1934 Act or registration or exemption under applicable securities laws will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant.

 

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SECTION 17

DURATION OF THE PLAN

 

17.1 This Plan shall terminate on December 21, 2021. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the Plan is terminated; provided, however, that any Award theretofore granted may be amended, altered, adjusted, suspended, discontinued, or terminated by the Committee and the Committee’s authority to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall extend beyond the Plan’s termination date.

 

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APPENDIX A

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Plan the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

  (a) 1934 Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the 1934 Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

 

  (b) “409A Award” means an Award that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of the 409A Regulations, whether by design, due to a subsequent modification in the terms and conditions of such Award or as a result of a change in applicable law following the date of grant of such Award, and that is not exempt from Code section 409A pursuant to an applicable exemption.

 

  (c) “409A Regulations” means the applicable Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance promulgated pursuant to Code section 409A

 

  (d) 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.

 

  (e) Award ” means an Option, Phantom Unit, Restricted Unit, Unit Award, Performance Award, DER or Other Unit-Based Award granted under the Plan, and shall include any UDRs granted in tandem with respect to a Restricted Unit.

 

  (f) Award Agreement ” means a written agreement or instrument between the General Partner and a Holder evidencing an Award.

 

  (g) Beneficiary ” means the Person who has been designated by a Holder in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the General Partner or an Affiliate thereof to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon the death of the Holder, or, if there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the Person entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

 

  (h) Board ” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

  (i) Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day which is declared to be a Federal holiday by the United States Government.

 

  (j) Cause ” means (i) willful failure by the Participant to carry out the reasonable and lawful policies and directives of the General Partner, the Partnership or their Affiliates; (ii) willful engaging by the Participant in misconduct that causes material injury to, or damages the reputation of, the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates, as determined in good faith by the Committee; (iii) any act of dishonesty of the Participant; (iv) commission by the Participant of a criminal offense, other than a minor traffic misdemeanor; (v) any use by the Participant of an illegal controlled substance; or (vi) excessive absenteeism other than for illness, after receiving a warning in writing from the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates to refrain from such behavior.

 

APPENDIX A-1


  (k) Change in Control ” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of one of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership to any Person or its Affiliates, other than a Qualifying Owner, the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, or (ii) any merger, reorganization, consolidation or other transaction pursuant to which more than 50% of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the General Partner cease to be controlled by a Qualifying Owner or its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a 409A Award, a “Change in Control” shall not occur unless that Change in Control also constitutes a “change in the ownership of a corporation,” a “change in the effective control of a corporation,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets,” in each case, within the meaning of 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the 409A Regulations, as applied to non-corporate entities.

 

  (l) Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

  (m) Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

  (n) Date of Grant ” means, with respect to any Award, the date as of which such Award is granted under the Plan.

 

  (o) DER ” means a contingent right, granted alone or in tandem with a specific Award (other than a Restricted Unit or a Unit Award), to receive with respect to each Unit subject to the Award an amount in cash, Units and/or Phantom Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding.

 

  (p) Disability ” or “ Disabled ” means disabled as defined in Section 22(e) of the Code, except that Disability or Disabled may, subject to the discretion of the Committee, mean qualifying for and receiving payments under a disability pay plan of the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates.

 

  (q) “Employer” means any of the General Partner, the Partnership or any one of such entity’s Affiliates who is either (i) the common law employer of a Participant or (ii) the service recipient of any non-employee Service Provider.

 

  (r) Effective Date ” means December 21, 2011.

 

  (s) Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of a Unit determined based upon the last sale before or the first sale after the Date of Grant, the closing price on the trading day before or the trading day of the Date of Grant, or any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in such Units as reported in The Wall Street Journal and consistently applied. The determination of Fair Market Value also may be based upon the average price during a specified period that is within 30 days before or 30 days after the Date of Grant (calculated based upon the arithmetic mean of the selling prices on all trading days during the specified period or weighted based on the volume of trading on each trading day during the specified period), provided that the commitment to grant the stock right based on such valuation method must be irrevocable before the beginning of the specified period, the Committee must specify the Participants that will receive Awards during such specified period, and the number of Units subject to such Awards, and such valuation method must be used consistently for grants of Awards under the same and substantially similar programs. If Units are not traded on a national securities exchange or other

 

APPENDIX A-2


market at the time a determination of Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith using a “reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method” within the meaning of the 409A Regulations (specifically, Section 1.409A-l(b)(5)(iv)(B) of the 409A Regulations).

