UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 4, 2014

 

 

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35719   45-5045230
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1700 Pacific Avenue

Suite 2900

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

(214) 979-3700

(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth in Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) relative to the entry into the new debt arrangements is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

Acquisition of TexStar Rich Gas System

On August 4, 2014, Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) completed its acquisition from TexStar Midstream Services, LP (“TexStar”) of its rich gas system (the “TexStar Rich Gas System”) in accordance with the previously disclosed Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2014, among the Partnership, TexStar and Southcross Energy GP LLC, an indirect subsidiary of the Partnership (the “Contribution Agreement”).

In exchange for the TexStar Rich Gas System (the “Contribution”), the Partnership paid $80 million in cash to TexStar, assumed $100 million of debt (which was immediately repaid by Southcross’ new term loan facility, as described below) and issued 14,633,000 of the Partnership’s newly established Class B Convertible Units (the “Class B Convertible Units”).

Consummation of Combination Transactions

Contemporaneously with the consummation of the Contribution, Southcross Energy LLC (“Southcross Energy”), which previously owned a significant stake in the Partnership’s outstanding units and 100% of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), completed its previously disclosed combination with TexStar (the “Combination Transactions”).

As a result of the Combination Transactions, Southcross Holdings LP (“Southcross Holdings”), through Southcross Holdings Borrower LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southcross Holdings (“Southcross Borrower”), acquired from (a) BBTS Borrower LP (“BBTS”) 100% of TexStar and its general partner and (b) from Southcross Energy LLC 2,116,400 common units and 12,213,713 subordinated units of the Partnership, collectively representing an approximate 39.8% limited partner interest in the Partnership, as well as 100% of the General Partner, which owns an approximate 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and the Partnership’s incentive distribution rights. BBTS is controlled by EIG Global Energy Partners and Tailwater Capital, and Southcross Energy LLC is controlled by Charlesbank Capital Partners. The Contribution Transactions resulted in Charlesbank Capital Partners, EIG Global Energy Partners and Tailwater Capital (collectively, the “Sponsors”) each indirectly owning approximately one-third of Southcross Holdings.

Board of Directors

The board of directors of the General Partner (the “Board”) will continue to be comprised of seven directors. As a result of the Contribution Transactions, BBTS will have the right to designate four directors (two of whom must be independent) and Southcross Energy LLC will have the right to designate two directors (one of whom must be independent). The seventh member of the Board and its chairman will be selected by a majority of the other directors. David W. Biegler has been designated as the chairman of the Board for two years or until his earlier death or resignation.

In connection with the closing of the Contribution Transactions, on August 4, 2014, Samuel P. Bartlett and Kim G. Davis resigned as directors of the General Partner, and Wallace Henderson and Jason Downie, as designees of BBTS, were elected as directors of the General Partner. Messrs Bartlett and Davis did not resign as the result of any disagreement with the Partnership or the General Partner.

Series A Conversion

The Contribution Transactions constituted a change of control pursuant to the Partnership’s Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership relating to its series A preferred units, giving the holders the right to convert their series A preferred units into common units based on a 110% exchange ratio. All of the holders of the Partnership’s series A preferred units, including Southcross Energy LLC, elected to convert all of their series A preferred units into common units in connection with the closing of the Contribution Transactions.


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

New Debt Arrangements

On August 4, 2014, in connection with the consummation of the Contribution, the Partnership entered into (a) a Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and a syndicate of lenders (the “Third A&R Credit Agreement”), and (b) a Term Loan Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, and a syndicate of lenders (the “Term Loan Agreement” and, together with the Third A&R Credit Agreement, the “Senior Credit Facilities”).

The initial borrowings and extensions of credit under the Term Loan Agreement were used to finance the acquisition of the TexStar Rich Gas System (including the immediate repayment of the $100 million of debt assumed in the transaction), the repayment of certain of the Partnership’s existing debt and the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the new debt arrangements and ongoing working capital and other general partnership purposes. No amounts were initially drawn on the Third A&R Credit Agreement. Substantially all of the Partnership’s assets are pledged as collateral under the Senior Credit Facilities, with the security interest of the facilities ranking pari passu.

Third A&R Credit Agreement

The Third A&R Credit Agreement is a five-year $200 million revolving credit facility. Pursuant to the Third A&R Credit Agreement, among other things:

 

  (a) the letters of credit sublimit is increased to $75 million;

 

  (b) the Partnership is given the right to increase the total commitments under the credit facility by obtaining additional commitments from other lenders, as long as the Partnership’s senior secured leverage ratio is less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00 before and after giving effect to such increase, subject to certain other conditions;

 

  (c) the definition of “Change of Control” is amended to permit the combination transaction with TexStar and to reflect the Sponsors’ control of the General Partner;

 

  (d) the Partnership’s maximum consolidated total leverage ratio is set at (i) 5.75 to 1.00 as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ending each of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, (ii) 5.50 to 1.00 as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2015, (iii) 5.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2015 and (iv) 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter, in each case without any step-ups in connection with acquisitions;

 

  (e) the Partnership has the right, exercisable on or before the date that the Partnership’s annual audited financial statements are due for the 2014 fiscal year, to comply with the consolidated total leverage ratio, consolidated senior secured leverage ratio and the consolidated interest coverage ratio covenants (the “Financial Covenants”) by applying certain specified quarterly base periods pertaining to the TexStar Rich Gas System;

 

  (f) if the Partnership fails to comply with the Financial Covenants (a “Financial Covenant Default”), the Partnership has the right (which cannot be exercised more than two times in any 12-month period or more than four times during the term of the facility) to cure such Financial Covenant Default by having the Sponsors purchase equity interests in or make capital contributions to the Partnership resulting in, among other things, proceeds that, if added to the minimum financial requirements, would result in the Partnership satisfying the Financial Covenants;


  (g) certain definitions are amended to take into account the TexStar Rich Gas System; and

 

  (h) the negative covenants are amended to permit the entry into, and indebtedness under, the Term Loan Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Third A&R Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third A&R Credit Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Term Loan Agreement

The Term Loan Agreement is a seven-year $450 million senior secured term loan facility. On August 4, 2014, the lenders funded the full amount of the facility. Under the Term Loan Agreement, among other things:

 

  (a) subject to certain requirements, including the absence of a default and pro forma compliance under the Third A&R Credit Agreement and pro forma compliance with a senior secured leverage ratio less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00 before and after giving effect to such increase, the Partnership may from time to time request incremental term loan commitments subject to certain other conditions;

 

  (b) the Partnership may seek commitments from third party lenders in connection with any incremental term loan commitment requests, subject to certain consent rights given to the administrative agent;

 

  (c) the guarantors and the collateral are the same as provided for the benefit of lenders in the Third A&R Credit Agreement;

 

  (d) subject to certain conditions, the Partnership may request that the lenders extend the seven-year maturity of all or partially all of the outstanding loans under the facility;

 

  (e) the facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the initial loan, with the remainder due on the maturity date;

 

  (f) there are customary mandatory prepayment provisions and, subject to certain conditions, permissive prepayment provisions; provided, that if certain repricing transactions occur, the Partnership must pay a call premium equal to 1% of the principal amount of the loans subject to the repricing transactions; and

 

  (g) there are customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, negative covenants and provisions governing an event of default (including acceleration of payment in connection with material indebtedness, including the Third A&R Credit Agreement).

The foregoing description of the Term Loan Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Term Loan Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report relative to the Class B Convertible Units issued to TexStar and the Contribution, and in Item 5.03 of this Current Report relative to the description of the Class B Convertible Units, is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference.

Immediately after its receipt of the Class B Convertible Units, TexStar assigned all of its units to Southcross Borrower. As a result, Southcross Borrower owns, as of the date of filing of this Current Report, 14,633,000 Class B Convertible Units, 2,116,400 common units and 12,213,713 subordinated units of the


Partnership, representing an aggregate 57.2% limited partner interest in the Partnership. Southcross Borrower also owns 100% of the General Partner, which owns an approximate 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and the Partnership’s incentive distribution rights.

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

The information set forth in Item 2.01 relative to the Combination Transactions is incorporated into this Item 5.01 by reference.

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

Director Resignations/Appointments

The information set forth in Item 2.01 relative to Board resignations and appointments in connection with the Combination Transactions is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

2014 Equity Incentive Plan

On August 4, 2014, the General Partner and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC, a newly formed entity of which Southross Holdings is the sole managing member (“GP Management”), adopted the Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Incentive Plan”). Under the 2014 Incentive Plan, employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner and GP Management will be eligible to receive incentive compensation awards.

The 2014 Incentive Plan generally provides for the grant of awards, from time to time at the discretion of the Board (and, as applicable, the board of directors of the general partner of Southcross Holdings), of non-voting units in the General Partner to GP Management and then a corresponding grant or award of non-voting units of GP Management to the employee, consultant or director.

The foregoing description of the 2014 Incentive Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2014 Incentive Plan, which (along with the form of unit award agreement) are attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

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

Amendment of Partnership Agreement to Establish Class B Convertible Units

On August 4, 2014, in connection with the closing of Contribution, the Partnership amended and restated its agreement of limited partnership and entered into its Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended and restated, the “Third A&R Partnership Agreement”). The Third A&R Partnership Agreement establishes the Class B Convertible Units, consisting of 14,633,000 of such units plus any additional Class B Convertible Units issued in kind as a distribution (“Class B PIK Units”). The Class B Convertible Units have the same rights, preferences and privileges, and are subject to the same duties and obligations, as the Partnership’s common units, with certain exceptions as noted below.

Other than the Class B PIK Units and the 14,633,000 Class B Convertible Units issued in connection with the Contribution, there will be no additional Class B Convertible Units issued without the prior approval of the General Partner and the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B Convertible Units.

The Partnership must procure the listing of the common units issuable upon conversion of the Class B Convertible Units on the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable national securities exchange.


Distributions

Commencing with the quarter ending September 30, 2014 and until converted, as long as certain requirements are met, the holders of the Class B Convertible Units will receive quarterly distributions in an amount equal to $0.3257 per unit. These distributions will be paid quarterly in Class B PIK Units within 45 days after the end of each quarter. The General Partner was entitled, and has exercised its right, to retain its 2% general partner interest in the Partnership in connection with the original issuance of Class B Convertible Units. In connection with future distributions of Class B PIK Units, the General Partner is entitled to a corresponding distribution to maintain its 2% general partner interest in the Partnership.

Conversion

The Class B Convertible Units are convertible into common units on a one-for-one basis and, once converted, will participate in cash distributions pari passu with all other common units. The conversion of Class B Convertible Units will occur on the date the Partnership (a) makes a quarterly distribution equal to or greater than $0.44 per common unit, (b) generates Class B Distributable Cash Flow (as defined in the Third A&R Partnership Agreement) in an amount sufficient to pay, and actually pays, the declared distribution on all units for the two quarters immediately preceding the date of conversion (the “measurement period”) and (c) forecasts paying a distribution equal to or greater than $0.44 per unit from forecasted Class B Distributable Cash Flow on all outstanding common units for the two quarters immediately following the measurement period.

Voting

The Class B Convertible Units generally have the same voting rights as common units, and will have one vote for each common unit into which such units are convertible.

The foregoing description of the Third A&R Partnership Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third A&R Partnership Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment of the General Partner’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement

On August 4, 2014, the General Partner amended and restated its limited liability company agreement and entered into its Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (as amended and restated, the “A&R LLC Agreement”). The A&R LLC Agreement establishes a new class of non-voting units for issuance pursuant to the 2014 Incentive Plan and designates Southcross Holdings as the General Partner’s managing member.

The foregoing description of the A&R LLC Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the A&R LLC Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 5, 2014, the Partnership issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Contribution and the Combination Transactions and a press release announcing new directors of the General Partner. Copies of the press releases are attached as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively.

The information in the press release attached to this report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall either be deemed incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other filing under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, unless the Partnership expressly states that such information is to be considered “filed” under the Exchange Act or incorporates such information by specific reference in a Securities Act or Exchange Act filing.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired. The financial statements required by Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment within 71 calendar days after the date that this Current Report must be filed.

(b) Pro Forma financial information. The pro forma financial statements required by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment within 71 calendar days after the date that this Current Report must be filed.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

3.1    Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., dated as of August 4, 2014.
3.2    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, dated as of August 4, 2014.
10.1    Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
10.2    Term Loan Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, and the lenders party thereto.
10.3    Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and Form of Unit Award Agreement.
99.1    Press Release of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. dated August 5, 2014.
99.2    Press Release of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. dated August 5, 2014.


SIGNATURES

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

 

  Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.
  By:   Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC,
its general partner
Dated: August 5, 2014   By:   /s/ J. Michael Anderson
    Name: J. Michael Anderson
    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

3.1    Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., dated as of August 4, 2014.
3.2    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, dated as of August 4, 2014.
10.1    Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and the lenders party thereto.
10.2    Term Loan Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, and the lenders party thereto.
10.3    Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and Form of Unit Award Agreement.
99.1    Press Release of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. dated August 5, 2014.
99.2    Press Release of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. dated August 5, 2014.

Exhibit 3.1

Execution Copy

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

A Delaware Limited Partnership

Dated as of

August 4, 2014

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

Article I. Definitions

     2   

Section 1.1

  

Definitions

     2   

Section 1.2

  

Construction

     31   

Article II. ORGANIZATION

     32   

Section 2.1

  

Formation

     32   

Section 2.2

  

Name

     32   

Section 2.3

  

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

     32   

Section 2.4

  

Purpose and Business

     32   

Section 2.5

  

Powers

     33   

Section 2.6

  

Term

     33   

Section 2.7

  

Title to Partnership Assets

     33   

Article III. RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

     34   

Section 3.1

  

Limitation of Liability

     34   

Section 3.2

  

Management of Business

     34   

Section 3.3

  

Rights of Limited Partners

     34   

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

     35   

Section 4.1

  

Certificates

     35   

Section 4.2

  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

     36   

Section 4.3

  

Record Holders

     37   

Section 4.4

  

Transfer Generally

     37   

Section 4.5

  

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

     38   

Section 4.6

  

Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest

     39   

Section 4.7

  

Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights

     39   

Section 4.8

  

Restrictions on Transfers

     40   

Section 4.9

  

Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders

     41   

Section 4.10

  

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders

     42   

Article V. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

     43   

Section 5.1

  

Organizational Contributions

     43   

Section 5.2

  

Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates

     44   

Section 5.3

  

Contributions by Limited Partners unaffiliated with the General Partner

     45   

Section 5.4

  

Interest and Withdrawal

     45   

Section 5.5

  

Capital Accounts

     45   


Section 5.6

  

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

     50   

Section 5.7

  

Conversion of Subordinated Units

     51   

Section 5.8

  

Limited Preemptive Right

     51   

Section 5.9

  

Splits and Combinations

     51   

Section 5.10

  

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

     52   

Section 5.11

  

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

     52   

Section 5.12

  

Establishment of Series A Preferred Units

     55   

Section 5.13

  

Establishment of Class B Convertible Units

     68   

Article VI. ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     73   

Section 6.1

  

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

     73   

Section 6.2

  

Allocations for Tax Purposes

     83   

Section 6.3

  

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

     85   

Section 6.4

  

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

     86   

Section 6.5

  

Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus

     88   

Section 6.6

  

Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

     88   

Section 6.7

  

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units

     88   

Section 6.8

  

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights

     89   

Section 6.9

  

Entity-Level Taxation

     90   

Section 6.10

  

Special Provisions Relating to Series A Preferred Unitholders and Class B Convertible Unitholders

     90   

Article VII. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

     91   

Section 7.1

  

Management

     91   

Section 7.2

  

Certificate of Limited Partnership

     93   

Section 7.3

  

Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group

     94   

Section 7.4

  

Reimbursement of the General Partner

     94   

Section 7.5

  

Outside Activities

     95   

Section 7.6

  

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

     96   

Section 7.7

  

Indemnification

     97   

Section 7.8

  

Liability of Indemnitees

     99   

Section 7.9

  

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

     99   

Section 7.10

  

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

     102   

Section 7.11

  

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

     102   

Section 7.12

  

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates

     102   

Section 7.13

  

Reliance by Third Parties

     107   

 

ii


Article VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

     107   

Section 8.1

  

Records and Accounting

     107   

Section 8.2

  

Fiscal Year

     107   

Section 8.3

  

Reports

     108   

Article IX. TAX MATTERS

     108   

Section 9.1

  

Tax Returns and Information

     108   

Section 9.2

  

Tax Elections

     108   

Section 9.3

  

Tax Controversies

     109   

Section 9.4

  

Withholding

     109   

Article X. ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

     109   

Section 10.1

  

Admission of Limited Partners

     109   

Section 10.2

  

Admission of Successor General Partner

     110   

Section 10.3

  

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

     111   

Article XI. WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

     111   

Section 11.1

  

Withdrawal of the General Partner

     111   

Section 11.2

  

Removal of the General Partner

     112   

Section 11.3

  

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

     113   

Section 11.4

   Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages      114   

Section 11.5

  

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

     115   

Article XII. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     115   

Section 12.1

  

Dissolution

     115   

Section 12.2

  

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

     115   

Section 12.3

  

Liquidator

     116   

Section 12.4

  

Liquidation

     117   

Section 12.5

  

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

     117   

Section 12.6

  

Return of Contributions

     117   

Section 12.7

  

Waiver of Partition

     118   

Section 12.8

  

Capital Account Restoration

     118   

Section 12.9

  

Series A Liquidation Value

     118   

Article XIII. AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

     118   

Section 13.1

  

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

     118   

 

iii


Section 13.2

  

Amendment Procedures

     119   

Section 13.3

  

Amendment Requirements

     120   

Section 13.4

  

Special Meetings

     121   

Section 13.5

  

Notice of a Meeting

     121   

Section 13.6

  

Record Date

     121   

Section 13.7

  

Postponement and Adjournment

     122   

Section 13.8

  

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting

     122   

Section 13.9

  

Quorum and Voting

     122   

Section 13.10

  

Conduct of a Meeting

     123   

Section 13.11

  

Action Without a Meeting

     123   

Section 13.12

  

Right to Vote and Related Matters

     123   

Section 13.13

  

Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights

     124   

Article XIV. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

     124   

Section 14.1

  

Authority

     124   

Section 14.2

  

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

     124   

Section 14.3

  

Approval by Limited Partners

     126   

Section 14.4

  

Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion

     128   

Section 14.5

  

Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

     128   

Article XV. RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

     129   

Section 15.1

  

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

     129   

Article XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     130   

Section 16.1

  

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications

     130   

Section 16.2

  

Further Action

     131   

Section 16.3

  

Binding Effect

     131   

Section 16.4

  

Integration

     131   

Section 16.5

  

Creditors

     131   

Section 16.6

  

Waiver

     131   

Section 16.7

  

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     132   

Section 16.8

  

Counterparts

     132   

Section 16.9

  

Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury

     132   

Section 16.10

  

Invalidity of Provisions

     133   

Section 16.11

  

Consent of Partners

     133   

Section 16.12

  

Facsimile and Email Signatures

     133   

 

iv


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. dated as of August 4, 2014, is entered into by and between Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and the other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of November 7, 2012 (the “First A/R Partnership Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of April 12, 2013 (the “Second A/R Partnership Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Section 5.6(a) of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the Partnership may, for any Partnership purpose, at any time and from time to time, issue additional Partnership Interests 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;

WHEREAS, Section 13.1(g) of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement to reflect an amendment that the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Partnership entered into that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2014 (the “TexStar Contribution Agreement”), along with the General Partner and TexStar Midstream Services, LP, a Texas limited partnership (“TexStar”), pursuant to which TexStar will contribute certain assets to the Partnership in exchange for the consideration described therein, which includes $180 million in cash and 14,633,000 units of a new class of Partnership Interests to be designated as “Class B Convertible Units” with the rights, preferences and privileges and such other terms as are set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the General Partner has determined that the creation and issuance of the Class B Convertible Units (as defined below) are in the best interests of the Partnership and beneficial to the Limited Partners, including the holders of the Common Units;

WHEREAS, the creation and issuance of the Class B Convertible Units complies with the requirements of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the General Partner has determined, pursuant to Section 13.1(g) of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement, that the amendments to the Second A/R Partnership Agreement set forth herein are necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization and issuance of the Class B Convertible Units.


NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the Second A/R Partnership Agreement to provide in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

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

Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing, over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.

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; and

 

(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.

 

2


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 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 EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Quarter, net income, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of the Partnership plus (i) (A) interest expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation and amortization expense, (D) certain non-cash charges such as non-cash equity compensation and unrealized gains/losses on derivative contracts, (E) major litigation net of recoveries, (F) transaction expense, (G) revenue deferral adjustment and (H) selected charges that are unusual or non-recurring less (ii) (A) interest income, (B) income tax benefit, (C) unrealized gains on commodity derivative contracts and (D) selected gains that are unusual or non-recurring.

Adjusted Operating Surplus ” means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period less (b) (i) the amount of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and plus (c) (i) the amount of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period, (ii) the amount of any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above and (iii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries

 

3


that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of “Operating Surplus.”

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 ” has the meaning given such term 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 in the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

Agreed Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution 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. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

Agreement ” means this Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

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

 

4


(a) the sum of:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

5


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).

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

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

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Delaware 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 (a) 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) or (b) current distributions that a Partner is entitled to receive but otherwise waives.

Capital Improvement ” means (a) the construction of new capital assets by a Group Member, (b) the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets by a Group Member or (c) a 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, directly or indirectly, an equity interest, to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the construction of new, or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if and to the extent such construction, replacement, improvement or expansion is made to increase, over the long-term, the 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 the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such construction, replacement, improvement, expansion or capital contribution. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.

 

6


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 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 federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination; provided that the Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.5(d)(i) 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 to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

Certificate ” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the First A/R Partnership Agreement (if such certificate was issued on or after November 7, 2012 but prior to April 12, 2013), substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Second A/R Partnership Agreement (if such certificate was issued on or after April 12, 2013 but prior to the date hereof) or substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement (if such certificate is issued on or after the date hereof), (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of The Depository Trust Company and its permitted successors and assigns or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, in each case issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more classes or series of Partnership Interests.

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 Eligible Holder ” means a Limited Partner whose nationality, citizenship or other related status the General Partner determines, upon receipt of an Eligibility Certificate or other requested information, does not or would not create under any federal, state or local law or regulation to which a Group Member is subject, a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property, including any governmental permit, endorsement or other authorization, in which a Group Member has an interest.

claim ” (as used in Section 7.12(g)) has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(g).

Class B Conversion Date ” means the date on which the Partnership shall (i) make a distribution with respect to any Quarter to holders of Common Units in an amount equal to or

 

7


greater than $0.44 per Common Unit, (ii) the Partnership shall have generated Class B Distributable Cash Flow in an amount sufficient to pay, and actually paid, the declared distribution on all Outstanding Units for the previous two-Quarter period immediately preceding the date of conversion (the “measurement period”) and (iii) forecast paying a distribution equal to or greater than $0.44 per Outstanding Unit from forecasted Class B Distributable Cash Flow on all Outstanding Units for the two-Quarter period immediately following the measurement period.

Class B Conversion Notice ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(b)(vii)(B).

Class B Conversion Notice Date ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(b)(vii)(B).

Class B Conversion Rate ” means the number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of each Class B Convertible Unit, which shall initially be 1.0.

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

Class B Convertible Unitholder ” means a Record Holder of Class B Convertible Units.

Class B Distributable Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any Quarter, Adjusted EBITDA plus (i) interest income, less (ii) (A) cash paid for interest (net of capitalized costs), (B) income tax expense and (C) Maintenance Capital Expenditures.

Class B Distribution Amount ” means, with respect to each Quarter, the product of the Class B Distribution Rate and the number of outstanding Class B Convertible Units.

Class B Distribution Payment Date ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A).

Class B Distribution Rate ” means an amount per Quarter per Class B Convertible Unit payable in arrears equal to $0.3257. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class B Distribution Rate shall be equal to $0.3257 for the Quarter in which the Class B Issuance Date occurs and shall not be pro-rated based on the number of days in such Quarter during which the Class B Convertible Units were Outstanding.

Class B Issuance Date ” means August 4, 2014.

Class B Issue Price ” means $18.61 per Class B Convertible Unit.

Class B PIK Distribution Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A).

 

8


Class B PIK Units ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(a).

Class B Quarterly Distribution ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A).

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

Closing Price ” for any day, means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interest, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such 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 average of the high bid and low ask prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

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

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

Commences Commercial Service ” means the date upon which a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service by a Group Member following completion of construction, acquisition, replacement, improvement or expansion and testing, as applicable.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof. The term “Common Unit” does not refer to a Series A Preferred Unit or a Class B Convertible Unit prior to the conversion of such Series A Preferred Unit or Class B Convertible Unit, as the case may be, into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.

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

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed of one or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the

 

9


General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his capacity as a director under any long-term incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if no such National Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange).

Construction Debt ” means debt incurred to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on other Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on Construction Equity.

Construction Equity ” means equity issued to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on other Construction Equity. Construction Equity does not include equity issued in the Initial Public Offering.

Construction Period ” means the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that the Group Member abandons or disposes of such Capital Improvement.

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property or other asset 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 November 7, 2012, among the Partnership, the General Partner, Holdings and the Operating Company, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Conversion Unit ” means the Common Unit(s) issued upon conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.12 or a Class B Convertible Unit pursuant to Section 5.13.

Convertible Securities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(D).

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

 

10


Coupon Conversion Quarter ” means the Quarter beginning on or after July 1, 2014 in respect of which the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, to begin paying Series A Quarterly Distributions in cash rather than through the issuance of Series A PIK Preferred Units; provided, however , that the Board of Directors of the General Partner shall not elect to begin paying Series A Quarterly Distributions in cash until the Partnership has exercised the Target Leverage Option (as defined in and pursuant to the Limited Waiver and Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective as of April 12, 2013, among the Partnership, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto) or the restrictions in such credit agreement relating to the Target Leverage Option are no longer applicable.

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

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

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

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

Derivative Partnership Interests ” means any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking, profit and phantom interests and other derivative securities relating to, convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests.

Disposed of Adjusted Property ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).

Distributable Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any Quarter, net income, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of the Partnership plus: (i) depreciation, amortization and impairment expense; (ii) provision for deferred income taxes; (iii) the subtraction of Maintenance Capital Expenditures; and (iv) the addition of losses or subtraction of gains relating to other miscellaneous non-cash amounts affecting net income for the period, such as equity-based compensation and mark-to-market changes in derivative instruments.

 

11


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

Eligibility Certificate ” means a certificate the General Partner may request a Limited Partner to execute as to such Limited Partner’s (or such Limited Partner’s beneficial owners’) federal income tax status or nationality, citizenship or other related status for the purpose of determining whether such Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder.

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

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

Excess Additional Book Basis ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.”

Excess Distribution ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).

Excess Distribution Unit ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).

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

Expansion Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees paid during the Construction Period on Construction Debt. Where cash 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.

FERC ” means the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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

First A/R Partnership Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.

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

First Target Distribution ” means $0.46 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.46 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis ” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes (a) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units during such period plus (b) all Partnership Interests and Derivative

 

12


Partnership Interests (i) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, in each case that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (ii) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price, if any, is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (iii) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (iv) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (x) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (y) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.

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

General Partner Interest ” means the interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all 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.

General Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit shall not constitute a “Unit” for any purpose under 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 two or more Persons that with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over 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.

 

13


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, in each case 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 a Group Member to fluctuations in interest rates, the price of hydrocarbons, basis differentials or currency exchange rates in their operations or financing activities and not for speculative purposes.

Holder ” means any of the following:

 

(a) the General Partner who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities;

 

(b) any Affiliate of the General Partner who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities (other than natural persons who are Affiliates of the General Partner by virtue of being officers, directors or employees of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates);

 

(c) any Person that has been the General Partner within the prior two years and who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities;

 

(d) any Person that has been an Affiliate of the General Partner within the prior two years and who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities (other than natural persons who were Affiliates of the General Partner by virtue of being officers, directors or employees of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates); and

 

(e) a transferee and current Record Holder of Registrable Securities to whom the transferor of such Registrable Securities, who was a Holder at the time of such transfer, assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided such transferee agrees in writing to comply with all applicable requirements and obligations in connection with the registration and disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 7.12.

Holdings ” means Southcross Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

IDR Reset Common Units ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(a).

IDR Reset Election ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(a).

Incentive Distribution Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the

 

14


rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest).

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

Incremental Income Taxes ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.9.

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(g).

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of (i) any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or (ii) any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary 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, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s status, service or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.

Ineligible Holder ” means a Limited Partner who is not a Citizenship Eligible Holder or a Rate Eligible Holder.

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

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

Initial Public Offering ” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public (including the offer and sale of Common Units pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option), as described in the IPO Registration Statement.

Initial Unit Price ” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Common Units were first offered to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the IPO Prospectus 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.

 

15


Interim Capital Transactions ” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) issuances of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the IPO Underwriters in the Initial Public 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, (d) capital contributions received by a Group Member and (e) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.

IPO Prospectus ” means the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering dated November 1, 2012 and filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act on November 2, 2012.

IPO Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-180841) 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 Public Offering.

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

Junior Interests ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units, including but not limited to Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.

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; provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law.

Limited Partner Interest ” means an interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Series A Preferred Units, Class B Convertible Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), 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 pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement;

 

16


provided , however , that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.

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 the General Partner or 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.

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to, or the replacement of, capital assets or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new capital assets) made to maintain long-term operating income or operating capacity of the Partnership Group. For purposes of this definition, “long term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include expenditures for routine equipment and pipeline maintenance or replacement due to obsolescence.

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

Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.40 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.40 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

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

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property or other consideration reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property or other consideration 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 Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case as determined and required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net

 

17


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(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made 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(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).

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(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (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(b); 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) or under the second and third sentences of Section 5.12(b)(iv).

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(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (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(b); 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) or under the second and third sentences of Section 5.12(b)(iv).

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.

 

18


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 ” means a written request from a Holder pursuant to Section 7.12 which shall (i) specify the Registrable Securities intended to be registered, offered and sold by such Holder, (ii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Registrable Securities, and (iii) contain the undertaking of such Holder to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required or appropriate in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements and obligations in connection with the registration and disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 7.12.

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

Operating Company ” means Southcross Energy Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

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, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of expenses to the General Partner, Maintenance Capital Expenditures, interest payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under Hedge Contracts (provided that (i) with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Hedge Contract, such amounts will be amortized over the life of the applicable Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date will be included in Operating Expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract), director, officer and employee compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings and non-pro rata repurchases of Units, subject to the following:

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include: (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) distributions to Partners, (iv) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests by the Partnership to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans or reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner for purchases of Partnership Interests by the General Partner to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans, or (v) any other expenditures or payments using the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the IPO Registration Statement.

 

19


Where capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation of such capital expenditures between Maintenance Capital Expenditures and capital expenditures made for other purposes.

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) $35.0 million;

 

  (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and the termination of Hedge Contracts (provided that cash receipts from the termination of a Hedge Contract prior to its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract); and

 

  (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 during the Construction Period (including incremental Incentive Distributions on Construction Equity), 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 (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; and

 

  (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred, or repaid within such 12-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings;

provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with

 

20


respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.

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

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to, or the general counsel or other inside counsel of, the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner or to such other person selecting such counsel or obtaining such opinion.

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

Organizational Limited Partner ” means Holdings 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 or series, all Partnership Interests owned by or for the benefit of such Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class or series 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 or series then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that, upon or prior to such acquisition, 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 with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors of the General Partners has approved the issuance of the Series A Preferred Units to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in accordance with clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, and any Series A PIK Preferred Units and Conversion Units issued to the Purchaser shall be deemed to be approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, and the foregoing limitations of the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to the Purchaser with respect to its ownership (beneficially or of record) of the Series A Preferred Units, Series A PIK Preferred Units and Conversion Units. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors of the General Partner has approved the issuance of the Class B Convertible Units to TexStar

 

21


pursuant to the TexStar Contribution Agreement in accordance with clause (iii) of the first sentence of the term “Outstanding”, and any Class B Convertible Units and Class B PIK Units issued to TexStar shall be deemed to be approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with clause (iii) of the first sentence of the term “Outstanding”, and the foregoing limitations shall not apply to TexStar with respect to its ownership (beneficially or of record) of the Class B Convertible Units and Class B PIK Units.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the over-allotment option granted to the IPO 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 Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

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

Partnership Interest ” means any equity interest, including any class or series of any equity interest, in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests and the General Partner Interest but shall exclude any Derivative Partnership Interests.

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).

Partnership Register ” means a register maintained on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner, or, if the General Partner so determines, by the Transfer Agent as part of the Transfer Agent’s books and transfer records, with respect to each class of Partnership Interests in which all Record Holders and transfers of such class of Partnership Interests are registered or otherwise recorded.

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

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, as the case may be, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of General Partner

 

22


Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder (or, in the case of Series A Preferred Units or Class B Convertible Units, the number of Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of such Series A Preferred Units or such Class B Convertible Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee if such Series A Preferred Units or Class B Convertible Units were then converted in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(viii) or Section 5.13(b)(vii), respectively), as the case may be, by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units and General Partner 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.

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

Pro Rata ” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned 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 or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder, and (d) when used with respect to Holders who have requested to include Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or 7.12(b), apportioned among all such Holders in accordance with the relative number of Registrable Securities held by each such holder and included in the Notice relating to such request.

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.

Purchase Agreement ” means that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2014, between the Partnership and Holdings.

Purchaser ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.

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

Rate Eligible Holder ” means a Limited Partner subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership. A Limited Partner that is an entity not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership shall be deemed a Rate Eligible Holder so long as all of the entity’s beneficial owners are subject to such taxation.

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

 

23


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 receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting), (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer or (c) the identity of the Record Holders of Series A Preferred Units entitled to convert such Units.

Record Holder ” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the Partnership’s close 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 Partnership’s close of business on a particular Business Day.

Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.

Registrable Security ” means any Partnership Interests other than the General Partner Interest and General Partner Units; provided that any Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security (a) at the time a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security is declared effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective under the Securities Act, and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (b) at the time such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act); (c) when such Registrable Security is held by a Group Member; and (d) at the time such Registrable Security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 7.12 of this Agreement have not been assigned to the transferee of such securities.

Registration Statement ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(a).

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

 

24


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 MQD ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(e).

Reset Notice ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(b).

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

Second A/R Partnership Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.

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

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.50 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.50 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.

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

Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the procedures in Section 7.12.

Series A Adjusted Issue Price ” means (i) the Series A Issue Price divided by (ii) the Series A Conversion Rate.

Series A Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

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

(b) (i) the adoption of a plan for the liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership or (ii) the removal of the General Partner by the Limited Partners of the Partnership;

(c) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or business combination), the result of which is that any Person (excluding the Series A Preferred Unit Partner), other than the owners of the General Partner immediately

 

25


following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity of the General Partner or of the Outstanding Common Units of the Partnership, in each case measured by voting power rather than number of units;

(d) notwithstanding anything provided in clauses (a) through (c) above, (i) any direct or indirect sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, merger, consolidation or business combination that would result in the owners of the General Partner immediately following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement owning, directly or indirectly, less than fifty percent (50%) of the equity of the General Partner, or (ii) any assignment or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the General Partner; or

(e) consummation of a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to the Partnership.

Series A Change of Control Offer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E)(i).

Series A Conversion Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(C).

Series A Conversion Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B).

Series A Conversion Notice Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B).

Series A Conversion Rate ” means the number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of each Series A Preferred Unit, which shall be 1.0 until such rate is adjusted as set forth in Sections 5.12(b)(viii)(D) and 5.12(b)(viii)(E).

Series A Forced Conversion Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B).

Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B).

Series A Distribution Payment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A).

Series A Distribution Rate ” means an amount per Quarter per Series A Preferred Unit payable in arrears equal to the greater of (i) $0.40 and (ii) the amount of distributions in cash for such Quarter that would have been payable with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit if such Series A Preferred Unit had converted at the beginning of the Quarter in respect of which such distributions are being paid into the number of Common Unit(s) into which such Series A Preferred Unit is convertible pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii) as of the date of such determination.

 

26


Series A Issuance Date ” means April 12, 2013 or such later date on which Series A Preferred Units are issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Series A Issue Price ” means $22.8571 per Series A Preferred Unit.

Series A Liquidation Value ” means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit Outstanding as of the date of such determination, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Series A Issue Price, plus (ii) all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions plus, (iii) all accrued but unpaid distributions on such Series A Preferred Unit (including distributions payable in Series A PIK Preferred Units) with respect to the Quarter in which the liquidation occurs.

Series A Parity Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks pari passu with the Series A Preferred Units.

Series A PIK Payment Amount ” means (i) for the Quarter in which the Series A Issuance Date occurs with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit, a number of Series A PIK Preferred Units equal to 0.0175 times a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days from and including the Series A Issuance Date with respect to such Series A Preferred Units to but excluding the date of such Quarter’s end and the denominator is 91, (ii) for each of the four Quarters beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2013, 0.0175 Series A PIK Preferred Units and (iii) for any Quarter beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2014, the greater of the number of Series A PIK Preferred Units set forth in clause (ii) above and the number of Series A PIK Preferred Units equal to (a) the amount of distributions in cash for such Quarter that would have been payable with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit if such Series A Preferred Unit had converted at the beginning of the Quarter in respect of which such distributions are being paid into the number of Common Unit(s) into which such Series A Preferred Unit is convertible pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii) as of the date of such determination, divided by the Series A Issue Price; plus, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, cash in lieu of any fractional Series A PIK Preferred Units that would be issuable pursuant to this definition.

Series A PIK Preferred Payment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B).

Series A PIK Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).

Series A Preferred Units ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).

Series A Preferred Unit Partner ” means, collectively, Purchaser in its capacity as the holder of Units and any Affiliate of Purchaser that holds any Series A Preferred Units or Common Units issued upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units, including, but not limited to, any such Affiliate that (i) acquired Units by transfer from Purchaser or (ii) holds Common Units converted from Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Agreement.

Series A Quarterly Distribution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A).

 

27


Series A Senior Securities ” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units.

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

Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C).

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, Series A Preferred Units, Class B Convertible Units or Subordinated 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 bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.

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

Subordinated Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

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

 

(a)

the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending December 31, 2015 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case in respect of such periods and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such

 

28


  date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

 

(b) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending December 31, 2013 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case with respect to the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case in respect of such period, and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such period on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, plus the corresponding Incentive Distributions and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.

 

(c) the date on which the General Partner is removed in a manner described in Section 11.4.

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

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

Target Distributions ” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.

TexStar ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.

 

29


TexStar Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.60 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.60 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the referenced Partnership Interests of any class or series are listed or admitted for trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Partnership Interests are not listed or admitted for trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City are not legally required to be closed.

Transaction Documents ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.1(b).

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

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as may be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules of the National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed (if any); provided that, if no such Person is appointed as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act as registrar and transfer agent for such class of Partnership Interests.

Treasury Regulation ” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of November 1, 2012 among the IPO Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company providing for the purchase of Common Units by the IPO Underwriters.

Underwritten Offering ” means (a) an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement in which Partnership Interests are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public (other than the Initial Public Offering), (b) an offering of Partnership Interests pursuant to a Registration Statement that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks, and (c) an “at-the-market” offering pursuant to a Registration Statement in which Partnership Interests are sold to the public through one or more investment banks or managers on a best efforts basis.

Unit ” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Class B Convertible Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.

Unit Majority ” means, except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v) or Section 5.13(b)(v), (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units

 

30


(excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a class, and (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

Unitholders ” means the Record Holders of Units.

Unpaid MQD ” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).

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

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

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

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 from time to time.

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

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

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

Section 1.2 Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words

 

31


“without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “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. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and all other Persons for all purposes.

ARTICLE II.

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation . The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

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

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, 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 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201, 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 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201, 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

 

32


dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (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 federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.

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

Section 2.7 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 of the General Partner or its Affiliates, 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 of the General Partner or its Affiliates shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership or one or more of the Partnership’s designated Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership

 

33


and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to any successor 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. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall 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) nor shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Rights of Limited Partners .

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

(i) to obtain from the General Partner either (A) the Partnership’s most recent filings with the Commission on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and 8-K or (B) if the Partnership is no longer subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (provided that the foregoing materials shall be deemed to be available to a Limited Partner in satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 3.3(a)(i) if posted on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website);

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

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

(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto.