 

  (t) Holder ” means a Participant or a Beneficiary who is in possession of an Award Agreement representing an Award that has been granted to such individual (or received by such individual in a transfer permitted by Committee and the Award Agreement) and has not expired, been canceled or terminated.

 

  (u) “Inergy” means Inergy, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

  (v) “Inergy GP” means Inergy GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

  (w) Option ” means a right to purchase a Unit at a stated price for a specified period of time.

 

  (x) Option Period ” means the maximum period of time from the Option Date of Grant that an Option as provided under the Option Award Agreement may remain exercisable. Notwithstanding an Option’s Option Period, an Option may cease to be exercisable and become null and void prior to the expiration of the Option Period as provided in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the respective Award Agreement.

 

  (y) Option Price ” means the price at which a Unit subject to an Option may be purchased, determined in accordance with Section 4.2(b).

 

  (z) “Other Unit Based Award” means an Award granted to Service Provider pursuant to Section 7.2.

 

  (aa) Participant ” means a Service Provider designated by the Committee from time to time during the term of the Plan to receive one or more Awards under the Plan.

 

  (bb) “Performance Award” means a right granted to a Service Provider pursuant to Section 7.5, to receive an Award based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

 

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

 

  (dd) 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, whichever is determined by the Committee.

 

  (ee) Plan Year ” means each 12-month period beginning January 1 and ending the following December 31, except that for the first year of the Plan it shall begin on the Effective Date and extend to December 31 of that year.

 

  (ff) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3).

 

  (gg) “Qualifying Owner” means (i) John J. Sherman or any of his Affiliates, (ii) Inergy Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and (iii) Inergy Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

  (hh) Restricted Period ” or “ Restriction Period ” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is not exercisable by or payable to the Participant.

 

APPENDIX A-3


  (ii) “Restricted Unit” means a Unit granted under the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.

 

  (jj) Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and any future regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such regulation.

 

  (kk) “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

  (ll) Section 16 Person ” means a person who, with respect to a Unit, is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

 

  (mm) Service Provider ” means an employee (full or part-time), non-employee director or consultant of the General Partner, the Partnership, or any of their Affiliates who renders service to or for the benefit of the General Partner or the Partnership.

 

  (nn) “UDR” means a distribution made by the Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.

 

  (oo) Unit ” means a common Unit of the Partnership.

 

  (pp) “Unit Award” means a grant of a Unit that is not subject to a Restricted Period.

 

APPENDIX A-4

Exhibit 4.4

INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

     Date of Grant   
     Number of Restricted Units Awarded   

THIS RESTRICTED UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of «Date», is between NRGM GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”) and «First» «Last» (“Holder”).

RECITALS:

A. On «Effective Date» the General Partner adopted the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which permits Restricted Units to be granted to employees, non-employee directors or consultants of the General Partner, Inergy Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) and their respective Affiliates who render service to or for the benefit of the General Partner or the Partnership (each, a “Service Provider”).

B. Holder is a valued and trusted Service Provider.

C. The General Partner has elected to award Holder Restricted Units pursuant to and in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement, in order that Holder thereby may be induced to maintain an ownership interest in the Partnership and to advance the interests of the General Partner, the Partnership and each of their respective Affiliates (each, a “Company Entity” and collectively, the “Company Entities”).

AGREEMENT:

In consideration of the mutual premises and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration paid by Holder to the Company Entities, the General Partner and Holder agree as follows:

Section 1. Incorporation of Plan; Definitions . All provisions of this Agreement and the rights of Holder hereunder are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Plan and the powers of the Committee therein provided. Holder acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, and agrees that the terms and provisions of the Plan, including any future amendments thereto, shall be deemed a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

Section 2 . Grant of Restricted Units . The General Partner hereby grants and awards to Holder, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan and as of the date of grant identified above (the “Date of Grant”), that number of common units of the Partnership identified above opposite the heading “Number of Restricted Units Awarded” (the “Units”), which Units will be “Restricted Units” within the meaning of Section 6 of the Plan and definition (ii) of Appendix A of the Plan. The Units will be issued in the name of Holder as of the Date of Grant, provided, however, that a certificate or certificates representing the Units will not be delivered to Holder until such later date as identified in Section 6 below.