 

34


(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to information granted to the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.3(a) replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act and each of the Partners and each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in the Partnership hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Partners or interest holders to receive any information either pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.3(a).

(c) 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 in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3).

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

ARTICLE IV.

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP

INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates . Record Holders of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Partnership Register and ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Partnership Register. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, 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 physical certificates; certificates; provided, however, with respect to the issuance of any Series A Preferred Units, the Partnership shall issue such Certificates in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(vii); provided, further, with respect to the issuance of any Certificates evidencing Class B Convertible Units, the Partnership shall issue such Certificates in accordance with Section 5.13(b)(vi). Certificates, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Senior Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or other authorized officer of the General Partner, and shall bear the legend set forth in Section 4.8(e). The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may, to the extent permitted by law, be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of

 

35


its issuance. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that, if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c), if Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or after the date on which Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7, the Record Holders of such Subordinated Units (i) if the Subordinated Units are evidenced by Certificates, may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing the Common Units into which such Record Holder’s Subordinated Units converted, or (ii) if the Subordinated Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued Certificates evidencing the Common Units into which such Record Holders’ Subordinated Units converted. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

36


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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, 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 names and addresses of Unitholders as they appear in the Partnership Register, as applicable, shall be the official list of Record Holders of the Partnership Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner 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 or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(b) and have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein, including Section 10.1(c).

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally .

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) 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 all or any part of such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner as a result thereof, 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

 

37


transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall have no obligation to effect any such transfer or purported transfer.

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

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

(a) The General Partner shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, by the Transfer Agent in whole or in part, the Partnership Register on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until endorsed 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 of this Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, 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. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register.

(c) Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the Record Holder of uncertificated Partnership Interests, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register.

(d) Except as provided in Section 4.9, by acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Article IV, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, or agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group) (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 Partnership Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be 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.

 

38


(e) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

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

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

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2022 the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2022 the General Partner may transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without the approval of any Person.

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

Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights . The General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without the approval of any Person.

 

39


Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(d), notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed). The Partnership may issue stop transfer instructions to any Transfer Agent in order to implement any restriction on transfer contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) 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 or series 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) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit or a Common Unit issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).

(d) Except for Section 4.9, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

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

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) 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 SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR

 

40


FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. 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.

(f) Any Transfer of a Conversion Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.10.

(g) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, TexStar shall not Transfer (other than to its Affiliates) any Class B Convertible Units during the sixty (60) day period following the Class B Issuance Date.

Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders .

(a) The General Partner may upon demand or on a regular basis require Limited Partners, and transferees of Limited Partner Interests in connection with a transfer, to execute an Eligibility Certificate or provide other information as is necessary for the General Partner to determine if any such Limited Partners or transferees are Ineligible Holders.

(b) If any Limited Partner (or its beneficial owners) fails to furnish to the General Partner within 30 days of its request an Eligibility Certificate and other information related thereto, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 or the General Partner may refuse to effect the transfer of the Limited Partner Interests to such transferee. In addition, the General Partner shall be substituted for any Limited Partner that is an Ineligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

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

 

41


(d) 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 Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of its Limited Partner Interest (representing the right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).

(e) At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that it no longer is an Ineligible Holder, it may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such Ineligible Holder upon approval of the General Partner, shall no longer constitute an Ineligible Holder and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of such Limited Partner Interests.

(f) If at any time a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any other information requested by the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.9 within 30 days of such request, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that such transferee is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the transferee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder, prohibit and void the transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Transfer Agent.

Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders .

(a) If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any other information requested within the period of time specified in Section 4.9, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is not an Ineligible Holder or has transferred his Limited Partner Interests to a Person who is not an Ineligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows:

(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at such Limited Partner’s last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon 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 such Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

 

42


(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

(iii) The Limited Partner or such Limited Partner’s duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for the Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Transferee 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 Limited Partner Interests.

(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee, agent or representative of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request and, in any event, before the redemption date, 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 Organizational Contributions . In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20.00 for a 2% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a 98% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, a portion of the limited partner interests of the Organizational Limited Partner issued in connection with the Partnership’s formation shall be partially redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement and the Organizational Limited

 

43


Partner shall continue as a Limited Partner of the Partnership and the initial Capital Contributions of the Organizational Limited Partner shall be refunded, and all interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner. The Organizational Limited Partner hereby continues as a limited partner of the Partnership with respect to the portion of its interest that is not partially redeemed.

Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the General Partner contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, a 2.0% interest in the Operating Company, in exchange for (i) 498,518 General Partner Units representing a continuation of its 2% General Partner Interest (after giving effect to any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option), subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and (ii) the Incentive Distribution Rights. On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Organizational Limited Partner contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, a 98.0% interest in the Operating Company, in exchange for (i) 3,213,713 Common Units, representing a 12.9% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership, (ii) 12,213,713 Subordinated Units, representing a 49.0% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership, (iii) the Partnership’s assumption of $265.0 million of the Organizational Limited Partner’s existing debt, (iv) the right to receive $7.5 million sourced from new debt incurred by the Partnership and (v) the right to receive $38.5 million in cash, a portion of which will be used to reimburse the Organizational Limited Partner for certain capital expenditures incurred with respect to the assets it contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.707-4(d).

(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than (i) the Common Units issued in the Initial Public Offering, (ii) the Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a), (iii) any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and (iv) any Common Units issued upon the conversion of any Partnership Interests), the General Partner may, in order to maintain the Percentage Interest with respect to its General Partner Interest, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interests immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership by (y) 100% less the Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership times (B) the gross amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners (before deduction of underwriters’ discounts and commissions) in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Any Capital Contribution pursuant to this Section 5.2(b) shall be evidenced by the issuance to the General Partner of a proportionate number of additional General Partner Units.

 

44


Section 5.3 Contributions by Limited Partners unaffiliated with the General Partner .

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

(b) Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each IPO Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership on the Option Closing Date in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each IPO Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. Upon receipt by the Partnership of the Capital Contributions from the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(b), the Partnership shall use such cash to redeem from the Organizational Limited Partner that number of Common Units held by the Organizational Limited Partner equal to the number of Common Units issued to the Underwriters as provided in this Section 5.3(b).

(c) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other than (i) the Common Units and Subordinated Units issued to Holdings, pursuant to subparagraph (a) of Section 5.2, (ii) the Common Units issued to the IPO Underwriters as described in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3 and (iii) the Incentive Distribution Rights issued to the General Partner.

(d) No Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal .

No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner 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, agent or representative in any case in which such nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The initial Capital Account balance attributable to the General Partner Units issued to the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.2(a) shall equal the Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contribution specified in Section 5.2(a), which shall be deemed to equal the product of the number of General Partner Units issued to the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.2(a) and the Initial Unit Price for each Common Unit (and the initial Capital Account balance attributable to

 

45


each General Partner Unit shall equal the Initial Unit Price for each Common Unit). The initial Capital Account balance attributable to the Common Units and Subordinated Units issued to Holdings pursuant to Section 5.2(a) shall equal the respective Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contributions specified in Section 5.2(a), which shall be deemed to equal the product of the number of Common Units and Subordinated Units issued to Holdings pursuant to Section 5.2(a) and the Initial Unit Price for each such Common Unit and Subordinated Unit (and the initial Capital Account balance attributable to each such Common Unit and Subordinated Unit shall equal its Initial Unit Price). The initial Capital Account balance attributable to the Common Units issued to the IPO Underwriters pursuant to Section 5.3(a) shall equal the product of the number of Common Units so issued to the IPO Underwriters and the Initial Unit Price for each Common Unit (and the initial Capital Account balance attributable to each such Common Unit shall equal its Initial Unit Price). The initial Capital Account attributable to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall be zero. Thereafter, the Capital Account shall in respect of each such Partnership Interest 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 (other than Series A PIK Preferred Units or Class B PIK Units) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units and Class B Convertible Units will each be treated as a partnership interest in the Partnership that is “convertible equity” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(g)(3), and, therefore, each holder of a Series A Preferred Unit or Class B Convertible Unit will be treated as a partner in the Partnership. The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit issued on the Series A Issuance Date shall be the Series A Issue Price, and the initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Series A PIK Preferred Unit shall be zero. The Capital Account balance of each holder of Series A Preferred Units in respect of its Series A Preferred Units shall not be increased or decreased as a result of the accrual and accumulation of an unpaid distribution pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A) or Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) in respect of such Series A Preferred Units except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Class B Convertible Unit issued on the Class B Issuance Date shall be the Class B Issue Price, and the initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Class B PIK Unit shall be zero. The Capital Account balance of each Class B Convertible Unitholder in respect of its Class B Convertible Units shall not be increased or decreased as a result of the accrual and accumulation of an unpaid distribution pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A) or Section 5.13(b)(ii)(B) in respect of such Class B Convertible Units except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

(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 federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

 

46


(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 or governing, organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for 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. 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 taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

(v) An item of income of the Partnership that is described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) of the Code (with respect to items of income that are exempt from tax) shall be treated as an item of income for the purpose of this Section 5.5(b), and an item of expense of the Partnership that is described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (with respect to expenditures that are not deductible and not chargeable to capital accounts), shall be treated as an item of deduction for the purpose of this Section 5.5(b).

(vi) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined 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.

 

47


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

(c) (i) The transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a Pro Rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

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

(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on (A) an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or other property, (B) the issuance of additional Partnership Interests for the provision of services, (C) the issuance by the Partnership of a “noncompensatory option” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.721-2(f) and 1.761-3(b)(2) which is not treated as a partnership interest pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.761-3(a) (other than an issuance of Series A PIK Preferred Units or Class B PIK Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) or Section 5.13(b)(ii), respectively), or (D) the conversion of a General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b) , the Capital Account of each Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property shall be adjusted immediately prior to such event to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such event and had been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) 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. The General Partner shall adjust

 

48


such Carrying Values in respect of the contributions that are made on the Closing Date. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets immediately prior to such event shall be determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt (taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code); provided , however , that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time and must make such adjustments to such valuation as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership in such manner as it determines in its discretion to be reasonable.

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

(iii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s), immediately after the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit or Class B Convertible Unit into Common Units in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(viii) or Section 5.13(b)(vii) , as applicable, the Capital Account of each Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property shall be adjusted to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately after such conversion and (A) first, all Unrealized Gain (if the Capital Account of each such Conversion Unit is less than the Per Unit Capital Account for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit) or Unrealized Loss (if the Capital Account of each such Conversion Unit is greater than the Per Unit Capital Account for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit) had been allocated Pro Rata to each Partner holding Conversion Units received upon such conversion until the Capital Account of each such Conversion Unit is equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit; and (B) second, any remaining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) . In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the

 

49


aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets immediately after the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit or Class B Convertible Unit shall be determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt (taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code); provided , however , that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time and must make such adjustments to such valuation as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership in such manner as it determines in its discretion to be reasonable. If, after making the allocations of Unrealized Gain and Unrealized Loss as set forth above in this Section 5.5(d)(iii) , the Capital Account of each Partner with respect to each Conversion Unit received upon such conversion of the Series A Preferred Unit or Class B Convertible Unit, as applicable, is less than the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit, then Capital Account balances shall be reallocated between the Partners holding Common Units (other than Conversion Units) and Partners holding Conversion Units so as to cause the Capital Account of each Partner holding a Conversion Unit to equal, on a per Unit basis with respect to each such Conversion Unit, the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit.

Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests .

(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests (other than General Partner Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.2(b)) and Derivative 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; (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 Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6, (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 Partnership

 

50


Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or Derivative 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 Derivative Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

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

Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units .

(a) All of the Subordinated Units shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the expiration of the Subordination Period.

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

Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right . Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2 and Section 5.11 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(e), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), 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 (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units (including the number of Subordinated Units that may convert prior to the end of the Subordination Period and including the number of Common Units into which Series A Preferred Units and Class B Convertible Units may convert) are proportionately adjusted.

(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

 

51


to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). 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) If a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests, or a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests, is made as contemplated in this Section 5.9, the number of General Partner Units constituting the Percentage Interest of the General Partner (as determined immediately prior to the Record Date for such distribution, subdivision or combination) shall be appropriately adjusted as of the date of payment of such distribution, or the effective date of such subdivision or combination, to maintain such Percentage Interest of the General Partner.

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

(e) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units or fractional General Partner 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 and General Partner Units but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.9(e), each fractional Unit and General Partner Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit or General Partner Unit (with fractional Units or General Partner Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit or General Partner Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit or General Partner Unit).

Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests . All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 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 there are no Subordinated Units Outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such

 

52


Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions 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 average amount of the aggregate cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters 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 average of the amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units”). If at the time of any IDR Reset Election the General Partner and its Affiliates are not the holders of a majority interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied. Upon the issuance of such IDR Reset Common Units, the Partnership will issue to the General Partner that number of additional General Partner Units equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner immediately prior to such issuance by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest by (y) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units, and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for such issuance. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in this Section 5.11 shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions 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 IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner will become entitled to receive General Partner Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders other than as set forth in this Section 5.11(a), 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 Quantity of IDR Reset 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 and the General Partner will be entitled to receive the related additional General Partner Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such IDR Reset 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.

 

53


(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 IDR Reset 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 of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).

(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions, shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.

(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 will (i) first, be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (ii) second, as to any remaining balance in such Capital Account, will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights. If there is not sufficient capital 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 (i) of this Section 5.11(f), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Sections 6.1(d)(x)(B) and (C).

(g) Upon the issuance of any Series A PIK Preferred Units to a Series A Unitholder pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B), the Capital Account attributable to all Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Unitholder shall be divided equally among all Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Unitholder immediately prior to such issuance and the Series A PIK Preferred Units received by such Series A Unitholder in such issuance.

(h) Upon the issuance of any Class B PIK Units to a Class B Convertible Unitholder pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ii)(B), the Capital Account attributable to all Class B Convertible Units held by such Class B Convertible Unitholder shall be divided equally among all Class B Convertible Units held by such Class B Convertible Unitholder immediately prior to such issuance and the Class B Convertible Units received by such Class B Convertible Unitholder in such issuance.

 

54


Section 5.12 Establishment of Series A Preferred Units.

(a) General . The Partnership hereby designates and creates a series of Units to be designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Units” and consisting of a total of 1,715,000 Series A Preferred Units, plus any additional Series A Preferred Units issued under the Purchase Agreement or issued in kind as a distribution pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) (“Series A PIK Preferred Units,” and, together with such Series A Preferred Units issued on a Series A Issuance Date, the “Series A Preferred Units”), having the same rights, preferences and privileges, and subject to the same duties and obligations, as the Common Units, except as set forth in this Section 5.12 and in Sections 5.5, 6.10 and 12.9. Other than with respect to Series A PIK Preferred Units, immediately following the Series A Issuance Dates and thereafter no additional Series A Preferred Units shall be designated, created or issued without the prior written approval of the General Partner and the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units.

(b) Rights of Series A Preferred Units . The Series A Preferred Units shall have the following rights, preferences and privileges and shall be subject to the following duties and obligations:

(i) Allocations .

(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1(a), (x) following any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(i) and prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii), any Net Income shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to such Unitholders pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(i)(A) for the current and all previous taxable periods since issuance of the Series A Preferred Units is equal to the sum of (I) the aggregate amount of cash (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not Series A PIK Preferred Units) distributed with respect to such Series A Preferred Units for the current and previous taxable periods and (II) the aggregate Net Loss allocated to the Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(i)(B) for the current and previous taxable periods and (y) in no event shall any Net Income be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(ii) in respect of Series A Preferred Units.

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1(b), (x) Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units shall not receive any allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(i) with respect to their Series A Preferred Units and (y) following any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(i) and prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii), Net Losses shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Adjusted Capital Account of each such Unitholder in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero.

 

55


(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1(c)(i), (x) Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units shall be allocated Net Termination Gain in accordance with Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) but shall not receive any allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) and shall receive only those allocations pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(i)(C)–(G) with respect to their Series A Preferred Units as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v) and (y) following any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) and prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B), any remaining Net Termination Gain shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value or, if greater, the product of the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit and the Series A Conversion Rate.

(D) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1(c)(ii), (x) prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C), Net Termination Loss shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account per Series A Preferred Unit then Outstanding is reduced to an amount equal to the greater of (I) the product of the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Initial Common Unit and the Series A Conversion Rate at such time and (II) the Series A Liquidation Value and (y) following the allocations made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C), and prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D), any remaining Net Termination Loss shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero.

(ii) Distributions .

(A) Commencing with the Quarter ending on June 30, 2013, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units as of an applicable Record Date shall be entitled to receive cumulative distributions (each, a “Series A Quarterly Distribution”), prior to any other distributions made in respect of any other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.4 or Section 6.5, in the amount set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A) in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit. All such distributions shall be paid Quarterly within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Quarter (each such payment date, a “Series A Distribution Payment Date”). For the Quarter ending June 30, 2013, and for each Quarter thereafter through and including the Quarter ending immediately prior to the Coupon Conversion Quarter, the Series A Quarterly Distribution on each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit shall be equal to the Series A PIK Payment Amount. With respect to the Coupon Conversion Quarter and all Quarters thereafter, the Series A Quarterly Distributions shall be paid entirely in cash at the Series A Distribution Rate. If the Partnership establishes a Record Date for any distribution to be made by the Partnership on other Partnership Interests pursuant to Sections 6.4 or Section 6.5, then the Record Date established pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(ii) for a Series A Quarterly Distribution in respect of any Quarter shall be the same Record Date established for any distribution to be made by the

 

56


Partnership in respect of distributions on other Partnership Interests pursuant to Sections 6.4 or Section 6.5 for such Quarter. Unless otherwise expressly provided, references in this Agreement to Series A Preferred Units shall include all Series A PIK Preferred Units Outstanding as of the date of such determination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, prior to any distributions pursuant to Section 6.4, on each Series A Distribution Payment Date the General Partner shall be entitled to (I) a cash distribution equal to the quotient of (a) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times the aggregate cash distribution made on such Series A Distribution Payment Date in respect of the Series A Preferred Units divided by (b) the difference between 100% and the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, to the extent the Series A Distribution is paid in cash, and (II) a distribution of additional General Partner Units equal to the quotient of (a) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times the aggregate number of Series A PIK Preferred Units issued in respect of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units on such Series A Distribution Payment Date divided by (b) the difference between 100% and the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, to the extent the Series A Distribution is paid in Series A PIK Preferred Units, in each case plus cash in lieu of any fractional General Partner Unit.

(B) When any Series A PIK Preferred Units are payable to a Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12, the Partnership shall issue the Series A PIK Preferred Units to such Record Holder no later than the Series A Distribution Payment Date (the date of issuance of such Series A PIK Preferred Units, the “Series A PIK Preferred Payment Date”). On the Series A PIK Preferred Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to such Series A Unitholder a Certificate or Certificates for the number of Series A PIK Preferred Units to which such Series A Unitholder shall be entitled. The issuance of the Series A PIK Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been made on the first day of the Quarter following the Quarter in respect of which such payment of Series A PIK Preferred Units was due. If, in violation of this Agreement, the Partnership fails to pay in full any Series A Quarterly Distribution in kind when due, then the holders entitled to the unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units shall be entitled (I) to Series A Quarterly Distributions in subsequent Quarters on such unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units, (II) to receive the Series A Liquidation Value in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(iv) in respect of such unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units, and (III) to all other rights under this Agreement as if such unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units had in fact been distributed on the date due. Nothing in this Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) shall alter the obligation of the Partnership to pay any unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units or the right of the holders of Series A Preferred Units to enforce this Agreement to compel the Partnership to distribute any unpaid Series A PIK Preferred Units. Fractional Series A PIK Preferred Units shall not be issued to any person (each fractional Series A PIK Preferred Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Series A PIK Preferred Unit, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional PIK Preferred Unit).

 

57


(C) Beginning with the Coupon Conversion Quarter, if, in violation of this Agreement, the Partnership fails to pay in full any Series A Quarterly Distribution when due, then, without limiting any rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Units to compel the Partnership to make such distribution, from and after the first date of such failure and continuing until such failure is cured by payment in full in cash of all arrearages with respect to any Series A Quarterly Distribution, (y) the amount of such unpaid distributions (“Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions”) will accrue and accumulate from and including the first day of the Quarter immediately following the Quarter in respect of which such payment is due until paid in full and (z) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make any distributions in respect of any Junior Interests or any distributions in respect of any Series A Parity Securities.

(D) If all or any portion of a Series A Quarterly Distribution is to be paid in cash, then the aggregate amount of such cash to be so distributed in respect of the Series A Preferred Units Outstanding as of the Record Date for such Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be paid out of Available Cash prior to making any distribution pursuant to Sections 6.4 or 6.5. To the extent that any portion of a Series A Quarterly Distribution to be paid in cash with respect to any Quarter exceeds the amount of Available Cash for such Quarter, an amount of cash equal to the Available Cash for such Quarter will be paid to the Series A Unitholders Pro Rata and the balance of such Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be unpaid and shall constitute an arrearage and shall accrue and accumulate as set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C). The Partnership shall provide written notice to the Series A Unitholders, not later than the last Business Day of the month immediately following the end of such Quarter, describing in reasonable detail the Partnership’s calculation of Available Cash for such Quarter and the portion, if any, of the Series A Quarterly Distribution the Partnership will be unable to pay on the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date.

(E) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.12(b)(ii) to the contrary, with respect to Series A Preferred Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a Series A Preferred Unit distribution and a Common Unit distribution with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Series A Conversion Notice Date occurs prior to the close of business on a Record Date for payment of a distribution on the Common Units, the applicable holder of Series A Preferred Units shall receive only the Common Unit distribution with respect to such period.

(F) Notwithstanding anything in Article VI to the contrary, the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights shall not be entitled to receive distributions or allocations of income or gain that correspond or relate to amounts distributed or allocated to Unitholders in respect of Series A Preferred Units, regardless of whether the amounts so distributed or allocated in respect of the Series A Preferred Units were determined under clause (ii) of the definition of “Series A Distribution Rate” or were otherwise determined on an “as converted” basis.

 

58


(iii) Issuance of the Series A Preferred Units . The Series A Preferred Units (excluding Series A PIK Preferred Units) shall be issued by the Partnership pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

(iv) Liquidation Value . In the event of any liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership under Section 12.4 or a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, either voluntary or involuntary, the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to the Partners or any Assignees, prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the Partnership to the Record Holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests, the positive value in each such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units. If in the year of such liquidation and winding up, or sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, any such Record Holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units is less than the aggregate Series A Liquidation Value of such Series A Preferred Units, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and prior to any other allocation pursuant to this Agreement for such year and prior to any distribution pursuant to the preceding sentence, items of gross income and gain shall be allocated to all Unitholders then holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). If in the year of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up any such Record Holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units is less than the aggregate Series A Liquidation Value of such Series A Preferred Units after the application of the preceding sentence, then to the extent permitted by applicable law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, items of gross income and gain for any preceding taxable period(s) with respect to which IRS Form 1065 Schedules K-1 have not been filed by the Partnership shall be reallocated to all Unitholders then holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each such Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit after making allocations pursuant to this and the immediately preceding sentence is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). At such time as such allocations have been made to the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, any remaining Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss shall be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(c) or Section 6.1(d), as the case may be. At the time of the dissolution of the Partnership, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act, the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall become entitled to receive any distributions in respect of the Series A Preferred Units that are accrued and unpaid as of the date of such distribution, and shall have the status of, and shall be entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of the Partnership, and such entitlement of the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units to such accrued and unpaid distributions shall have priority over any entitlement of any other Partners or Assignees with respect to any distributions by the Partnership to such other Partners or Assignees; provided, however, that the General Partner, as such, will have no liability for any obligations with respect to such distributions to any Record Holder(s) of Series A Preferred Units.

 

59


(v) Voting Rights .

(A) Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v)(B) below, the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Series A Preferred Unit is then convertible on each matter with respect to which each Common Unit is entitled to vote. Each reference in this Agreement to a vote of Record Holders of Common Units shall be deemed to be a reference to the holders of Common Units and Series A Preferred Units on an “as if” converted basis, and the definition of “Unit Majority” shall correspondingly be construed to mean at least a majority of the Common Units and the Series A Preferred Units, on an “as if” converted basis, voting together as a single class during any period in which any Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting separately as a class based upon one vote per Series A Preferred Unit, shall be necessary on any matter (including a merger, consolidation or business combination) that adversely affects any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred Units or amends or modifies any of the terms of the Series A Preferred Units; provided that the Partnership shall be able to amend this Section 5.12 without the approval by the Record Holders of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units so long as the amendment does not adversely affect the holders of the Series A Preferred Units in any material respect and does not affect the holders of the Series A Preferred Units disproportionately in relation to the holders of Common Units; provided, however, that the Partnership may, without the consent or approval of the Record Holders of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, (1) create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Junior Interests (including by amending the provisions of any existing class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Junior Interests) in an unlimited amount and (2) issue additional Series A Preferred Units in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any action shall be deemed to adversely affect the holders of the Series A Preferred Units in a material respect if such action would:

(I) reduce the Series A Distribution Rate, change the form of payment of distributions on the Series A Preferred Units, defer the date from which distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accrue, cancel accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units or any interest accrued thereon, or change the seniority rights of the Series A Unitholders as to the

 

60


payment of distributions in relation to the Unitholders of any other class or series of Units or, except as determined to be appropriate in connection with the issuance of Junior Interests, amend this Section 5.12;

(II) reduce the amount payable or change the form of payment to the holders of the Series A Preferred Units upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets, of the Partnership, or change the seniority of the liquidation preferences of the holders of the Series A Preferred Units in relation to the rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other class or series of Units;

(III) make the Series A Preferred Units redeemable or convertible at the option of the Partnership other than as set forth herein; or

(IV) declare and pay any distribution from Capital Surplus or, except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(ii), any distribution in respect of Partnership Interests in a form other than cash.

(vi) No Series A Parity Securities or Series A Senior Securities . Other than Series A PIK Preferred Units issued in connection with the Series A Quarterly Distribution, the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, issue any Series A Parity Securities or Series A Senior Securities.

(vii) Certificates .

(A) The Series A Preferred Units shall be evidenced by Certificates in such form as the General Partner may approve and, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units; unless and until the General Partner determines to assign the responsibility to another Person, the Partnership will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Units. The Certificates evidencing Series A Preferred Units shall be separately identified and shall not bear the same CUSIP number as the Certificates evidencing Common Units.

(B) The certificate(s) representing the Series A Preferred Units may be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“NEITHER THE OFFER NOR SALE OF THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT OR THE PARTNERSHIP

 

61


HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT. THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP, DATED AS OF APRIL 12, 2013, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PARTNERSHIP AT ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.”

(viii) Conversion .

(A) (I) At the Option of the Series A Unitholder . Beginning on the later of (i) January 1, 2015 and (ii) the date on which the Partnership exercises the Target Leverage Option (as defined in and pursuant to the Limited Waiver and Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective as of April 12, 2013, among the Partnership, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto), the Series A Preferred Units owned by any Series A Unitholder shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time upon the request of the Series A Unitholder into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by the Series A Conversion Rate. Immediately upon any conversion of Series A Preferred Units, all rights of the Converting Unitholder in respect thereof shall cease, including, without limitation, any accrual of distributions, and such Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units. Fractional Common Units shall not be issued to any person pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A) (each fractional Common Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Unit, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional Common Units).

(II) At the Option of the Partnership . Beginning on the later of (i) January 1, 2015 and (ii) the date on which the Partnership exercises the Target Leverage Option (as defined in and pursuant to the Limited Waiver and Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, effective as of April 12, 2013, among the Partnership, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto), the Partnership shall have the option at any time to convert all or part of the Series A Preferred Units then Outstanding into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by the Series A Conversion Rate (provided, that each fractional Common Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Unit, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional Common Units); provided, that in order for the Company to exercise such option, on the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date, (A) the daily volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading must be greater than one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the Series A Issue Price for the trailing thirty (30) Trading Days ending two (2) Trading

 

62


Days before the date the Company furnishes the Series A Forced Conversion Notice and (B) the average daily trading volume of Common Units on the National Securities Exchange upon which such Common Units are listed or admitted to trading must have exceeded 40,000 Common Units for each of the trailing thirty (30) Trading Days ending two (2) Trading Days before the date the Company furnishes the Series A Forced Conversion Notice.

(III) Limitation on Conversions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, prior to the Coupon Conversion Quarter with respect to any conversion contemplated by Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(i) and at all times with respect to any conversion pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(ii), the number of Common Units that may be issued upon conversion of any Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii) shall not exceed a number of Common Units that (assuming (i) such Series A Preferred Units had been converted to such number of Common Units, (ii) all such Common Units were Outstanding, (iii) such Outstanding converted Common Units received the distribution per Common Unit as declared by the Board, and (iv) the Board will declare the same amount of distributions per Common Unit in the next succeeding four Quarters as in the immediately preceding quarter) would cause the aggregate distributions of the Company for any Quarter during the next succeeding four Quarters to exceed the estimated Distributable Cash Flow for such Quarter.

(B) Conversion Notice . To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(i), the Converting Unitholder shall give written notice (a “Series A Conversion Notice”) to the Partnership stating that such Series A Unitholder elects to so convert Series A Preferred Units and shall state therein with respect to Series A Preferred Units to be converted pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(i) the following: (a) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted, (b) the Certificate(s) evidencing the Series A Preferred Units to be converted and duly endorsed, (c) the name or names in which such Series A Unitholder wishes the Certificate or Certificates for Conversion Units to be issued, and (d) such Series A Unitholder’s computation of the number of Conversion Units to be received by such Series A Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)) upon the Series A Conversion Date. The date any Series A Conversion Notice is received by the Partnership shall be hereinafter be referred to as a “Series A Conversion Notice Date.” To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(ii), the Partnership shall give written notice (a “Series A Forced Conversion Notice,” and the date such notice is received, a “Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to each holder of Series A Preferred Units stating that the Partnership elects to force conversion of such Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(ii) and shall state therein the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted.

 

63


(C) Timing; Certificates . If a Series A Conversion Notice is delivered by a Series A Unitholder to the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B) or a Series A Forced Conversion Notice is delivered by the Partnership to a Series A Unitholder pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(ii), the Partnership shall issue the Conversion Units no later than seven (7) days after the Series A Conversion Notice Date or the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date, as the case may be (any date of issuance of such Common Units, a “Series A Conversion Date”). On the Series A Conversion Date, the Partnership shall issue to such Series A Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)) a Certificate or Certificates for the number of Conversion Units to which such holder shall be entitled. In lieu of delivering physical Certificates representing the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units, provided the Transfer Agent is participating in the Depository’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer program, upon request of the Series A Unitholder, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion or distribution payment to such Series A Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)), by crediting the account of the Series A Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)) prime broker with the Depository through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system. The parties agree to coordinate with the Depository to accomplish this objective. Upon issuance of Conversion Units to the Converting Unitholder, all rights under the converted Series A Preferred Units shall cease, and such Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Conversion Units.

(D) Distributions, Combinations, Subdivisions and Reclassifications by the Partnership . If the Partnership (i) makes a distribution on its Common Units in Common Units, (ii) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (iii) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a smaller number of Common Units or (iv) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), in each case other than in connection with a Series A Change of Control (which shall be governed by Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E)), then the Series A Conversion Rate in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units after such time shall entitle each Series A Unitholder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or any Partnership Interests into which such Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) above) that such Series A Unitholder would have been entitled to receive if the Series A Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, and in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 5.12 relating to the Series A Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Series A Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, preferences

 

64


and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Series A Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii)(D) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur.

If, in the future, the Partnership issues any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase Common Units, or Partnership Interests exercisable or convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units (or options, warrants, or other rights to purchase any such Partnership Interests that are exercisable or convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units) other than Series A PIK Preferred Units or any such options, warrants or other rights issued pursuant to any Long Term Incentive Plan (herein collectively, “Convertible Securities”), the General Partner shall, at the direction and at the option of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in their sole discretion, either (i) amend the provisions of this Agreement relating to antidilution protection to (A) revise any such provision that is less favorable than the corresponding provision offered in the terms of such Convertible Securities (or any related purchase agreement) so that such provision is the same as such provision offered in the terms of such Convertible Securities (or any related purchase agreement) and (B) incorporate any provision(s) offered in the terms of such Convertible Securities (or any related purchase agreement) that is not currently provided for in this Agreement and which would make the antidilution protection provisions of this Agreement more favorable to the holders of Series A Preferred Units, which amendment shall be effective concurrently with the issuance and/or execution of documentation relating to such Convertible Securities, or (ii) retain the antidilution language applicable to the Series A Preferred Units at such time. The Partnership agrees to provide as much prior notice of the proposed issuance of any such Convertible Securities and/or execution of documentation relating to such issuance of Convertible Securities as is reasonably practicable (and in any event, such notice shall be provided at least ten (10) Business Days prior to such issuance and/or execution).

(E) Series A Change of Control .

(I) In connection with a Series A Change of Control occurring prior to the time all Series A Units are convertible into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A)(I), the Partnership shall make an irrevocable written offer, subject to consummation of the Series A Change of Control, (a “Series A Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of Series A Preferred Units to convert all (but not less than all) of such holder’s Series A Preferred Units into Common Units, subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E). The number of Conversion Units deliverable upon conversion of each Series A Preferred Unit

 

65


pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E) shall be equal to the quotient of (x) 110% of the Series A Adjusted Issue Price, together with all accrued but unpaid distributions on such Series A Preferred Unit (including distributions payable in Series A PIK Preferred Units), divided by (y) the Series A Adjusted Issue Price.

(II) Not later than five (5) Business Days following the execution of any definitive agreement for which the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein would result in a Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each Series A Unitholder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Series A Change of Control and stating:

A. that the Series A Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E) and that the Partnership is making an offer to convert all Series A Preferred Units of such Unitholder to Common Units (subject to the consummation of the Series A Change of Control);

B. the Partnership’s computation of the number of Conversion Units to be received by the holder upon the Series A Conversion Date pursuant to such Series A Change of Control Offer and the anticipated Series A Conversion Date; and

C. that each holder electing to have all of its Series A Preferred Units converted to Conversion Units pursuant to a Series A Change of Control Offer must notify the Partnership in writing the earlier of (a) a date ten (10) days from the date such notice of a Series A Change of Control Offer is mailed or (b) by the close of business on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the closing date for the Series A Change of Control transaction of such holder’s election to have all of its Series A Preferred Units converted to Conversion Units in connection with the Series A Change of Control Offer.

(III) No later than the time of occurrence of the Series A Change of Control, the Partnership (or its successor) shall issue to each Unitholder of Series A Preferred Units that has accepted the Series A Change of Control Offer the certificate or certificates for Conversion Units in respect of such Converting Holder’s Series A Preferred Units designated for conversion pursuant to the written notice described in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E)(ii)(C) above, and thereafter all of such holder’s rights and privileges with respect to the converted Series A Preferred Units shall cease, and such Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Conversion Units.

(F) No Adjustments for Certain Items . Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 5.12(b)(viii), no adjustment shall be made to the Series A Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(D) or Section 5.12(b)(viii)(E) as a result of any of the following:

 

66


(I) The issuance of Series A PIK Preferred Units;

(II) the grant of Common Units or options, warrants or rights to purchase Common Units or the issuance of Common Units upon the exercise of any such options, warrants or rights to employees, officers or directors of the General Partner or the Partnership and its Subsidiaries in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, under compensation plans and agreements approved in good faith by the General Partner (including any Long Term Incentive Plan); provided that, in the case of options, warrants or rights to purchase Common Units, the exercise price per Common Unit shall not be less than the Closing Price on the date such option, warrant or other right is issued;

(III) the issuance of any Common Units as all or part of the consideration to effect (i) the closing of any acquisition by the Partnership of assets of an unrelated third party in an arm’s-length transaction or (ii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership with or into another entity to the extent such transaction(s) is or are validly approved by the vote or consent of the General Partner; or

(IV) the issuance of Partnership Interests for which an adjustment is made under another provision of this Section 5.12(b)(viii).

(G) Notice of Record Date . In the event of any establishment by the Partnership of a Record Date of the holders of any class or series of Partnership Interests for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any distribution thereon, any security or right convertible into or entitling the holder thereof to receive additional Common Units, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any Partnership Interests or any other securities or property of the Partnership, or to receive any other right, the Partnership shall notify each holder of Series A Preferred Units at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Record Date, of which any such Record Date is to be taken for the purpose of such distribution, security or right and the amount and character of such distribution, security or right; provided, however, that the foregoing requirement shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any holder of Series A Preferred Units if at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Record Date, the Partnership shall have issued a press release which shall be posted on the Partnership’s website and carried by one or more wire services, containing the required information.

(H) Certain Taxes . The Partnership shall pay any and all issue, documentary, stamp and other taxes, excluding any income, franchise, property or similar taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Conversion Units on conversion of, or payment of distributions on, Series A Preferred Units pursuant hereto. However, the holder of any Series A Preferred Units shall pay any tax that is due because the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion thereof or distribution payment thereon are issued in a name other than such Series A Unitholder’s name.

 

67


(I) Good Faith . The Partnership agrees that it will act in good faith to make any adjustment(s) required by this Section 5.12(b)(viii) equitably and in such a manner as to afford the Series A Unitholders the benefits of the provisions hereof, and will not take any action that could reasonably be expected to deprive such Series A Unitholders of the benefit hereof.

(ix) Tax Estimates . Upon receipt of a written request from any Series A Unitholder stating the number of Series A Preferred Units owned by such holder (which requests shall be made no more than two (2) times per calendar year and the first such request per calendar year shall be at the Partnership’s expense, and the second at the expense of such requesting holder), the Partnership shall, within ten (10) days, provide such Series A Unitholder with a good faith estimate (and reasonable supporting calculations) of whether there is sufficient Unrealized Gain attributable to the Partnership property such that, if such Series A Unitholder converted its Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A) or (B) and such Unrealized Gain was allocated to such holder pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(iii), such holder’s Capital Account in respect of its converted Series A Preferred Units would be equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Common Unit (other than a Conversion Unit received in connection with such conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit).

(x) Fully Paid and Nonassessable . Any Conversion Unit(s) delivered pursuant to this Section 5.12 shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act), free and clear of any liens, claims, rights or encumbrances other than those arising under the Delaware Act or this Agreement or created by the holders thereof.

(xi) Listing of Common Units . The Partnership will procure, at its sole expense, the listing of the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units, subject to issuance or notice of issuance on any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.

Section 5.13 Establishment of Class B Convertible Units.

(a) General . The Partnership hereby designates and creates a series of Units to be designated as “Class B Convertible Units” and consisting of a total of 14,633,000 Class B Convertible Units, plus any additional Class B Convertible Units issued in kind as a distribution pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ii) (“Class B PIK Units”), having the same rights, preferences and privileges, and subject to the same duties and obligations, as Common Units, except as set forth in this Section 5.13 and in Sections 5.5 and 6.10. Other than with respect to Class B PIK Units, immediately following the Class B Issuance Date and thereafter, no additional Class B Convertible Units shall be designated, created or issued without the prior written approval of the General Partner and the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class B Convertible Units. Unless otherwise expressly provided, references in this Agreement to Class B Convertible Units shall include all Class B PIK Units Outstanding as of the date of such determination.

 

68


(b) Rights of Class B Convertible Units . The Class B Convertible Units shall have the following rights, preferences and privileges and shall be subject to the following duties and obligations:

(i) Allocations . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, during the period commencing on the Class B Issuance Date and ending on the Class B Conversion Date, all items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit, including Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss to be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1, shall be allocated to the Class B Convertible Units to the same extent as such items would be so allocated if such Class B Convertible Units were Common Units that were then Outstanding.

(ii) Distributions .