Section 3. Restricted Period; Vesting of Restricted Units . Subject to any exceptions set forth elsewhere herein, the Units awarded hereunder are subject to a Restricted Period such that the Units are nontransferable and subject to risk of forfeiture until the Units become vested in accordance with this Agreement. Provided the Units have not already been forfeited pursuant to Section 5 and subject to any exceptions listed elsewhere herein or in the Plan, the Restricted Period for the Units shall lapse and the Units shall become vested on the             anniversary of the Date of Grant (the “Vesting Date”). The Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the lapse of the Restricted Period for any or all of the Units if in its judgment the performance of Holder has warranted such acceleration and/or such acceleration is in the best interests of the Company Entities.

Section 4. Restrictions on Units . Subject to any exceptions set forth elsewhere herein, none of the Units awarded hereunder or the rights relating thereto may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by Holder, and Holder agrees not to sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of such Units or rights, during the Restricted Period prior to such Restricted Period lapsing in accordance with the Vesting Date set forth above in Section 3. Any purported transfer, assignment, alienation, pledge, hypothecation, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be null, void and unenforceable against the Company Entities. As the Restricted Period lapses with respect to the Units, such restriction on transfer shall terminate and the Units will become freely transferable under this Agreement and the Plan, subject only to such further limitations on transfer, if any, as may exist under the terms of the Plan, Section 10 of this Agreement, applicable law or any other agreement binding upon Holder.

Section 5 . Possible Forfeiture of Units Prior to Vesting . Unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Committee, if Holder ceases for any reason to be a Service Provider of the Company Entities prior to the Vesting Date for the Restricted Units, (i) all unvested Restricted Units held by Holder shall thereupon immediately be forfeited and returned to the General Partner or one of its Affiliates and (ii) all UDRs with respect to such Restricted Units, and any other rights or benefits Holder may be entitled to by virtue of Holder’s possession of the Restricted Units, shall be forfeited. Upon such forfeiture, Holder shall have no further rights under this Agreement.

Section 6 . Certificates . One or more certificates representing the Units will be held by the General Partner (or its delegate) until the Vesting Date for the Units, as set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, at which time a certificate or certificates representing the vested Units will be issued to Holder. However, the General Partner (or its delegate), in its sole discretion, may elect to deliver the certificate either in certificate form or electronically to a brokerage account established for Holder’s benefit at a brokerage/financial institution selected by the General Partner (or its delegate).

Section 7. Acknowledgement of Rights of the General Partner in Event of Change in Control, Reorganization, Liquidation, Etc . By executing this Agreement, Holder agrees and acknowledges that in the event that the Partnership undergoes a Change in Control, or in the event the Partnership, the General Partner, Inergy or Inergy GP shall become a party to any Similar Event, as defined in the Plan, the Committee may take any of the actions as provided for in Section 8 of the Plan, or such successor section if the Plan is amended, without obtaining Partnership approval or Holder’s consent.

 

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Section 8 . UDRs . With respect to each Restricted Unit, following the Date of Grant and until such Unit vests and is no longer subject to the Restricted Period, Holder shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the per Unit distribution made by the Partnership to the holders of Common Units under the Partnership Agreement of Inergy Midstream, L.P., as amended from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”). Amounts with respect to such UDRs shall be paid to Holder as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of a distribution paid on such Common Units, provided, however, that such amounts shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which the distribution is paid to holders of Common Units or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the distribution is paid to holders of Common Units. All UDRs with respect to Restricted Units shall be forfeited upon forfeiture of such Restricted Units in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement. Under no circumstances shall Holder’s right to receive UDRs on the Restricted Units be interpreted or construed as such Units not being subject to the Restricted Period or as Holder having any rights as a holder of Common Units greater than those set forth herein and in the Plan.

Section 9 . Voting Rights . Following the Date of Grant, Holder shall have such voting rights, if any, as are provided to the holders of Common Units under the Partnership Agreement or as provided under applicable law.

Section 10. Status of Units . Holder agrees that any Units that he acquires upon vesting of the Restricted Units will not be sold or otherwise disposed of in any manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws, the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC and any stock exchange upon which the Units are then listed. Holder also agrees that (a) any certificates representing the Units acquired under this award may bear such legend or legends as the Committee deems appropriate in order to assure compliance with applicable securities laws, (b) the Company Entities may refuse to register the transfer of the Units acquired under this award with the Partnership’s transfer agent if such proposed transfer would, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner, constitute a violation of any applicable securities law, and (c) the Partnership may give related instructions to its transfer agent, if any, to stop registration of the transfer of the Units to be acquired under this award. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Company Entities may require that Holder make such covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, rules, regulations, or requirements

Section 11. Tax Withholding . The Company Entities shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require Holder to remit to such Company Entity, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes (including the Holder’s employment tax obligations) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Units and the UDRs thereon. In satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the General Partner, Holder shall surrender the number of Units otherwise issuable to him having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld by the Company Entities. In the event that Units that would otherwise be issued in respect of the Restricted Units are surrendered

 

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to satisfy such withholding obligations, the number of Units that shall be so surrendered shall be limited to the number of Units that have a Fair Market Value on the date of such surrender equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.

Section 12 . Notice of Section 83(b) Election . If Holder desires to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code relating to the award of Restricted Units, Holder shall notify the General Partner or its delegate of such election within 30 days of the Date of Grant. Holder shall be solely responsible for making such a Section 83(b) election and satisfying all notice and filing requirements under the Code.

Section 13 . Adjustments . Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event of any change in the number of outstanding Units of the Partnership effected without receipt of consideration therefor by the Partnership, by reason of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, separation, liquidation, unit dividend, unit split, unit combination or other change in the corporate structure of the Partnership affecting the Units, the Restricted Units then subject to this Agreement will be automatically adjusted to accurately and equitably reflect the effect thereon of such change. In the event of a dispute concerning such adjustment, the decision of the Committee will be conclusive.

Section 14 . Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding its conflict of laws provisions.

Section 15 . Administration . The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of this Agreement shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to this Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of the Agreement by the Committee and any decision made by it with respect to the Agreement shall be final and binding.

Section 16 . No Effect on Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall be construed as giving Holder the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company Entities. Furthermore, the Company Entities may at any time dismiss Holder from employment or service free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, this Agreement or other written agreement.

Section 17. Tax Consultation . Neither the Board, the Committee nor any Company Entities has made any warranty or representation to Holder with respect to the income tax consequences of the grant or vesting of the Restricted Units or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Holder represents that he is in no manner relying on such entities or any of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees or authorized representatives (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers, lenders, prospective lenders and financial representatives) for tax advice or an assessment of such tax consequences. Holder represents that he has consulted with any tax consultants that Holder deems advisable in connection with the Restricted Units.

 

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Section 18 . Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

Section 19 . Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon Holder, the Holder’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, and upon the General Partnership, the Partnership and their Affiliates, successors and assigns.

Section 20 . Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to the Restricted Units granted hereby. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all prior understandings and agreements, if any, among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.

Section 21. Amendment and Cancellation . This Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board or the Committee (a) to the extent permitted by the Plan, (b) to the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations or to conform the provisions of this Agreement to any changes thereto or (c) to settle the Restricted Units pursuant to all applicable provisions of the Plan. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement cannot be modified, altered or amended, except by a written agreement signed by both the General Partner and Holder.

Section 22. Clawback . Notwithstanding any provisions in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, any portion of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or the sale of the Units granted hereunder shall be subject to a clawback or other recovery by the General Partner to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law including, without limitation, the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any SEC rule.

Section 23 . Notice . Whenever any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered on the date which it was personally delivered, or, whether actually received or not, on the third business day after it is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the address which such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith. The General Partner or Holder may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address previously specified for receiving notices. Until changed in accordance herewith, the General Partner and Holder specify their respective addresses as set forth below:

 

                                 If to the General Partner to:    NRGM GP, LLC
   Two Brush Creek Boulevard
   Suite 200
   Kansas City, Missouri 64112
   (816) 842-8181

 

5


If to Holder to:

Section 24. Designation of Beneficiary . Holder may designate a person or persons to receive, in the event of the death of Holder, any Units then vesting or other property then or thereafter distributable relating to the Units. Such designation must be made either in the space indicated at the end of this Agreement or upon forms supplied by and delivered to the General Partner or its delegate and may be revoked in writing. If Holder fails effectively to designate a beneficiary, the estate of Holder will be deemed to be the beneficiary of Holder with respect to any such Units or other property.

Section 25. Execution of Agreement . In order to obtain all rights under this Agreement, Holder must sign and return this Agreement to the General Partner or its delegate within 30 days after the date the General Partner delivers this Agreement to Holder for execution. If Holder fails to sign and return this Agreement to the General Partner or its delegate within this 30-day period, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that the award of Units provided for herein shall be deemed void and never to have been granted.

Section 26. Effect of Plan . Holder acknowledges that in the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control.