(A) Commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 2014, and for each Quarter thereafter through and including the Quarter ending immediately prior to the Class B Conversion Date (the “Class B PIK Distribution Period”), the holders of the Class B Convertible Units as of an applicable Record Date shall be entitled to receive distributions (each, a “Class B Quarterly Distribution”) in an amount equal to the Class B Distribution Rate in respect of each Outstanding Class B Convertible Unit. All such distributions shall be paid Quarterly in Class B PIK Units within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Quarter (each such payment date, a “Class B Distribution Payment Date”). The number of Class B PIK Units to be issued in connection with a Class B Quarterly Distribution shall be the quotient of the (A) the Class B Distribution Amount divided by (B) the Class B Issue Price, rounded down to the nearest whole number of Class B PIK Units, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional Class B PIK Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, prior to any distributions pursuant to Section 6.4, on each Class B Distribution Payment Date the General Partner shall be entitled to a distribution of additional General Partner Units equal to the quotient of (a) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times the aggregate number of Class B PIK Units issued in respect of the Outstanding Class B Convertible Units on such Class B Distribution Payment Date divided by (b) the difference between 100% and the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, plus cash in lieu of any fractional General Partner Unit. If the Partnership establishes a Record Date for any distribution to be made by the Partnership on other Partnership Interests pursuant to Sections 6.4 or Section 6.5, then the Record Date established pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ii) for a Class B Quarterly Distribution in respect of any Quarter shall be the same Record Date established for any distribution to be made by the Partnership in respect of distributions on other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 for such Quarter.

(B) On the Class B Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall issue to such Class B Convertible Unitholder in book-entry form, or, at the election of such Class B Convertible Unitholder, a Certificate or Certificates for, the number of Class B PIK Units to which such Class B Convertible Unitholder shall be entitled. The issuance of the Class B PIK Units pursuant to this Section

 

69


5.13(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been made on the first day of the Quarter following the Quarter in respect of which such payment of Class B PIK Units was due. If, in violation of this Agreement, the Partnership fails to pay in full any Class B Quarterly Distribution in kind when due, then the holders entitled to the unpaid Class B PIK Units shall be entitled (I) to Class B Quarterly Distributions in subsequent Quarters on such unpaid Class B PIK Units and (II) to all other rights under this Agreement as if such unpaid Class B PIK Units had in fact been distributed on the date due. Nothing in this Section 5.13(b)(ii)(B) shall alter the obligation of the Partnership to pay any unpaid Class B PIK Units or the right of the holders of Class B Convertible Units to enforce this Agreement to compel the Partnership to distribute any unpaid Class B PIK Units. Fractional Class B PIK Units shall not be issued to any person (each fractional Class B PIK Unit shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Class B PIK Unit, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional Class B PIK Unit).

(C) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.13(b)(ii) to the contrary, with respect to Class B Convertible Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a Class B Quarterly Distribution and a Common Unit distribution with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Class B Conversion Notice Date occurs prior to the close of business on a Record Date for payment of a distribution on the Common Units, the applicable holder of Class B Convertible Units shall receive only the Common Unit distribution with respect to such period.

(D) For the avoidance of doubt, the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights shall be entitled to receive distributions or allocations of income or gain that correspond or relate to amounts distributed or allocated to Unitholders in respect of Class B Convertible Units, regardless of whether the amounts so distributed or allocated in respect of the Class B Convertible Units were determined on an “as converted” basis.

(iii) Issuance of the Class B Convertible Units . The Class B Convertible Units (excluding Class B PIK Units) shall be issued by the Partnership pursuant to the terms and conditions of the TexStar Contribution Agreement.

(iv) Liquidation Value . The holders of Class B Convertible Units shall have rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, including the right to share in any liquidating distributions pursuant to Section 12.4, in accordance with Article XII.

(v) Voting Rights .

(A) Except as provided in Section 5.13(b)(v)(B), the Class B Convertible Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Outstanding Class B Convertible Unit will be entitled to one vote for

 

70


each Common Unit into which such Class B Convertible Unit is then convertible on each matter with respect to which each Common Unit is entitled to vote. Each reference in this Agreement to a vote of Record Holders of Common Units shall be deemed to be a reference to the holders of Common Units and Class B Convertible Units on an “as if” converted basis, and the definition of “Unit Majority” shall correspondingly be construed to mean at least a majority of the Common Units and the Class B Convertible Units, on an “as if” converted basis, voting together as a single class during any period in which any Class B Convertible Units are Outstanding.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Class B Convertible Units, voting separately as a class based upon one vote per Class B Convertible Unit, shall be necessary on any matter (including a merger, consolidation or business combination) that adversely affects any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Class B Convertible Units or amends or modifies any of the terms of the Class B Convertible Units; provided that the Partnership shall be able to amend this Section 5.13 without the approval by the Record Holders of Outstanding Class B Convertible Units so long as the amendment does not adversely affect the holders of the Class B Convertible Units in any material respect and does not affect the holders of the Class B Convertible Units disproportionately in relation to the holders of Common Units.

(vi) Certificates .

(A) The Partnership shall issue the Class B Convertible Units in book-entry form in the books of the Transfer Agent or, at the election of TexStar or such other holder of Class B Convertible Units, a physical certificate. If the Class B Convertible Units issued by the Partnership are represented by a physical certificate, the Certificates shall be issued in such form as the General Partner may approve and, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units. Unless and until the General Partner determines to assign the responsibility to another Person, the Partnership will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the Class B Convertible Units. The Certificates, if any, evidencing Class B Convertible Units shall be separately identified and shall not bear the same CUSIP number as the Certificates evidencing Common Units.

(B) Each Certificate or book entry evidencing Class B Convertible Units shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

“NEITHER THE OFFER NOR SALE OF THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A

 

71


REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT OR THE PARTNERSHIP HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT. THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP, DATED AS OF AUGUST 4, 2014, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PARTNERSHIP AT ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.”

(vii) Conversion .

(A) On the Class B Conversion Date, all Class B Convertible Units will automatically convert into Common Units at the Class B Conversion Rate and participate in cash distributions pari passu with all other Common Units.

(B) Conversion Notice . The Partnership shall give written notice (a “Class B Conversion Notice,” and the date such notice is received, a “Class B Conversion Notice Date”) to each holder of Class B Convertible Units stating that the Class B Convertible Units have converted to Common Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A) and shall state therein the date on which such conversion occurred.

(C) Timing; Certificates . On the Class B Conversion Date, the Partnership shall issue such Class B Convertible Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)) a Certificate or Certificates for the number of Conversion Units to which such holder shall be entitled. In lieu of delivering physical Certificates representing the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of Class B Convertible Units, provided the Transfer Agent is participating in the Depository’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer program, upon request of the Class B Convertible Unitholder, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion or distribution payment to such Class B Convertible Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)), by crediting the account of the Class B Convertible Unitholder (or designated recipient(s)) prime broker with the Depository through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system. The parties agree to coordinate with the Depository to accomplish this objective. Upon issuance of Conversion Units to the Class B Convertible Unitholder, all rights under the converted Class B Convertible Units shall cease, and such Class B Convertible Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Conversion Units.

 

72


(D) Notice of Record Date . In the event of any establishment by the Partnership of a Record Date of the holders of any class or series of Partnership Interests for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any distribution thereon, any security or right convertible into or entitling the holder thereof to receive additional Common Units, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any Partnership Interests or any other securities or property of the Partnership, or to receive any other right, the Partnership shall notify each holder of Class B Convertible Units at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Record Date, of which any such Record Date is to be taken for the purpose of such distribution, security or right and the amount and character of such distribution, security or right; provided, however, that the foregoing requirement shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any holder of Class B Convertible Units if at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Record Date, the Partnership shall have issued a press release which shall be posted on the Partnership’s website and carried by one or more wire services, containing the required information.

(E) Certain Taxes . The Partnership shall pay any and all issue, documentary, stamp and other taxes, excluding any income, franchise, property or similar taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Conversion Units on conversion of, or payment of distributions on, Class B Convertible Units pursuant hereto. However, the holder of any Class B Convertible Units shall pay any tax that is due because the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion thereof or distribution payment thereon are issued in a name other than such Class B Convertible Unitholder’s name.

(F) Good Faith . The Partnership agrees that it will act in good faith to make any adjustment(s) required by this Section 5.13(b)(vii) equitably and in such a manner as to afford the Class B Convertible Unitholders the benefits of the provisions hereof, and will not take any action that could reasonably be expected to deprive such Class B Convertible Unitholders of the benefit hereof.

(viii) Fully Paid and Nonassessable . Any Conversion Unit(s) delivered pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act), free and clear of any liens, claims, rights or encumbrances other than those arising under the Delaware Act or this Agreement or created by the holders thereof.

(ix) Listing of Common Units . The Partnership will procure, at its sole expense, the listing of the Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of the Class B Convertible Units, subject to issuance or notice of issuance on any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.

ARTICLE VI.

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes .

 

73


Except as otherwise required pursuant to Sections 5.12(b)(i) and (iv) , for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable period as provided herein below:

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

(i) First , to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) and the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) 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 the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for the current and all previous taxable periods; and

(ii) The balance, if any, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, and (y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x).

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

(i) First , to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided , that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

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

(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d) , Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period shall be allocated in the 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) Except as provided in Section 6.1(c)(iv) , 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:

 

74


(A) First , to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) and the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to 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 the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for all previous taxable periods;

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

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

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

(E) Fifth , (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the

 

75


sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);

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

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

(ii) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(iii) , 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:

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

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

(C) Third , to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) to the extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

(D) Fourth , the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.

 

76


(iii) Any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:

(A) First , to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A) to the extent 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 in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

(B) The balance, if any, to the General Partner.

(iv) If a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii) , subsequent Net Termination Gain deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:

(A) First , to the General Partner until the aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) is equal to the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) ;

(B) Second , to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(B) is equal to the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A) ; and

(C) The balance, if any, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(i) .

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

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

 

77


be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d) , each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) , other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to 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 (other than a Series A Preferred Unit) exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit (other than a Series A Preferred 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 (1) 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; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated gross income and gain with respect to each such Excess Distribution in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs by (y) a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs, times (bb) the total amount allocated in clause (1) above with respect to such Excess Distribution.

(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) , the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this 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 IPO Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

 

78


(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 as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(iv) were not in this Agreement.

(v) Gross Income Allocations . In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if 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, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

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

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

 

79


treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

(x) Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law .

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

(B) 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, after the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), 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 (a) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.

(C) With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Common Unit is transferred to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the transferor Partner of

 

80


such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit until such transferor Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.

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

(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. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. 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. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

 

81


(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)), the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner 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) to 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) or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c)) 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 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.

 

82


(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 federal income tax purposes (the “lower tier partnership”), the General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Sections 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).

(xiii) Special Curative Allocation in Event of Liquidation Prior to End of Subordination Period . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for the taxable period that includes the Liquidation Date (and, if necessary, items arising in previous taxable periods to the extent the General Partner determines such items may be so allocated), shall be specially allocated among the Partners in the manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit to equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if all prior allocations of Net Termination Gain and Net Termination Loss had been made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii), as applicable.

Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes .

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

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

 

83


(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) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(x), if Capital Account balances are reallocated among Partners in accordance with Section 5.5(d)(iii), beginning with the year of reallocation and continuing until the allocations required are fully taken into account, the Partnership will make corrective allocations to take into account the Capital Account reallocation.

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

(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax purposes, shall 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 the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the last Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the next succeeding 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 or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the

 

84


General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which such nominee, agent or representative 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, 2012, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. The Record Date for the first distribution of Available Cash shall not be prior to the final closing of the Over-Allotment Option. 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 shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act and other applicable law, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) (but subject to the last sentence of 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 shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

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

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

 

85


Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus .

(a) During the Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) or in respect of additional Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6(b):

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

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

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

(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

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

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

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

 

86


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

(b) After the Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) or in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6(b):

(i) First, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

(ii) Second, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;

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

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

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

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

 

87


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

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

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

(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.

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

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

 

88


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

(c) The holder of a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 or Section 11.4 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 (if the Common Units are represented by Certificates) and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.

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

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

(b) A holder of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.11 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 (if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates) or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Common Units, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of such holder, until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such IDR Reset Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.8(b), the General

 

89


Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such IDR Reset Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such IDR Reset Common Units, including the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), or Section 6.1(d)(x)(C); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.

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

Section 6.10 Special Provisions Relating to Series A Preferred Unitholders and Class B Convertible Unitholders.

(a) Subject to transfer restrictions in Section 4.8 of this Agreement, a Unitholder holding a Conversion Unit shall provide notice to the Partnership of any Transfer of the Conversion Unit by the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following such Transfer and (ii) the last Business Day of the calendar year during which such transfer occurred, unless (x) the transfer is to an Affiliate of such Unitholder or (y) by virtue of the application of Section 5.5(d)(iii), the Partnership has previously determined, based on the advice of counsel, that the Conversion Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.10, the Partnership shall take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the Conversion Unit in preparation for a Transfer of such Unit; provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders

 

90


holding Common Units (for this purpose the allocations of income, gain, loss and deductions, and the making of any guaranteed payments or any reallocation of Capital Account balances among the Partners in accordance with Section 5.5(d)(iii) hereof and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(4) with respect to Series A Preferred Units, Class B Convertible Units or Conversion Units will be deemed not to have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units and Class B Convertible Units (i) shall (A) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (B) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (ii) shall not (A) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided in Section 5.12 or Section 5.13, as applicable, or (B) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Section 5.12 and Article VI.

ARTICLE VII.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management .

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

(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for 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 7.3 and Article XIV);

 

91


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

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

(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;

(vii) the selection and dismissal of officers, employees, agents, internal and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

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

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

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

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

(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);

(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance of Derivative Partnership Interests;

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

 

92


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

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or that is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the IPO Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own 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 IPO Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or are otherwise 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 duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership . The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to 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 3.3(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.

 

93


Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group .

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

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.

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

(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with managing and operating the Partnership Group’s business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner in a manner consistent with past business practices and, in the case of assets regulated by FERC, then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently-applicable methodologies), shall be deemed to have been made in good faith. This provision does not affect the ability of the General Partner and its Affiliates to enter into an agreement to provide services to any Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.

(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership benefit plans, programs and practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative 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 officers, employees, consultants, managers and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the

 

94


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 officers, employees, consultants and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any benefit plans, programs or practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6.

(d) The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.

Section 7.5 Outside Activities .

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

(b) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(c), 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, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.

(c) Subject to the terms of Sections 7.5(a) and (b), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any

 

95


Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty, otherwise existing at law or in equity, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner). No Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.

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

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

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

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

 

96


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

Section 7.7 Indemnification.

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

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a 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 by this Section 7.7.

 

97


(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), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

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

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

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

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

(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees 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.

 

98


Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, or any other Persons who are 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 engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

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

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

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

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

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder

 

99


approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. Whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, seek Unitholder approval or adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard or duty imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors of the General Partner acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging any action by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval by the General Partner, any determination by the Board of Directors of the General Partner that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or any determination by the Board of Directors of the General Partner that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors of the General Partner, as applicable, acted in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the IPO Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any such duty.

(b) Whenever the General Partner or the Board of Directors, 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, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors or 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 other or different standards (including fiduciary standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement, if the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction is in the best interests of the Partnership Group.

 

100


(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, 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 Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “the General Partner at its option,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

(d) 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 partnership.

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

(f) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.

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

 

101


Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner .

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

(b) The General Partner 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 to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee, respectively, 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 opinion.

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

Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10 or with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

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

(a) Demand Registration . Upon receipt of a Notice from any Holder at any time after the 180th day after the Closing Date, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable a registration statement under the Securities Act (each, a “Registration Statement”) providing for the resale of the Registrable Securities, which may, at the option of the Holder giving such Notice, be a Registration Statement that provides for the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Partnership shall not be required pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) to file more than one Registration Statement in any twelve-month period nor to file more than three Registration Statements in the aggregate. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement and to remain effective and available for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Selling Holders named therein until the earlier of (i) six months following such Registration Statement’s effective date and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold. In the event one or more Holders request in a Notice to dispose of an aggregate of at least $20.0 million of Registrable

 

102


Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall retain underwriters that are reasonably acceptable to such Selling Holders in order to permit such Selling Holders to effect such disposition through an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership shall have the exclusive right to select the bookrunning managers. The Partnership and such Selling Holders shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form that is reasonably acceptable to the Partnership and take all reasonable actions as are requested by the managing underwriters to facilitate the Underwritten Offering and sale of Registrable Securities therein. No Holder may participate in the Underwritten Offering unless it agrees to sell its Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement and completes and delivers all necessary documents and information reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. In the event that the managing underwriter of such Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in its opinion the inclusion of all or some Registrable Securities would adversely and materially affect the timing or success of the Underwritten Offering, the amount of Registrable Securities that each Selling Holder requested be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced on a Pro Rata basis to the aggregate amount that the managing underwriter deems will not have such material and adverse effect. Any Holder may withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by notice to the Partnership and the managing underwriter; provided such notice is delivered prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering.

(b) Piggyback Registration . At any time after the 180th day after the Closing Date, if the Partnership shall propose to file a Registration Statement (other than pursuant to a demand made pursuant to Section 7.12(a)) for an offering of Partnership Interests for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, an offering relating to a transaction on Form S-4 or an offering on any registration statement that does not permit secondary sales), the Partnership shall notify all Holders of such proposal at least five Business Days before the proposed filing date. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such number of Registrable Securities held by any Holder in such Registration Statement as each Holder shall request in a Notice received by the Partnership within two business days of such Holder’s receipt of the notice from the Partnership. If the Registration Statement about which the Partnership gives notice under this Section 7.12(b) is for an Underwritten Offering, then any Holder’s ability to include its desired amount of Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement shall be conditioned on such Holder’s inclusion of all such Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering; provided that, in the event that the managing underwriter of such Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in its opinion the inclusion of all or some Registrable Securities would adversely and materially affect the timing or success of the Underwritten Offering, the amount of Registrable Securities that each Selling Holder requested be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced on a Pro Rata basis to the aggregate amount that the managing underwriter deems will not have such material and adverse effect. In connection with any such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership and the Selling Holders involved shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form that is reasonably acceptable to the Partnership and take all reasonable actions as are requested by the managing underwriters to facilitate the Underwritten Offering and sale of Registrable Securities therein. No Holder may participate in the Underwritten Offering unless it agrees to sells its Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement and completes and delivers all necessary documents and information reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Any Holder may withdraw

 

103


from such Underwritten Offering by notice to the Partnership and the managing underwriter; provided such notice is delivered prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering. The Partnership shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering initiated by it under this Section 7.12(b) prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement or the pricing date of the Underwritten Offering, as applicable.

(c) Sale Procedures . In connection with its obligations under this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall:

(i) furnish to each Selling Holder (A) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Registration Statement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing a Registration Statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (B) such number of copies of such Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided that the Partnership will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to clause (B) hereof that is available on the Commission’s website;

(ii) if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the managing underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(iii) promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the filing of a Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (B) any written comments from the Commission with respect to any Registration Statement or any document incorporated by reference therein and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

(iv) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the occurrence of any event or existence of any fact (but not a description of such event or

 

104


fact) as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (B) the issuance or threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (C) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, subject to Section 7.12(f), the Partnership agrees to, as promptly as practicable, amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto; and

(v) enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities, including the provision of comfort letters and legal opinions as are customary in such securities offerings.

(d) Suspension . Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 7.12(c)(iv), shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by such subsection or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus.

(e) Expenses . Except as set forth in an underwriting agreement for the applicable Underwritten Offering or as otherwise agreed between a Selling Holder and the Partnership, all costs and expenses of a Registration Statement filed or an Underwritten Offering that includes Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 (other than underwriting discounts and commissions on Registrable Securities and fees and expenses of counsel and advisors to Selling Holders) shall be paid by the Partnership.

(f) Delay Right . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s compliance with its obligations in this Section 7.12 would be detrimental to the Partnership because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone compliance with such obligations for a period of not more than six months; provided that such right may not be exercised more than twice in any 24-month period.

 

105


(g) Indemnification .

(i) 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 each Selling Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(g) 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, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus under which any Registrable Securities were registered or sold under the Securities Act, 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 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, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus 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.

(ii) Each Selling Holder shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, the General Partner’s officers and directors and each Person who controls the Partnership or the General Partner (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in a Registration Statement, prospectus or free writing prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities held by such Selling Holder.

(iii) The provisions of this Section 7.12(g) shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that a Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 7.12(g) may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

(h) Specific Performance . Damages in the event of breach of Section 7.12 by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each party, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such party from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such party may have.

 

106


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

ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting . The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the register 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, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 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 December 31.

 

107


Section 8.3 Reports .

(a) Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership (or such shorter period as required by the Commission), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

(b) Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 45 days after the close of each Quarter (or such shorter period as required by the Commission) except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

ARTICLE IX.