Section 27. Consent to Electronic Delivery; Electronic Signature . In lieu of receiving documents in paper format, Holder agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to accept electronic delivery of any documents that the Company Entities may be required to deliver (including, without limitation, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, grant or award notifications and agreements, account statements, annual and quarterly reports, and all other forms of communications) in connection with this and any other award made or offered by the Company Entities. Electronic delivery may be via an electronic mail system or by reference to a location on a Company Entity intranet to which Holder has access. Holder hereby consents to any and all procedures the Company Entities have established or may establish for an electronic signature system for delivery and acceptance of any such documents that the Company Entities may be required to deliver, and agrees that his or her electronic signature is the same as, and shall have the same force and effect as, his or her manual signature.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has caused this Agreement to be executed and Holder has hereunto set his or her hand on the day and year first above written.

 

NRGM GP, LLC
By:    
Title:    
 
 
HOLDER
   
  «First» «Last»
 
 
Designation of Beneficiary:
   
  (Name of Beneficiary)
   
  (Relationship to Holder)
   
  (Street Address)
   
  (City, State, Zip Code)
   
  (Social Security Number)

 

7

Exhibit 4.5

INERGY MIDSTREAM, L.P. EMPLOYEE UNIT PURCHASE PLAN

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Establishment . The Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted effective December 21, 2011 by NRGM GP, LLC., a Delaware limited liability company, (the “General Partner”), the general partner of Inergy Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”).

 

1.2 Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by encouraging all full-time employees of the General Partner, the Partnership and their Affiliates to acquire or increase their ownership of Units and to provide a means whereby such individuals may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Partnership, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business of the Partnership, thereby advancing the interests of the Partnership and the General Partner.

SECTION 2

DEFINITIONS

 

2.1 The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

  (a) “Affiliates” 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.

 

  (b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

  (c) “Committee” means the Board or such committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 8.

 

  (d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

  (e) “Employee” means any individual who is a full-time employee of the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates, but excluding any employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement unless such bargaining agreement provides for his participation in the Plan.

 

  (f) “Employer” means the General Partner, the Partnership and/or one of their Affiliates, as the case may be.

 

  (g)

“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.

 

  (h) “Offering Period” means each calendar quarter; provided, however, the Offering Period shall include such shorter periods, if any, as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.

 

  (i) “Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

  (j) “Purchase Period” means the 10-day period following the end of each calendar quarter; provided, however, the Purchase Period shall include such other periods, if any, as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.

 

  (k) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”).

 

  (l) “Unit” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.

 

2.2 Gender and Number . Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the masculine gender shall also include the feminine gender, and the definition of any term herein in the singular shall also include the plural.

SECTION 3

ELIGIBILITY

 

3.1 Eligibility and Plan Entry Date. All Employees shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. An Employee is eligible to enter the Plan beginning on the first day of the month following thirty (30) days after such individual’s employment commencement date.

 

3.2 Prior Service Credit. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant prior service credit to individuals that become Employees pursuant to a corporate merger or acquisition.

SECTION 4

UNITS AVAILABLE UNDER PLAN

 

4.1

Unless otherwise increased by the Board, the maximum number of Units that may be purchased for Employees under this Plan is 200,000 Units. Units to be delivered under the Plan may be Units acquired by the General Partner in the open market, Units already owned by the General Partner, Units acquired by the General Partner directly from the Partnership or any other person, or any combination of the foregoing. Upon an Employee’s termination of employment with his or her Employer, all amounts then credited to his or her notional account under the Plan, if any, shall be paid to the terminated Employee as soon as practicable. In the event the Committee determines that any distribution, recapitalization, split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, 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 such that an adjustment in the maximum number of Units and/or the kind and number of securities deliverable under the Plan is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the

 

2


  Committee may make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of Units and/or the kind and number of securities deliverable under the Plan. The adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

SECTION 5

PURCHASE OF UNITS

 

5.1 Employee Withholding Elections . The Committee shall provide an Employee with the ability to purchase Units under this Plan upon the following terms and conditions:

 

  (a) Effective as of the beginning of any month, an Employee may elect to have his Employer withhold from the Employee’s cash base salary or cash base wages each future pay period, for the purchase of Units hereunder, a designated whole percentage of the Employee’s cash base salary or wages (in whole percentages only, not to exceed 10%). An Employee may change (within the above limitations) or, subject to Section 5.1(f), stop his withholding election at any time; however, only two such changes may be made during any calendar year. All Employee elections and any changes to an election shall be in such written form as the Committee or its delegate may establish from time to time. Employees may only make contributions through payroll deductions.