TAX MATTERS

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

Section 9.2 Tax Elections .

(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained,

 

108


for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(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 Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.

Section 9.4 Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code, or established under any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (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 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

ARTICLE X.

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners .

(a) Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Holdings and the IPO Underwriters in connection with the Initial Public Offering as described in Article V, such Persons shall, by acceptance of such Partnership Interests, and upon becoming the Record Holders of such Partnership Interests, be admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them and be bound by this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Persons.

(b) By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner

 

109


Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, who shall be subject to Section 10.1(c) below) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or 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. A Person may become a Limited Partner 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 becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9.

(c) With respect to any Limited Partner that holds Units representing Limited Partner Interests for another Person’s account (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 Limited Partner shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units at the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Limited Partner is so acting without further inquiry.

(d) The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed on the books of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books 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).

(e) 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(b).

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 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 is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

 

110


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

ARTICLE XI.

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .

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

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

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

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

(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) through (C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

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

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

 

111


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

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on December 31, 2022 the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on December 31, 2022 the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not elected 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 or series and Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding

 

112


Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding) voting as a class (including, in each case, 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 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

 

113


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 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 (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

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

Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under

 

114


circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor in accordance with Section 11.3.

Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

ARTICLE XII.

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution . The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

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

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

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

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

Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution . Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General

 

115


Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:

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

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

(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;

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

Section 12.3 Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner may elect to act as Liquidator or shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, if any, voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, if any, voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, if any, voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

116


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

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

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

(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to satisfy liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) and that required to satisfy liquidation preferences of the Series A Preferred Units provided for under Section 5.12(b)(iv) 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.

 

117


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

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

Section 12.9 Series A Liquidation Value . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall have the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in Section 5.12(b)(iv) upon liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XII.

ARTICLE XIII.

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner . Except as set forth in Section 5.12(b)(v) and Section 5.13(b)(v), 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 federal income tax purposes;

(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect (except as permitted by subsection (g) of this Section 13.1), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the

 

118


General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the IPO Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

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

(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under 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 authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative 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 or Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

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

(k) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d) or Section 14.3(e); 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 free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment to this Agreement, 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, and the General Partner in determining

 

119


whether to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement. 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 posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website.

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 required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 90% of the Outstanding Units, or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.

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

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

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

 

120


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

Section 13.4 Special Meetings . All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. 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 or cause to be sent a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners. 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 be permitted to 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. If any such vote were to take place, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not 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.

Section 13.6 Record Date . For purposes of determining the Limited Partners who are Record Holders of the class or classes of Limited Partner Interests 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 shall 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 such Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.

 

121


Section 13.7 Postponement and Adjournment . Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance with this Article XIII. When a meeting is postponed, a new Record Date need not be fixed unless such postponement shall be for more than 45 days. Any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner one or more times for any reason, including the failure of a quorum to be present at the meeting with respect to any proposal or the failure of any proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No Limited Partner vote shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner as to one or more proposals regardless of whether action has been taken on other matters. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting . 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 of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting . The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement.

 

122


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 Chairman of the Board shall serve as Chairman of any meeting, or if none, 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 submission and revocation of approvals in writing.

Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting . If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted 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) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are first deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters .

(a) Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of

 

123


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

(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person that is the Record Holder (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), such Record Holder shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder 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 . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Record Holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter.

ARTICLE XIV.

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

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

Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

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

(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:

 

124


(i) name and state or country of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

(ii) the name and state of domicile 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 securities 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 general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, 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 general or limited partner 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 securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner 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, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

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

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

(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

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

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

 

125


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

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

(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership; and

(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;

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

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

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners .

(a) Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v), Section 5.13(b)(v), Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent and, subject to any applicable requirements of Regulation 14A pursuant to the Exchange Act or successor provision, no other disclosure regarding the proposed merger, consolidation or conversion shall be required.

(b) Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v), Section 5.13(b)(v), Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, 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 or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

 

126


(c) Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(v), Section 5.13(b)(v), 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 or articles of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any other Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any other 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 conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of limited liability under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) of any Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the General Partner determines that 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 limited liability 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 of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the 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 Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (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.

(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) 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.

 

127


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

Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) At the effective time of the merger:

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

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

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

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

(b) At the effective time of the conversion:

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

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

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

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

 

128


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

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

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 or series then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three Business 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 applicable Transfer Agent or exchange agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent or exchange 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), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. 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, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent or exchange agent as the Transfer Agent or exchange agent may specify, or as may be

 

129


required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the Partnership Register 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 or exchange 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 or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent or exchange agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, 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 Partnership Register, 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 Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

(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, in accordance with procedures set forth by the General Partner.

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. Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 in the Partnership Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may

 

130


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 addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing in the Partnership Register is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

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

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

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

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

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.

 

131


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) or (b) without execution hereof.

Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury .

(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 or Group 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):

(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 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;

 

132


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

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

(vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and/or parts 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 provisions and/or part shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.

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

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

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

133


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

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

By:   /s/ David W. Biegler
Name:   David W. Biegler
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.


EXHIBIT A
to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

No. Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. 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 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201. 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 SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) 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 SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER

 

A-1


OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. 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.

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

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware

 

Dated:         Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.
      By:   Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC
        By:     

Countersigned and Registered by:

[                      ]

as Transfer Agent and Registrar

By:     
  Authorized Signature

 

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
   (Cust)                                (Minor)
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common    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
SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, 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 Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

 

Dated:  

 

      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)
  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      

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

 

A-4

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

A Delaware Limited Liability Company

Dated as of August 4, 2014

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2   

Section 1.1

  Definitions      2   

Section 1.2

  Construction      8   

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

     8   

Section 2.1

  Formation      8   

Section 2.2

  Name      8   

Section 2.3

  Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      8   

Section 2.4

  Purposes      8   

Section 2.5

  Term      9   

Section 2.6

  No State Law Partnership      9   

Section 2.7

  Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness      9   

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

     11   

Section 3.1

  Members      11   

Section 3.2

  Units      11   

Section 3.3

  Capital Accounts      11   

Section 3.4

  Access to Information      12   

Section 3.5

  Liability      12   

Section 3.6

  Withdrawal      12   

ARTICLE IV DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

     13   

Section 4.1

  Assignment; Admission of Assignee as a Member      13   

Section 4.2

  Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions      13   

ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

     13   

Section 5.1

  Initial Capital Contributions      13   

Section 5.2

  Loans      14   

Section 5.3

  Return of Contributions      14   

Section 5.4

  Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Membership Interests      14   

ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

     14   

Section 6.1

  Distributions      14   

Section 6.2

  Allocations of Profits and Losses      14   

Section 6.3

  Limitations on Distributions      15   

 

i


ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT

     15   

Section 7.1

  Management by Board of Directors      15   

Section 7.2

  Number; Qualification; Tenure      15   

Section 7.3

  Regular Meetings      16   

Section 7.4

  Special Meetings      16   

Section 7.5

  Notice      16   

Section 7.6

  Action by Consent of Board      16   

Section 7.7

  Conference Telephone Meetings      16   

Section 7.8

  Quorum and Action      16   

Section 7.9

  Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors      17   

Section 7.10

  Committees      17   

Section 7.11

  Removal      18   

Section 7.12

  Compensation of Directors      18   

Section 7.13

  Responsibility and Authority of the Board; Standards of Conduct of Directors and Officers      18   

Section 7.14

  Other Business of Members, Directors and Affiliates      19   

ARTICLE VIII OFFICERS

     20   

Section 8.1

  Officers      20   

Section 8.2

  Election and Term of Office      20   

Section 8.3

  Chairman of the Board      20   

Section 8.4

  Chief Executive Officer      21   

Section 8.5

  President      21   

Section 8.6

  Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer      21   

Section 8.7

  Vice Presidents      21   

Section 8.8

  Chief Financial Officer      21   

Section 8.9

  Secretary      22   

Section 8.10

  Removal      22   

Section 8.11

  Vacancies      22   

ARTICLE IX INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

     23   

Section 9.1

  Indemnification      23   

Section 9.2

  Liability of Indemnitees      24   

ARTICLE X TAXES

     25   

Section 10.1

  Taxes      25   

ARTICLE XI BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS

     25   

Section 11.1

  Maintenance of Books      25   

Section 11.2

  Reports      26   

Section 11.3

  Bank Accounts      26   

 

ii


ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION

     26   

Section 12.1

  Dissolution      26   

Section 12.2

  Winding-Up and Termination      27   

Section 12.3

  Deficit Capital Accounts      27   

Section 12.4

  Certificate of Cancellation      27   

ARTICLE XIII MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

     28   

Section 13.1

  Authority      28   

Section 13.2

  Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      28   

Section 13.3

  Approval of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      29   

Section 13.4

  Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      29   

ARTICLE XIV GENERAL PROVISIONS

     30   

Section 14.1

  Offset      30   

Section 14.2

  Notices      30   

Section 14.3

  Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect      31   

Section 14.4

  Effect of Waiver or Consent      31   

Section 14.5

  Amendment or Restatement      31   

Section 14.6

  Binding Effect      31   

Section 14.7

  Governing Law; Severability      31   

Section 14.8

  Venue      32   

Section 14.9

  Further Assurances      32   

Section 14.10

  Waiver of Certain Rights      32   

Section 14.11

  Counterparts      32   

 

Exhibit A    Members
Exhibit B    Directors
Exhibit C      Officers

 

iii


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC (the “ Company ”), a limited liability company organized under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq. , as amended (the “ Act ”), is made and entered into as of this 4 th day of August, 2014 by Southcross Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Holdings ”), the sole member of the Company.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on April 12, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Holdings has acquired all of the then outstanding Membership Interests of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to (a) enhance its ability to motivate, attract and retain the services of officers, employees or other service providers upon whose judgment, interest and special effort the successful conduct of the Partnership Group’s business is largely dependent and (b) promote the success and enhance the value of the Partnership Group by linking the personal interests of the MLP Group’s officers, employees or other service providers to those of the Partnership, the Company and their respective partners;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Company plans to issue to Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC (“ Management LLC ”), from time to time, Membership Interests, having such vesting or other restrictions and such designations, preferences and other participating or relative rights, powers and duties as may be set forth in this Agreement and an Award Agreement between the Company, Management LLC and the applicable participant; and

WHEREAS, Holdings, as the sole member of the Company, deems it advisable to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of November 7, 2012 (the “ Current Limited Liability Company Agreement ”), in its entirety as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Holdings, as the sole member of the Company, hereby amends and restates the Current Limited Liability Company Agreement in its entirety as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions .

(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections referred to below:

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph. All references in this Agreement to provisions of the Act shall be deemed to refer, if applicable, to their successor statutory provisions to the extent appropriate in light of the context herein in which such references are used.

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; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agreement ” is defined in the introductory paragraph, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

Assignee ” means any Person that acquires a Member’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company or any portion thereof through a Disposition; provided, however , that an Assignee shall have no right to be admitted to the Company as a Member except in accordance with Article IV . The Assignee of a dissolved Member shall be the shareholder, partner, member or other equity owner or owners of the dissolved Member or such other Persons to whom such Member’s Membership Interest is assigned by the Person conducting the liquidation or winding up of such Member.

Audit Committee ” is defined in Section 7.10(b) .

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

 

2


dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 days have expired without the appointment having been vacated or stayed, or 90 days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in the Act.

Board ” is defined in Section 6.1.

Book Depreciation ” means an amount which bears the same ratio to the Book Value of a Company asset as the amount of depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions with respect to the asset, computed for federal income tax purposes, bears to the adjusted tax basis of the asset; provided , that if the adjusted tax basis of the asset is zero, Book Depreciation shall be determined under any reasonable method selected by the Board, and provided , further , if the remedial allocation method of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d) is utilized with respect to a Company asset, Book Depreciation shall be determined under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2).

Book Value ” means, with respect to each Company asset, the adjusted basis of the asset for federal income tax purposes, except that (a) the initial Book Value of an asset other than money contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the Fair Market Value of the asset on the date of contribution, as agreed by the contributor and the Board, (b) immediately prior to the occurrence of a Revaluation Event, the Book Value of all the Company’s assets (including intangibles) shall be adjusted to their respective Fair Market Values on such date, (c) the Book Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member will be adjusted to equal the Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of distribution, (d) if the Book Value of any Company asset has been determined pursuant to the preceding clauses, the Book Value of the asset shall thereafter be adjusted by Book Depreciation in lieu of any depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions otherwise allowable for federal income tax purposes and (e) the Book Value of any Company asset will be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such asset pursuant to Code Section 743(b) or Section 734(b) but only to the extent such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), except that Book Values will not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (e) to the extent an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) is made in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (e). If the Book Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to this definition, such Book Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Book Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Company asset for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Loss.

Business Day ” means (a) any day on which the national securities exchange upon which securities of the Partnership are listed is open for trading or (b) in the event that no Partnership securities are listed on a national securities exchange, any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Member on the Company’s books and records in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

3


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

Class A Units ” means a Unit, representing a fractional part of the Membership Interests of the Members, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class A Units in this Agreement.

Class B Units ” means a Unit, representing a fractional part of the Membership Interests of the Members, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class B Units in this Agreement.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 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.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Units ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Company ” is defined in the introductory paragraph.

Compensation Committee ” is defined in Section 7.10(d) .

Conflicts Committee ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Current Limited Liability Company Agreement ” is defined in the recitals.

Delaware Certificate ” is defined in Section 2.1 , as the same may be amended from time to time.

Director ” or “ Directors ” means a member or members of the Board.

Dispose ,” “ Disposing ” or “ Disposition ” means with respect to any asset (including a Membership Interest or any portion thereof), a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, pledge, grant of a security interest, exchange or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition is voluntary, involuntary or by operation of Applicable Law.

Dissolution Event ” is defined in Section 12.1(a) .

Fair Market Value ” means the price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, as determined by the Board in good faith.

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

 

4


Group Member ” means any member of the Partnership Group.

Group Member Agreement ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Holdings ” is defined in the introductory paragraph.

Holdings Entities ” means Holdings and its Affiliates (other than the Company and the Partnership Group).

Incentive Plan ” means any plan or arrangement pursuant to which the Company may compensate its employees, consultants, directors and/or service providers.

Incentive Unit Plan ” means the Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan adopted as of August 4, 2014, as it may be amended from time to time.

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

Limited Partner ” and “ Limited Partners ” are defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Managing Member ” means Holdings and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Company as Managing Member.

Member ” means the Managing Member and each other Person designated as a Member on Exhibit A .

Membership Interest ” means, with respect to any Member, that Member’s limited liability company interests in the Company, including its share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company.

Merger Agreement ” is defined in Section 13.1 .

Net Income ” and “ Net Loss ” mean, for each Fiscal Tax Year or other relevant period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Tax Year or relevant period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:

 

5


(a) Income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

(b) Any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B), or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

(c) If the Book Value of any of the Company’s assets is adjusted pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Book Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss;

(d) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Book Value;

(e) In lieu of the deduction for depreciation, cost recovery, or amortization taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Book Depreciation;

(f) Any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 6.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss; and

(g) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset included in the Company’s assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s Membership Interest, the amount of such adjustment will be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment includes the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Loss.

Notices ” is defined in Section 14.2 .

Officer ” is defined in Section 8.1(b) .

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

Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, to be dated as of August 4, 2014, as it may be further amended and restated, or any successor agreement.

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

 

6


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.

Plan of Conversion ” is defined in Section 13.1 .

Revaluation Event ” means, except as otherwise determined by the Board, (a) the acquisition from the Company of any additional Membership Interest by any new or existing Member in exchange for a Capital Contribution or as consideration for services performed on behalf of the Partnership Group, (b) a distribution by the Company of money or other property in reduction or liquidation of a Membership Interest or (c) the liquidation of the Company (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)).

Sharing Ratio ” means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with Dispositions of Membership Interests, the percentage specified for that Member as its Sharing Ratio on Exhibit A ; provided, however , that the total of all Sharing Ratios shall always equal 100%.

Special Approval ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Subsidiary ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Surviving Business Entity ” is defined in Section 13.1 .

Tax Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company for financial statement purposes and for federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes as determined by the Board or required under the Code.

Tax Matters Member ” is defined in Section 10.1(a) .

Treasury Regulations ” means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.

Unit ” means a unit representing a fractional part of the Membership Interests of the Members and shall include all types and class of Units, including the Class A Units and Class B Units.

Withdraw ,” “ Withdrawing ” or “ Withdrawal ” means the resignation of a Member from the Company as a Member. Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of Membership Interests (which are governed by Article IV ), even though the Member making a Disposition may cease to be a Member as a result of such Disposition.

(b) Other terms defined herein have the meanings so given them.

 

7


Section 1.2 Construction .

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “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 Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (the “ Delaware Certificate ”) on April 12, 2012 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware under and pursuant to the Act. Holdings is hereby designated as an “authorized person” and shall continue as the designated “authorized person” within the meaning of the Act.

Section 2.2 Name .

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

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

The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Delaware Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Applicable Law. The registered agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Delaware Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Applicable Law. The principal office of the Company in the United States shall be at such a place as the Board may from time to time designate, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there. The Company may have such other offices as the Board may designate.

Section 2.4 Purposes .

The purpose of the Company is to own, acquire, hold, sell, transfer, assign, dispose of or otherwise deal with partnership or other interests in, and act as the general partner or other interest holder of, the Partnership and each other Group Member as described in the Partnership Agreement and each Group Member Agreement and to otherwise manage and control the business and affairs of the Partnership Group and to engage in any lawful business or activity

 

8


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

Section 2.5 Term .

The period of existence of the Company commenced on April 12, 2012 and shall end at such time as a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 12.4 .

Section 2.6 No State Law Partnership .

Except to the extent provided in the next sentence, the Members intend that the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member or Officer shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member or Officer, for any purposes, and this Agreement shall not be construed to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for federal and, if applicable, state and local income tax purposes. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment unless otherwise required by law.

Section 2.7 Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness .

(a) Separateness Generally . The Company shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, conduct their respective businesses and operations separate and apart from those of any other Person (including the Holdings Entities), except as provided in this Section 2.7 .

(b) Separate Records . The Company shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, (i) maintain their respective books and records and their respective accounts separate from those of any other Person, (ii) maintain their respective financial records, which will be used by them in their ordinary course of business, showing their respective assets and liabilities separate and apart from those of any other Person, except their consolidated Subsidiaries and (iii) file their respective own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except (A) to the extent that such Group Member or the Company (1) is treated as a “disregarded entity” for tax purposes or (2) is not otherwise required to file tax returns under Applicable Law or (B) as may otherwise be required by Applicable Law.

(c) Separate Assets . The Company shall not, and shall cause each Group Member to not, commingle or pool its funds or other assets with those of any other Person and shall maintain its assets in a manner in which it is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify its assets as separate from those of any other Person.

(d) Separate Name . The Company shall, and shall cause the members of the Partnership Group to, (i) conduct their respective businesses in their respective own names or in the names of their respective Subsidiaries or the Partnership, (ii) use their or the Partnership’s separate stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding

 

9


their respective separate identities as members of the Partnership Group from that of any other Person (including the Holdings Entities) and (iv) generally hold themselves and the Partnership Group out as entities separate from any other Person (including the Holdings Entities).

(e) Separate Credit . The Company shall not (i) pay its own liabilities from a source other than its own funds, (ii) guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries or a Group Member, (iii) hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries or a Group Member, (iv) acquire obligations or debt securities of its Affiliates (other than its Subsidiaries or a Group Member) or (v) pledge its assets for the benefit of any Person or make loans or advances to any Person, except its Subsidiaries or a Group Member; provided, however , that the Company may engage in any transaction described in clauses (ii)  through (v)  of this Section 2.7(e) if prior Special Approval has been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Conflicts Committee has determined, or has obtained reasonable written assurance from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking or valuation firm, that the borrower or recipient of the credit extension is not then insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in clause (iv) , such transaction is completed through a public auction or a national securities exchange.

(f) Separate Formalities . The Company shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, (i) observe all limited liability company or limited partnership formalities, as the case may be, and other formalities required by its organizational documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and other Applicable Laws, (ii) engage in transactions with any of the Holdings Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of Article 9 of the Partnership Agreement and (iii) promptly pay, from its own funds, and on a current basis, its allocable share of general and administrative services and costs for services performed, and capital expenditures made, by any of the Holdings Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable. Each material contract between the Company or a Group Member, on the one hand, and any of the Holdings Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable, on the other hand, shall be in writing.