 

  (b) Each withholding election made by an Employee hereunder shall be an ongoing election until the earlier of the date changed by the Employee or the date the Employee ceases to be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

  (c) The General Partner shall maintain for each electing Employee a separate notional or ledger account reflecting the aggregate amount of his cash base salary or wages that has been withheld and not yet applied to the purchase of Units for such Employee. In addition, subject to the further provisions of the Plan, such account shall be credited with the Units purchased for the Employee under the Plan until such Units are issued in accordance with Section 6. Amounts of cash base salary or wages withheld by the Employer and remitted to the General Partner shall not be segregated from the general assets of the General Partner and shall not bear interest.

 

  (d) During each Purchase Period, the General Partner shall use, to the fullest extent practicable, all amounts then credited to the notional accounts of the electing Employees to purchase Units for such Employees. Purchases of Units may be made at any time or times during the Purchase Period on any securities exchange on which the Units are traded, in the over-the-counter market and/or in negotiated transactions as the Committee shall determine.

 

  (e) Upon an Employee’s termination of employment with his or her Employer, all cash amounts and whole Units then credited to his or her notional account under the Plan, if any, shall be paid or distributed to the terminated Employee as soon as reasonably practicable and in no event later than 60 days following such Employee’s date of termination. To the extent an Employee has a fractional Unit credited to his or her notional account under the Plan on the date of termination, such fractional Unit will be liquidated and the Employee will receive his pro rata portion of the proceeds from such liquidation.

 

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  (f) Subject to the limitation provided above in Section 5.1(a), an Employee may elect to cease contributing to the Plan. Provided an Employee submits his or her election to stop withholding prior to the five business day period before the beginning of an immediately upcoming Purchase Period, the Employee may elect to cease contributing to the Plan and either (i) have all amounts then credited to such Employee’s notional account returned to the Employee as soon as administratively practicable, or (ii) alternatively, have all amounts then credited to such Employee’s notional account applied toward the purchase of Units in the immediately upcoming Purchase Period. Unless otherwise administratively feasible, to the extent an Employee submits his or her election to stop withholding within the five business day period before the beginning of the immediately upcoming Purchase Period, all amounts credited to such Employee’s notional account will be applied toward the purchase of Units in the immediately following Purchase Period and the Employee’s election to stop withholding shall become effective as of the commencement of the next following Offering Period. All requests to withdraw from the Plan submitted during a Purchase Period will become effective as of the then-current Offering Period.

 

5.2 Purchase of Units and Plan Expenses . During each Purchase Period, the General Partner, using funds withheld from Employees’ wages pursuant to this Section 5, shall purchase for the electing Employees the maximum number of whole Units that can be acquired (using the Unit’s Fair Market Value on the date of purchase) based on the sum of (a) cash amounts then credited to the electing Employees’ notional accounts, and (b) an amount, as determined from time to time by the Committee, not to exceed 10% of the amount then credited to the electing Employees’ notional accounts (the “Employer Match Amount”). The General Partner shall pay, other than from the notional accounts, all brokerage fees and other costs and expenses of the Plan. The Units acquired under the Plan for a Purchase Period shall be allocated to Employees in proportion to (a) the sum of their contributions and their allocable Employer Match Amount, over (b) the total of all such Plan amounts applied to the purchase of Units for the Purchase Period. To the extent that Units are purchased on multiple days or at multiple times during a single Purchase Period, the General Partner shall use the weighted average of the Units’ Fair Market Value at the times of purchase as the applicable Unit price upon which Units are allocated to the participating Employees. Notwithstanding that fractional Units may be allocated to an Employee’s account, an Employee who does not have at least one whole Unit credited to his account at the beginning of a Purchase Period must have enough money credited to his notional account to purchase at least one whole Unit. To the extent such an Employee does not have enough cash funds credited to his notional account to purchase at least one whole Unit, all amounts credited to the such Employee’s notional account will be held in a suspense account and disregarded for purposes of purchasing Units until such time as there are enough funds for the purchase of at least one whole Unit.

 

5.3

Withholding of Taxes . To the extent that the Employer is required to withhold any taxes in connection with the purchase of Units, it will be a condition to the ownership of such Units that the Employee make arrangements satisfactory to the Employer for the payment

 

4


  of such taxes, which may include, but not be limited to, a reduction in the cash amounts or Units in such Employee’s notional account.

SECTION 6

RESTRICTIONS ON UNITS

 

6.1 Holding Period; Delivery of Units. Subject to the exception provided below under Section 6.2, all Units purchased under the Plan shall be subject to a holding period which shall expire on the first anniversary of the date the Units were purchased under the Plan (the “Holding Period”). During the Holding Period, each Employee shall be prohibited from pledging, transferring, selling or otherwise disposing of the Units and such Units shall be held by the Employer or General Partner for the benefit of the Employee. Upon the expiration of such Holding Period, the Employee may, if he or she desires, make a request to the Employer (or its designated third party plan administrator, if any) to receive certificates for all of such unrestricted whole Units. Otherwise, such Units shall be held without restriction (a) by the Employer or (b) in the name of the third party administrator (or its designee), if any, for the benefit of the Employee.

 

6.2 Holding Period Exception. Notwithstanding the Holding Period imposed above under Section 6.1 and subject to the conditions imposed pursuant to this Section 6.2, an Employee will be permitted to pledge, transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of his or her restricted whole Units during the one year holding period (a “Restricted Transfer”) by notifying the Employer (or its designated third party plan administrator) of his or her intention to engage in a Restricted Transfer. If a Restricted Transfer occurs, the Employee shall be prohibited from participating in the Plan again until the first Purchase Period following the first anniversary of the date of the Restricted Transfer. During this period of prohibition, no amounts shall be withheld from the Employee’s cash base salary or cash base wages. Such withholding shall not be allowed to resume, at the earliest, until the first pay period following the first anniversary of the date of the Restricted Transfer. To the extent an Employee has cash amounts credited to his or her notional account under the Plan on the date of a Restricted Transfer, all such amounts will be returned to the Employee. To the extent an Employee has a fractional Unit credited to his or her notional account under the Plan on the date of a Restricted Transfer, such fractional Unit will be liquidated and the Employee will receive his pro rata portion of the proceeds from such liquidation.

 

6.3

Investment Representation . Unless the Units subject to purchase under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and, in the case of any Employee who may be deemed an affiliate (for securities law purposes) of the General Partner or the Partnership, such Units have been registered under the 1933 Act for resale by such Employee, or the Partnership has determined that an exemption from registration is available, the General Partner may require prior to and as a condition of the delivery of any Units that the person purchasing such Units hereunder furnish the General Partner with a written representation in a form prescribed by the Committee to the effect that such person is acquiring such Units solely with a view to investment for his or her own account and not with a view to the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof, and that such person will not dispose of any of such Units otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act unless and until either the

 

5


  Units are registered under the 1933 Act or the General Partner is satisfied that an exemption from such registration is available.

 

6.4 Compliance with Securities Laws . Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other agreement to the contrary, the Partnership shall not be obligated to sell or issue any Units to an Employee under the Plan unless and until the Partnership is satisfied that such sale or issuance complies with (a) all applicable requirements of the securities exchange on which the Units are traded (or the governing body of the principal market in which such Units are traded, if such Units are not then listed on an exchange), (b) all applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, and (c) all other laws or regulations by which the Partnership is bound or to which the Partnership is subject. The General Partner acknowledges that it is an affiliate of the Partnership under securities laws and it shall comply with such laws and obligations of the Partnership relating thereto as if they were directly applicable to the General Partner.

SECTION 7

RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES; PARTICIPANTS

 

7.1 Employment . This Plan will not confer upon any Employee any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the General Partner, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates would otherwise have to terminate such Employee’s employment or other service at any time.

 

7.2 Nontransferability . No right to purchase Units granted under this Plan shall be assignable or transferable during the lifetime of any Employee either voluntarily or involuntarily, or be subjected to any lien, directly or indirectly, by operation of law, or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy.

 

7.3 Dividend Reinvestment . To the extent that the Partnership has a dividend reinvestment plan available to Unit holders, Employees purchasing Units pursuant to this Plan shall be eligible to participate in such plan in the same manner as other Unit holders.

 

7.4 No Delivery of Fractional Units . Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the Employer will not be required to deliver any fractional Units to an Employee pursuant to this Plan, although an Employee’s notional account may be credited with a fractional Unit for record keeping purposes.