(g) No Effect . Failure by the Company to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Company as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities, or restrict or limit the Company from engaging or contracting with the Holdings Entities for the provision of services or the purchase or sale of products.

 

10


ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.1 Members ; Additional Members

The Members of the Company are set forth on Exhibit A , as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. Additional Persons may be admitted to the Company as Members, and Membership Interests may be issued, on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine at the time of admission. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the Sharing Ratios applicable thereto and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members or Membership Interests having different (including senior) rights, powers and duties, including different classes of Units. Upon the issuance of additional Membership Interests, the Board shall update Exhibit A to reflect the current schedule of all Members, each Member’s ownership interest in the Company, including the number of Units each member owns, and each Member’s Sharing Ratio.

Section 3.2 Units .

The Membership Interests of the Members shall be represented by issued and outstanding Units, which may be divided into one or more types, classes or series. The Units initially shall consist of two classes: Class A Units and Class B Units, and each shall have the rights, powers, preferences, privileges, limitations, restrictions and obligations as set forth herein, including without limitation, rights to distributions (liquidation or otherwise) and allocation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that the Class B Units are non-voting Units and the holders of the Class B Units shall have no authority to exercise any control over the management of the Company, except as otherwise expressly required under this Agreement or by non-waivable provisions of applicable law. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, additional Units, and additional series or classes of Units, may be issued from time to time as determined by the Board, with such relative rights, powers and obligations as the Board may determine in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may issue fractional Units.

Section 3.3 Capital Accounts .

(a) The Company shall maintain for each Member a separate Capital Account in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and including the following provisions. Each Capital Account shall be (i) increased by (A) the cash amount or Book Value at the time of contribution (net of any liabilities assumed) of all Capital Contributions subsequently made (or deemed to be made) by such Member to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, (B) Net Income and all items of the Company’s income and gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Article IV and (C) any other increases required by the Treasury Regulations, and (ii) decreased by (A) the cash amount or Book Value of all distributions of cash or property (net of any liabilities assumed) made by the Company to such Member pursuant to this Agreement, (B) Net Loss and all items of the Company’s deduction and loss allocated to such Member pursuant to Article IV and (C) any other decreases required by the Treasury Regulations.

(b) The determination of the amount of any liability for purposes of this Section 3.2 shall be made in accordance with Section 752(c) of the Code and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(c) In the event all or a portion of a Member’s Membership Interest is Disposed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Assignee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the Disposing Member to the extent it relates to the Disposed Membership Interest.

 

11


(d) It is the intention of the Members that Capital Accounts shall be determined in a manner so that the allocations in this Agreement will have, or be deemed to have, substantial economic effect under Section 704(b) of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. In the event that the Board determines that it is prudent to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto (including debits or credits relating to liabilities that are secured by contributed or distributed property or that are assumed by the Company or the Members or their Affiliates), are computed in order to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Board shall make such modification provided it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Member pursuant to Article X hereunder upon the dissolution of the Company. In the event that unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Board, consistent with the prior sentence, shall make such modifications as it deems appropriate

Section 3.4 Access to Information .

Each Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request concerning the Company for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest in the Company; provided, however , that this Section 3.4 shall not obligate the Company to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice, and at all reasonable times during usual business hours to inspect the properties of the Company and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of the Company for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest in the Company. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. All costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made on such Member’s behalf shall be borne by such Member.

Section 3.5 Liability .

(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Act, no Member shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a member of the Company.

(b) The Company and the Members agree that the rights, duties and obligations of the Members in their capacities as members of the Company are only as set forth in this Agreement and as otherwise arise under the Act. Furthermore, the Members agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the existence of any rights of a Member, or the exercise or forbearance from exercise of any such rights, shall not create any duties or obligations of the Member in its capacity as a member of the Company, nor shall such rights be construed to enlarge or otherwise to alter in any manner the duties and obligations of such Member.

Section 3.6 Withdrawal .

A Member does not have the right or power to Withdraw.

 

12


ARTICLE IV

DISPOSITION

OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Assignment; Admission of Assignee as a Member .

Subject to this Article IV , the Managing Member may assign in whole or in part its Membership Interests. No Member (other than the Managing Member) shall Dispose of all or any portion of such Member’s Membership Interests at any time without the prior written approval of the Managing Member in its sole discretion. An Assignee has the right to be admitted to the Company as a Member, with the Membership Interests (and attendant Sharing Ratio) so transferred to such Assignee, only if (a) the Member making the Disposition (a “ Disposing Member ”) has granted the Assignee either (i) all, but not less than all, of such Disposing Member’s Membership Interests or (ii) the express right to be so admitted and (b) such Disposition is effected in strict compliance with this Article IV . If a Member transfers all of its Membership Interest in the Company pursuant to this Article IV , such admission shall be deemed effective immediately prior to the transfer and, immediately upon such admission, the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.

Section 4.2 Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions .

Any Disposition of Membership Interests and any admission of an Assignee as a Member shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition (and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements are complied with:

(a) Payment of Expenses . The Disposing Member and its Assignee shall pay, or reimburse the Company for, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Disposition and admission of the Assignee as a Member.

(b) No Release . No Disposition of Membership Interests shall effect a release of the Disposing Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from events occurring prior to the Disposition, except as otherwise may be provided in any instrument or agreement pursuant to which a Disposition of Membership Interests is effected.

(c) Agreement to be Bound . The Assignee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement or other instrument by which such Assignee agrees to be bound by this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 5.1 Initial Capital Contributions .

In the event that any Member is admitted to the Company and is given a Capital Account in exchange for services rendered to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, such transaction shall be treated by the Company and the affected Member as if the Member had been compensated in cash and such Member had contributed the cash that the Member would have

 

13


received to the capital of the Company. No Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without such Member’s prior written consent. No Member shall be permitted to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the prior written consent of the Managing Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Members may, from time to time, be required to return distributions to the Company pursuant to Section 5.3 or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Incentive Unit Plan or applicable Award Agreement.

Section 5.2 Loans .

If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member(s) that may agree to do so may advance all or part of the needed funds to or on behalf of the Company. Any advance described in this Section 5.2 will constitute a loan from the Member to the Company, will bear interest at a lawful rate determined by the Board and the Member making the loan from the date of the advance until the date of payment and will not be a Capital Contribution.

Section 5.3 Return of Contributions .

Except as expressly provided herein, no Member is entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unreturned Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.

Section 5.4 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Membership Interests . All Membership Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with, the requirements of this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Membership Interests, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Act.

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

Section 6.1 Distributions .

Distributions to the Members shall be made only to all Members simultaneously in proportion to their respective Sharing Ratios (at the time the amounts of such distributions are determined) and in such aggregate amounts and at such times as shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”); provided, however , that any loans from Members pursuant to Section 5.3 shall be repaid prior to any distributions to Members pursuant to this Section 6.1 .

Section 6.2 Allocations of Profits and Losses .

The Company’s profits and losses shall be allocated to the Members in proportion to their respective Sharing Ratios.

 

14


Section 6.3 Limitations on Distributions .

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate the Act or other Applicable Law.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT

Section 7.1 Management by Board of Directors .

(a) The management of the Company is fully reserved to the Managing Member, and the Company shall not have “managers” as that term is used in the Act. The powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Managing Member, who, except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, shall make all decisions and take all actions for the Company.

(b) The Managing Member shall have the power and authority to delegate to one or more other Persons the Managing Member’s rights and power to manage and control the business and affairs, or any portion thereof, of the Company, including to delegate to agents, officers and employees of a Member or the Company, and to delegate by a management agreement with or otherwise to other Persons.

(c) The Managing Member hereby delegates to the Board, to the fullest extent permitted under this Agreement and Applicable Law, all power and authority related to the Company’s management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without obtaining approval of the Managing Member, the Company shall not, and shall not take any action to cause the Partnership to, (i) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Partnership, (ii) merge or consolidate, (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, dissolve or liquidate, (iv) make or consent to a general assignment for the benefit of their respective creditors, (v) file or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the Company or the Partnership, as applicable, or otherwise seek, with respect to the Company or the Partnership, such relief from debtors or protection from creditors generally or (vi) take various actions similar to those described in any of clauses (i)  through (v)  of this Section 7.1(d) .

Section 7.2 Number; Qualification; Tenure.

(a) The number of Directors constituting the Board shall be at least two and no more than nine, and may be fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Managing Member. A Director need not be a Member. Each Director shall be elected or approved by the Managing Member and shall serve as a Director of the Company for a term of one year (or their earlier death or removal from office) or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

15


(b) The Directors of the Company in office at the date of this Agreement are set forth on Exhibit B hereto.

Section 7.3 Regular Meetings.

Regular quarterly and annual meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular quarterly and annual meetings shall not be required.

Section 7.4 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the Board may be called at any time at the request of (a) the Chairman of the Board or (b) a majority of the Directors then in office.

Section 7.5 Notice.

Written notice of all special meetings of the Board must be given to all Directors at least two Business Days prior to any special meeting of the Board. All notices and other communications to be given to Directors shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service or three days after being mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with appropriate postage prepaid, or when received in the form of an e-mail or facsimile, and shall be directed to the address, e-mail address or facsimile number as such Director shall designate by notice to the Company. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to this Agreement, as provided herein. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the Directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting either before or after such meeting.

Section 7.6 Action by Consent of Board.

To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board may act without a meeting and without prior notice so long as a majority of the Directors then in office shall have executed a written consent with respect to any action taken in lieu of a meeting.

Section 7.7 Conference Telephone Meetings.

Directors or members of any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment or by such other means by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 7.8 Quorum and Action.

A majority of the Directors then in office, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 7.7 , shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except as otherwise required by

 

16


Applicable Law, all decisions of the Board, or any committee of the Board, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all Directors then in office, or any committee of the Board, respectively. The Directors then in office present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum.

Section 7.9 Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors.

Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by the appointment of individuals approved by the Managing Member. Any Director so appointed shall hold office until the next annual election and until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified, unless sooner displaced.

Section 7.10 Committees.

(a) The Board may establish committees of the Board and may delegate any of its responsibilities to such committees, except as prohibited by Applicable Law.

(b) The Board shall have an audit committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) comprised of Directors who meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed. The Audit Committee shall establish a written audit committee charter in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time. Each member of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the rules and regulations of the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, pertaining to qualification for service on an audit committee.

(c) The Board may, from time to time, establish a Conflicts Committee. The Conflicts Committee shall function in the manner described in the Partnership Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement or any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of the Partnership Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duty owed by the Board or any Director to the Company or the Members.

(d) The Board may have a compensation committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”). The Compensation Committee may be charged with such matters pertaining to the compensation of Directors, Officers and other personnel of the Company, the review, approval and administration of any Incentive Plans put in place by the Company or any Group Member and such other related matters as may be directed by the Board from time to time.

(e) A majority of the Directors constituting any committee, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 7.7 , shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, all decisions of any committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors constituting such committee.

 

17


(f) To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any committee may act without a meeting and without prior notice so long as a majority of the Directors constituting such committee shall have executed a written consent with respect to any action taken in lieu of a meeting.

(g) A committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 7.5 . The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.

Section 7.11 Removal.

Any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Managing Member.

Section 7.12 Compensation of Directors.

Except as expressly provided in any written agreement between the Company and a Director or by resolution of the Board, no Director shall receive any compensation from the Company for services provided to the Company in its capacity as a Director, except that each Director shall be compensated for attendance at Board meetings at rates of compensation as from time to time established by the Board or a committee thereof; provided, however, that Directors who are also employees of the Company thereof shall receive no compensation for their services as Directors or committee members. In addition, the Directors who are not employees of the Company or any Affiliate thereof shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board or committees thereof.

Section 7.13 Responsibility and Authority of the Board; Standards of Conduct of Directors and Officers.

(a) The Board and the Officers may exercise only such powers of the Company and do such acts and things as are expressly authorized by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement. Notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Board or any Officer in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duties owed by the Board or any Director or Officer to the Company or the Members.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Managing Member shall have exclusive authority over the internal business and affairs of the Company that do not relate to management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, and the Board and the Officers shall have no authority to act with respect to any matter that does not relate to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group except as may be expressly authorized and directed from time to time by the Managing Member. For illustrative purposes, the internal business and affairs of the Company where the Managing

 

18


Member shall have exclusive authority include (i) the amount and timing of distributions paid by the Company, (ii) the prosecution, settlement or management of any claim made directly against the Company and not involving or relating to the Partnership Group, (iii) the decision to sell, convey, transfer or pledge any asset of the Company other than assets of the Partnership Group, (iv) the decision to amend, modify or waive any rights relating to the assets of the Company other than assets of the Partnership Group, (v) the voting of, or exercise of other rights with respect to, any securities or other interests held by the Company in any Group Member and (vi) the decision to enter into any agreement to incur an obligation of the Company, other than an agreement entered into for and on behalf of any Group Member for which the Company is liable exclusively by virtue of the Company’s capacity as general partner of the Partnership.

(c) Whenever the Directors or Officers (in their respective capacities as such), make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any other action relating to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group for which the Company or the Directors or Officers are required to act in accordance with a particular standard under the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, as applicable, then the Directors and Officers shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in accordance with such standard and, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

(d) To the extent that the Directors or Officers (in their respective capacities as such), make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any other action in any circumstance not described in Section 7.13(c) under any express authorization or direction of the Managing Member that may be in effect from time to time, then unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or a Group Member Agreement, the Directors and Officers shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in the subjective belief that the determination or other action is in the best interest of the Managing Member and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not otherwise be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

Section 7.14 Other Business of Members, Directors and Affiliates.

(a) The Members, each Director and their respective Affiliates (other than any Group Member) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Company or any Group Member, and the Company, any Group Member, the Directors and the Members shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Company or any Group Member, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.

 

19


(b) None of the Members, any Director or any of their respective Affiliates (other than any Group Member) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Company or a Group Member, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Company or any Group Member, and such Persons shall not be liable to the Company or the Members for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Person pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Company or any Group Member; provided such Members, Director or any of their Affiliates do not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information that was provided by or on behalf of the Partnership Group.

ARTICLE VIII

OFFICERS

Section 8.1 Officers .

(a) The Board shall elect one or more persons to be Officers of the Company to assist in carrying out the Board’s decisions and the day-to-day activities of the Company in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership. Officers are not “managers” as that term is used in the Act. Any individuals who are elected as Officers of the Company shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall have such titles and the authority and duties specified in this Agreement or otherwise delegated to each of them, respectively, by the Board from time to time. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed by the Board.

(b) The officers of the Company may consist of a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper (each an “ Officer ” and collectively, the “ Officers ”). All Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VIII . The Board may from time to time elect such other Officers or appoint such agents as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Company. Such other Officers and agents shall have such authority and responsibilities and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in this Agreement or as may be prescribed by the Board, as the case may be from time to time.

Section 8.2 Election and Term of Office .

Each Officer shall hold office until such person’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such person’s death or until he or she shall resign or be removed pursuant to Section 8.10 .

Section 8.3 Chairman of the Board.

The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be chosen from among the Directors and shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the Board and of the Limited Partners of the Partnership and shall perform such additional functions and duties as the Board may prescribe from time to time. The Directors also may elect a Vice Chairman of the Board to act in the place of the Chairman of the Board upon his or her absence or inability to act.

 

20


Section 8.4 Chief Executive Officer .

The Chief Executive Officer, who may be the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board and/or the President, shall have general and active management authority over the business of the Company and, subject to the control of the Board, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be assigned by this Agreement or prescribed by the Board from time to time.

Section 8.5 President .

The President shall, subject to the control of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, in general, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Company. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members. The President shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of President and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

Section 8.6 Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer .

The Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of President. The Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

Section 8.7 Vice Presidents .

Any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President, in the order of seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President and the Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. They shall also perform the usual and customary duties and have the powers that pertain to such office and generally assist the President by executing contracts and agreements and exercising such other powers and performing such other duties as are delegated to them by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

Section 8.8 Chief Financial Officer .

The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of the Chief Financial Officer and, subject to the control of the Board, in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall receive and deposit all monies and other valuables belonging to the Company in the name

 

21


and to the credit of the Company and shall disburse the same and only in such manner as the Board or the appropriate Officer of the Company may from time to time determine. The Chief Financial Officer shall render to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the President, whenever any of them request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the same power as the President and Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.

Section 8.9 Secretary .

The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board, the Members and the Limited Partners. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, as applicable, and as required by Applicable Law; shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Company (if any) and affix and attest the seal (if any) to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its seal; and shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by Applicable Law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Secretary and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

Section 8.10 Removal .

Any Officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office whenever, in such majority’s judgment, the best interests of the Company would be served thereby. No Officer shall have any contractual rights against the Company for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of such person’s successor, such person’s death, such person’s resignation or such person’s removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

Section 8.11 Vacancies .

A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board.

 

22


ARTICLE IX

INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Section 9.1 Indemnification .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct (including a willful breach of this Agreement) or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 9.1(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company 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 9.1 , the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 9.1 .

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 9.1 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

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

 

23


(e) For purposes of this Section 9.1 , the Company 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 Company 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 9.1 ; and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.

(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members 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 9.1 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 9.1 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons, and each Indemnitee shall be deemed a third party beneficiary of this Agreement for purposes of its rights under this Section 9.1 and Section 9.2 .

(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.1 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 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.

(j) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 9.1(A) , THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 9.1 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERSON’S NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.

Section 9.2 Liability of Indemnitees.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the Members or any other Person 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, with respect to the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct (including a willful breach of this Agreement) or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.

 

24


(b) Subject to any limitations set forth in Article VII and Article VIII , the Board and any committee thereof 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 the Company’s Officers or agents, and neither the Board nor any committee thereof shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer or agent appointed in good faith by the Board.

(c) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company or any Member, notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Members or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing under Applicable Law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Members and such other Indemnitee.

(d) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.2 or any provision hereof shall in any manner affect the limitations on the liability of any Indemnitee under this Section 9.2 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

ARTICLE X

TAXES

Section 10.1 Taxes .

(a) The Board shall from time to time designate a Member to act as the “tax matters partner” under Section 6231 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, subject to replacement by the Board (such Member, the “ Tax Matters Member ”). The initial Tax Matters Member will be Holdings. The Tax Matters Member shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all state and local tax returns, if any, required to be filed by the Company. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns.

(b) The Company and the Members acknowledge that for federal income tax purposes, the Company will be disregarded as an entity separate from the Members pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 301.7701-3 as long as all of the Membership Interests in the Company are owned by a sole Member.

ARTICLE XI

BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS

Section 11.1 Maintenance of Books .

(a) The Board shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company or at such other location approved by the Board complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Company’s business and minutes of the proceedings of the Board and the Members and any other books and records that are required to be maintained by Applicable Law.

 

25


(b) The books of account of the Company shall be maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year and on an accrual basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

Section 11.2 Reports .

The Board shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.

Section 11.3 Bank Accounts .

Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION

Section 12.1 Dissolution .

(a) The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(i) the consent of the Managing Member;

(ii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act; and

(iii) at any time there are no Members of the Company, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act or this Agreement.

(b) No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.

(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company.

 

26


(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

Section 12.2 Winding-Up and Termination .

(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Managing Member shall act as, or alternatively appoint, a liquidator (who will be the “liquidating trustee” for purposes of the Act). The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:

(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and operations through the last day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;

(ii) subject to the Act, the liquidator shall satisfy from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding up or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and satisfaction thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine)); and

(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 6.1 .

(b) The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.2 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, such Member shall have no claim against any other Member for those funds.

Section 12.3 Deficit Capital Accounts .

No Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in the Member’s Capital Account.

Section 12.4 Certificate of Cancellation .

On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein and under the Act, the Managing Member (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate, except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or by Applicable Law.

 

27


ARTICLE XIII

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

Section 13.1 Authority .

Subject to compliance with Section 7.1(d) , the Company may merge or consolidate with one or more domestic or foreign 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 domestic or foreign entity, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) or a written plan of conversion (“ Plan of Conversion ”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIII . The surviving entity to any such merger, consolidation or conversion is referred to herein as the “ Surviving Business Entity .”