SECTION 8

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

8.1

Authority of Committee . The Plan shall be administered by 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: (a) determine which persons are Employees who may participate; (b) determine the number of Units to be purchased by an Employee; (c) determine the time and manner for purchasing Units; (d) interpret, construe and administer the Plan; (e) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as

 

6


  it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (f) make a determination as to the right of any person to receive Units under the Plan; (g) correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile an inconsistency in the Plan; and (h) make any other determinations and take any other actions that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

8.2 Determination Under the Plan . Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan 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 Partnership or any Employee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith, and all members of the Committee shall, in addition to their rights as directors, be fully protected by the General Partner with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

SECTION 9

PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

 

9.1 This Plan may be amended from time to time by the Committee. This Plan may be terminated at any time by the Committee and, unless Board approval is obtained for an increase in the maximum number of available Units, shall automatically terminate when all Units authorized for purchase pursuant to the Plan have been purchased. On termination of the Plan, all amounts then remaining credited to the notional accounts for Employees shall be returned to the affected Employees.

SECTION 10

NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN

 

10.1 The sponsorship of the Plan by the General Partner shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power or authority of the General Partner to adopt such other or additional incentive or other compensation arrangements of whatever nature as the General Partner may deem necessary or desirable or preclude or limit the continuation of any other plan, practice or arrangement for the payment of compensation or fringe benefits to employees, non-employee directors, or consultants generally, or to any class or group of employees, directors, or consultants, which the General Partner now has lawfully put into effect, including, without limitation, any retirement, pension, savings and stock purchase plan, insurance, death and disability benefits and executive short-term incentive plans.

SECTION 11

REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

 

11.1 Requirements of Law . The issuance of Units pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

11.2

Rule 16b-3 . It is intended that any purchases by a person subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act meet all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any provision of the Plan or procedure would otherwise not comply with Rule 16b-3, such provision or procedure shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the

 

7


  applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Employee shall avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

 

11.3 Code Section 409A . In the event that any provision of this Plan shall be determined to contravene Code section 409A, the regulations promulgated thereunder, regulatory interpretations or announcements with respect to Code section 409A or applicable judicial decisions construing Code section 409A, any such provision shall be void and have no effect. Moreover, this Plan shall be interpreted at all times in such a manner that the terms and provisions of the Plan comply with or are exempt from Code section 409A, the regulations promulgated thereunder, regulatory interpretations or announcements with respect to Code section 409A of and applicable judicial decisions construing Code section 409A.

 

11.4 No Trust or Fund Created . The Plan shall not create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the General Partner or any Affiliate and an Employee or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the General Partner or any Affiliate pursuant to the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the General Partner or such Affiliate.

 

11.5 Allocation of Costs . Nothing herein shall be deemed to override, amend, or modify any cost sharing arrangement, omnibus agreement, or other arrangement between the General Partner, the Partnership, and any Affiliate regarding the sharing of costs between those entities.

 

11.6 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 applicable Federal law, and to the extent not preempted thereby, with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

 

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LOGO

Exhibit 5.1

December 21, 2011

Inergy Midstream, L.P.

Two Brush Creek Boulevard, Suite 200

Kansas City, Missouri 64112

Re:     Inergy Midstream, L.P. Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Inergy Midstream, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of the offering and sale of up to an aggregate of 7,632,500 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”), pursuant to the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on December 21, 2011.

In reaching the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents and records of the Partnership and such statutes, regulations and other instruments as we deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, (iii) the Partnership’s Certificate of Limited Partnership, (iv) the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ LTIP ”), (v) the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan (the “ EUPP ” and, together with the LTIP, the “ Plans ”) and (v) such other certificates, instruments and documents as we have considered necessary for purposes of this opinion letter.

We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents we reviewed is true, correct and complete, (ii) all signatures on all documents we reviewed are genuine, (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are true and complete, (iv) all documents submitted to us as copies are true and complete copies of the originals thereof, and (v) all persons executing and delivering the documents we examined were competent to execute and deliver such documents.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Common Units have been duly authorized and, when the Common Units are issued in accordance with the terms of the Plans and the instruments executed pursuant to the Plans that govern the awards to which Common Units relate, the Common Units will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

Abu Dhabi Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston London Moscow New York Palo Alto Riyadh Shanghai Tokyo Washington

  

First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com


LOGO    Page 2

This opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America and to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as interpreted by federal courts and the courts of the State of Delaware, and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

This opinion letter may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan and the Inergy Midstream, L.P. Employee Unit Purchase Plan of our report dated November 18, 2011 (except for the second paragraph of Note 1, as to which the date is November 25, 2011) with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Inergy Midstream, L.P. as of September 30, 2011 included in its prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176445).

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Kansas City, Missouri

December 20, 2011