Section 13.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) The merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to this Article XIII requires the prior approval of a majority of the Board and compliance with Section 13.3 .

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

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

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

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

(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, 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 general or limited partner 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 securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner 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;

 

28


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

(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 13.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein; and

(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board.

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

Section 13.3 Approval of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) The Board, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be submitted to the Managing Member, for its consent. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

(b) The Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the Managing Member.

(c) After such consent of the Managing Member, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Section 13.4 , the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

Section 13.4 Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion .

(a) Upon the required approval by the Board and the Managing Member of a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Act and shall have such effect as provided under the Act or other Applicable Law.

(b) A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article XIII shall not (i) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another having occurred or (ii) require the Company (if it is not the Surviving Business Entity) to wind up its affairs, pay its liabilities or distribute its assets as required under Article XII of this Agreement or under the applicable provisions of the Act.

 

29


ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 14.1 Offset .

Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.

Section 14.2 Notices .

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “ Notices ”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery or facsimile or electronic mail, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given upon delivery of such notice:

To the Company:

Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Fax: (214) 979-3806

To Holdings:

Southcross Holdings LP

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Fax: (214) 979-3710

c/o Charlesbank Equity Fund VI, Limited Partnership

200 Clarendon Street, 54 th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Attn: Jon Biotti

Fax: (617) 619-5402

 

30


Section 14.3 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating to the Company and the transactions contemplated hereby, and supersedes all provisions and concepts contained in all prior contracts or agreements between the Members with respect to the Company, whether oral or written, including the Current Limited Liability Company Agreement.

Section 14.4 Effect of Waiver or Consent.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Member in the performance by that Member of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Member of the same or any other obligations of that Member with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Member to complain of any act of any Member or to declare any Member in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Member of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.

Section 14.5 Amendment or Restatement.

This Agreement may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed by all Members; provided, however , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each Member agrees that the Board, without the approval of any Member, may amend any provision of the Delaware Certificate and this Agreement, and may authorize any Officer to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record any such amendment and whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect any change that does not require consent or approval (or for which such consent or approval has been obtained) under this Agreement or does not materially adversely affect the rights of the Members.

Section 14.6 Binding Effect.

Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 14.7 Governing Law; Severability .

THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the

 

31


application thereof to any Member or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (x) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Members or circumstances is not affected thereby and (y) the Members shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.

Section 14.8 Venue.

Any and all claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, any other state court in the State of Delaware). Each party hereto unconditionally and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, any other state court in the State of Delaware) with respect to any such claim, suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection that such party may have to the laying of venue of any claim, suit, action or proceeding in the Court of Chancery (or other state court) of the State of Delaware.

Section 14.9 Further Assurances.

In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.

Section 14.10 Waiver of Certain Rights.

Each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company or for partition of the property of the Company.

Section 14.11 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) affixed in the name and on behalf of a party is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

32


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

 

MEMBER:    SOUTHCROSS HOLDINGS LP
   By:    Southcross Holdings GP LLC, its general partner
              By:  

/s/ David W. Biegler

        David W. Biegler
        Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement


Exhibit A

MEMBERS

 

Member

   Sharing Ratio  

Southcross Holdings LP

     100


Exhibit B

DIRECTORS

 

David W. Biegler

   Director

Jon M. Biotti

   Director

Jason Downie

   Director

Wallace C. Henderson

   Director

Jerry W. Pinkerton

   Director

Ronald G. Steinhart

   Director

Bruce A. Williamson

   Director

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

August 4, 2014

among

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.,

as Borrower,

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Documentation Agent,

and

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, and UBS Securities LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I   

Definitions and Accounting Matters

     2   

Section 1.01

   Terms Defined Above      2   

Section 1.02

   Certain Defined Terms      2   

Section 1.03

   Types of Loans and Borrowings      36   

Section 1.04

   Terms Generally; Rules of Construction      36   

Section 1.05

   Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP; Pro Forma Compliance      36   
Article II   

The Credits

        37   

Section 2.01

   Commitments      37   

Section 2.02

   Loans and Borrowings      38   

Section 2.03

   Requests for Borrowings      39   

Section 2.04

   Interest Elections      40   

Section 2.05

   Funding of Borrowings      41   

Section 2.06

   Termination and Reduction of Commitments      42   

Section 2.07

   Letters of Credit      42   

Section 2.08

   Optional Increase in Commitments      48   
Article III   

Payments of Principal and Interest; Prepayments; Fees

     49   

Section 3.01

   Repayment of Loans      49   

Section 3.02

   Interest      49   

Section 3.03

   Alternate Rate of Interest      50   

Section 3.04

   Prepayments      51   

Section 3.05

   Fees      53   
Article IV   

Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

     54   

Section 4.01

   Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs      54   

Section 4.02

   Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent      55   

Section 4.03

   Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent      55   

Section 4.04

   Defaulting Lenders      56   
Article V   

Increased Costs; Break Funding Payments; Taxes; Illegality

     57   

Section 5.01

   Increased Costs      57   

Section 5.02

   Break Funding Payments      59   

Section 5.03

   Taxes      59   

 

i


Section 5.04

   Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      63   

Section 5.05

   Illegality      64   
Article VI   

Conditions Precedent

     64   

Section 6.01

   Effective Date      64   

Section 6.02

   Each Subsequent Credit Event      68   
Article VII   

Representations and Warranties

     68   

Section 7.01

   Organization; Powers      69   

Section 7.02

   Authority; Enforceability      69   

Section 7.03

   Approvals; No Conflicts      69   

Section 7.04

   Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change      69   

Section 7.05

   Litigation      71   

Section 7.06

   Environmental Matters      71   

Section 7.07

   Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults      72   

Section 7.08

   Investment Company Act      73   

Section 7.09

   Taxes      73   

Section 7.10

   ERISA      73   

Section 7.11

   Disclosure; No Material Misstatements      74   

Section 7.12

   Insurance      74   

Section 7.13

   Restriction on Liens      74   

Section 7.14

   Subsidiaries      75   

Section 7.15

   Location of Business and Offices      75   

Section 7.16

   Properties; Titles, Etc      75   

Section 7.17

   Maintenance of Properties      76   

Section 7.18

   Hedging Agreements and Qualified ECP Guarantor      76   

Section 7.19

   Security Instruments      76   

Section 7.20

   Use of Loans and Letters of Credit      77   

Section 7.21

   Solvency      78   

Section 7.22

   Common Enterprise      78   

Section 7.23

   Material Contracts      78   

Section 7.24

   Broker’s Fees      78   

Section 7.25

   Employee Matters      78   

Section 7.26

   Anti-Terrorism Laws      78   

Section 7.27

   Foreign Corrupt Practices      79   
Article VIII   

Affirmative Covenants

     80   

Section 8.01

   Financial Statements; Ratings Change; Other Information      80   

Section 8.02

   Notices of Material Events      83   

Section 8.03

   Existence; Conduct of Business      84   

Section 8.04

   Payment of Tax Obligations      84   

 

ii


Section 8.05

   Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents      84   

Section 8.06

   Operation and Maintenance of Properties      85   

Section 8.07

   Insurance      85   

Section 8.08

   Books and Records; Inspection Rights      85   

Section 8.09

   Compliance with Laws      86   

Section 8.10

   Compliance with Agreements      86   

Section 8.11

   Environmental Matters      86   

Section 8.12

   Further Assurances      87   

Section 8.13

   Title Information      87   

Section 8.14

   Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      87   

Section 8.15

   Designations with Respect to Subsidiaries      89   

Section 8.16

   Excluded Subsidiaries      89   

Section 8.17

   ERISA Compliance      90   

Section 8.18

   Interest Rate Hedging Agreements      90   

Section 8.19

   Commodity Exchange Act Keepwell Provisions      90   

Section 8.20

   Post-Closing Obligations      90   
Article IX   

Negative Covenants

     91   

Section 9.01

   Financial Covenants      91   

Section 9.02

   Indebtedness      93   

Section 9.03

   Liens      94   

Section 9.04

   Restricted Payments      95   

Section 9.05

   Investments, Loans and Advances      96   

Section 9.06

   Nature of Business; International Operations      98   

Section 9.07

   Proceeds of Loans      98   

Section 9.08

   ERISA Compliance      98   

Section 9.09

   Sale or Discount of Receivables      99   

Section 9.10

   Mergers, Etc      99   

Section 9.11

   Sale of Properties      100   

Section 9.12

   Environmental Matters      101   

Section 9.13

   Transactions with Affiliates      101   

Section 9.14

   Subsidiaries      101   

Section 9.15

   Limitation on Issuance of Equity Interests      101   

Section 9.16

   Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions      101   

Section 9.17

   Hedging Agreements      102   

Section 9.18

   Holding Company      102   

Section 9.19

   Sale and Leaseback      102   

Section 9.20

   Amendments to Organization Documents, Term Loan Documents, Material Contracts, or Fiscal Year End; Prepayments of other Indebtedness      103   

Section 9.21

   Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering      103   

Section 9.22

   Embargoed Person      104   

 

iii


Article X   

Events of Default; Remedies

     104   

Section 10.01

   Events of Default      104   

Section 10.02

   Remedies      106   
Article XI   

The Agents

        108   

Section 11.01

   Appointment and Authority      108   

Section 11.02

   Rights as a Lender      108   

Section 11.03

   Exculpatory Provisions      108   

Section 11.04

   Reliance by Administrative Agent      109   

Section 11.05

   Delegation of Duties      109   

Section 11.06

   Resignation of Administrative Agent      110   

Section 11.07

   Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      110   

Section 11.08

   No Other Duties, etc      111   

Section 11.09

   Authority of Administrative Agent to Release Collateral and Liens      111   

Section 11.10

   Action by the Administrative Agent      111   

Section 11.11

   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      112   

Section 11.12

   Intercreditor Agreement      113   
Article XII   

Miscellaneous

     113   

Section 12.01

   Notices      113   

Section 12.02

   Waivers; Amendments      115   

Section 12.03

   Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver      117   

Section 12.04

   Assignments and Participations      120   

Section 12.05

   Survival; Revival; Reinstatement      124   

Section 12.06

   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution      125   

Section 12.07

   Severability      125   

Section 12.08

   Right of Setoff      125   

Section 12.09

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      126   

Section 12.10

   Headings      127   

Section 12.11

   Confidentiality      127   

Section 12.12

   Interest Rate Limitation      128   

Section 12.13

   Exculpation Provisions      129   

Section 12.14

   Collateral Matters; Secured Hedging Agreements; Bank Products      129   

Section 12.15

   No Third Party Beneficiaries      129   

Section 12.16

   USA Patriot Act Notice      130   

Section 12.17

   Amendment and Restatement      130   

Section 12.18

   Non-Recourse to the General Partner      130   

Section 12.19

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      131   

Section 12.20

   Intercreditor Agreement      131   

 

iv


ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Annex I    Commitments
Annex II    Existing Letters of Credit
Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit C    Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit D-1    Form of Compliance Certificate (Effective Date)
Exhibit D-2    Form of Compliance Certificate (Ongoing)
Exhibit E    Form of Guaranty and Collateral Agreement
Exhibit F    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit G-1    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; not partnerships)
Exhibit G-2    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants; not partnerships)
Exhibit G-3    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants: partnerships)
Exhibit G-4    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; partnerships)
Exhibit H    Form of Solvency Certificate
Schedule 1.02(a)    Security Instruments as of the Effective Date
Schedule 1.02(b)    Specified Transactions
Schedule 1.02(c)    Specified Projects
Schedule 7.09    Taxes
Schedule 7.14    Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.18    Hedging Agreements
Schedule 7.19    Jurisdictions for Security Instrument Filings
Schedule 7.23    Material Contracts
Schedule 7.24    Broker’s Fees
Schedule 8.20    Post-Closing Obligations
Schedule 9.05    Existing Investments

 

v


THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 4, 2014, is among: Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”); each of the Lenders from time to time party hereto; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (in its individual capacity, “ Wells Fargo ”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”); UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as co-syndication agents for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with their successors in such capacity, the “ Co-Syndication Agents ”); and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Documentation Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agent ”).

R E C I T A L S

A. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and each of the financial institutions party thereto as lenders (the “ Existing Lenders ”) are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 7, 2012 (as amended, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Existing Lenders provided certain loans and extensions of credit to the Borrower (all Indebtedness (as defined below) arising pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, the “ Existing Indebtedness ”).

B. The Borrower, Southcross Energy GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Borrower (“ Southcross OpCo GP ”), and TexStar Midstream Services, LP, a Texas limited partnership (“ TexStar ”), entered into that certain Contribution Agreement dated June 11, 2014 (as amended, the “ Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which (a) TexStar has agreed to contribute (i) 100% of the outstanding limited partnership interest in FL Rich Gas Services, LP, a Texas limited partnership formerly known as Frio LaSalle Pipeline, LP (“ Frio LP ”), and (ii) 100% of the outstanding limited liability company interest in FL Rich Gas Services GP, LLC, a Texas limited liability company formerly known as Frio LaSalle GP, LLC and the sole general partner of Frio LP (“ Frio GP ”), to the Borrower, and (b) the Borrower has agreed to contribute, directly or indirectly, (i) 100% of the Equity Interests in Frio GP to Southcross OpCo GP and (ii) 100% of the limited partnership interest in Frio LP to Southcross Energy LP LLC, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Contribution Agreement (such transactions, collectively, the “ Frio Contribution ”).

C. The Borrower is entering into that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith (the “ Term Loan Agreement ”), with the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (together with their successors and assigns, collectively, the “ Term Lenders ”) and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent for the Term Lenders (together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Term Administrative Agent ”), pursuant to which the Term Lenders are funding certain term loans to the Borrower on the Effective Date (collectively, the “ Effective Date Term Loans ”) and making certain other extensions of credit to the Borrower (such credit facility, the “ Term Loan Facility ”).

D. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement, the Borrower and certain of its Affiliates, as applicable, are consummating the Frio Contribution and the other Specified Transactions (as defined below).

 

1


E. Subject to the conditions precedent set forth herein, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety in the form of this Agreement to (a) reflect the Frio Contribution and the other Specified Transactions, and (b) amend certain other terms of the Existing Credit Agreement in certain respects as provided in this Agreement.

F. After giving effect to the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, the Commitment of each Lender hereunder will be as set forth on Annex I attached hereto.

G. In consideration of the premises, the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the satisfaction of each condition precedent set forth in Section 6.01 hereof, the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Date in the form of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

Section 1.01 Terms Defined Above . As used in this Agreement, each term defined above has the meaning indicated above.

Section 1.02 Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Actual Completion Date ” means, with respect to any Specified Project, the date, to be identified to the Administrative Agent by delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer, certifying that the Specified Project has reached actual capacity set forth in the projections provided to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Specified Project and is generally generating the revenue specified in the minimum revenue contracts previously approved by the Administrative Agent as set forth in the definition of “Specified Projects”.

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.05 .

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

2


Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents and the Documentation Agent; and “ Agent ” means any one of the Administrative Agent, any Co-Syndication Agent or the Documentation Agent, as the context requires.

Agreement ” means this Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.0%. For the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day (or the immediately preceding Business Day if such day is not a day on which banks are open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

Annualized Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to each Rolling Period ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015, the sum of (a) the Borrower’s Consolidated EBITDA for such Rolling Period, determined without giving effect to any Unadjusted Rich Gas EBITDA, plus (b) Annualized Rich Gas EBITDA for such Rolling Period, plus (c) the EP MVC Adjustment.

Annualized Rich Gas EBITDA ” means, (a) with respect to the Rolling Period ending September 30, 2014, $28,000,000, and (b) with respect to each Rolling Period thereafter ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015, an amount equal to the product of (i) Unadjusted Rich Gas EBITDA for such Rolling Period multiplied by (ii) the factor set forth for such Rolling Period in the following grid in the column with the heading corresponding to the applicable Base Period:

 

Rolling Period Ending

   Q3 2014 Base Period Factor    Q4 2014 Base Period Factor

December 31, 2014

   2    4

March 31, 2015

   4/3    2

June 30, 2015

   N/
A
   4/3

Anti-Terrorism Law ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(a) .

 

3


Applicable Margin ” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurodollar Loan, or with respect to the Commitment Fee Rate, as the case may be, the rate per annum set forth in the grid below (subject to the proviso in the last paragraph of this definition) based upon the current Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio then in effect:

 

Consolidated Total

Leverage Ratio

   Eurodollar Loans   ABR Loans   Commitment Fee
Rate

Less than 2.50 to 1.00

   2.00%   1.00%   0.375%

Greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but less than 3.00 to 1.00

   2.25%   1.25%   0.375%

Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.50 to 1.00

   2.50%   1.50%   0.375%

Greater than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 but less than 4.00 to 1.00

   2.75%   1.75%   0.500%

Greater than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00 but less than 4.50 to 1.00

   3.00%   2.00%   0.500%

Greater than or equal to 4.50

   3.25%   2.25%   0.500%

Each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective on and after the date on which financial statements or a compliance certificate, as applicable, is delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) , (b)  or (d)  and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph; provided, however, that (x) if at any time the Borrower fails to deliver any financial statements or a compliance certificate required by Sections 8.01(a) , (b)  or (d) , as applicable, then the “Applicable Margin” means the rate per annum set forth on the grid when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is at its highest level, and (y) for the period from the Effective Date until the date on which the financial statements and compliance certificate required pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) , (b)  or (d) , as applicable, are delivered to the Administrative Agent for the period ending on the last day of the first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date, “Applicable Margin” means the rate per annum set forth on the grid when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is at its highest level.

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment (or, if the Commitments have terminated or expired, the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures represented by such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at such time); provided that in the case of Section 4.04 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitments) represented by such Lender’s Commitment (or, if the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentage shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments (and disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s unfunded Commitment based on the Commitments most recently in effect) at the time of determination).

 

4


Approved Counterparty ” means (a) any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender and (b) any other Person whose (or whose credit support provider’s) long term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Person (including by way of redemption by such Person) of any Property (including, without limitation, any capital stock or other securities of, or Equity Interests in, another Person), but excluding (a) dispositions resulting from Casualty Events, and (b) sales and other dispositions of Property pursuant to Sections 9.11(a)-(f) .

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 12.04(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability ” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate Commitments minus (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders.

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date.

Available Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Bank Products ” means any of the following bank services: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards, and (c) treasury or cash management services (including, without limitation, deposit accounts, funds transfers, automated clearinghouse services, auto-borrow services, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement services, lockboxes, account reconciliation and reporting service, trade finance services, overdraft protection, and interstate depository network services).

Bank Products Provider ” means any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that provides Bank Products to the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

Barclays ” means Barclays Bank PLC, in its individual capacity.

Base Period ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, either the Q3 2014 Base Periods or, solely to the extent the Borrower so elects in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Q4 2014 Base Periods.

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America or any successor Governmental Authority.

Borrower Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

 

5


Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 .

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Dallas, Texas are authorized or required by law to remain closed; and if such day relates to a Borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such Borrowing or continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any day which is also a day on which banks are open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures ” means, in respect of any Person, for any period, the aggregate (determined without duplication) of all expenditures and costs that are capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, exclusive of, with respect to each Loan Party, expenditures and costs incurred by such Loan Party to the extent that an unaffiliated third Person has provided such Loan Party with funds to pay such expenditures and costs prior to incurrence.

Capital Leases ” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases on the balance sheet of the Person liable (whether contingent or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder.

Casualty Event ” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Change in Control ” means:

(a) the Sponsors and their Affiliates, collectively, shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests in the General Partner representing a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner;

(b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than the Sponsors and their respective Affiliates of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner;

(c) the General Partner shall cease to be the sole general partner of the Borrower, with substantially the same (or more expansive) powers to manage the Borrower as are granted to the General Partner under the Organization Documents of the Borrower as of the Effective Date;

 

6


(d) except for transactions permitted by Section 9.10 or Section 9.11 , the Borrower shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, all of the Equity Interests in each of the other Loan Parties; or

(e) within any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were neither (i) members of the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner on the first day of such period, (ii) persons who were appointed or nominated by such persons, nor (iii) persons who were appointed or nominated by a Sponsor (or an Affiliate of a Sponsor) shall constitute a majority of the members of the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Collateral ” means any and all Property of the Loan Parties or any other Person that is secured by a Lien under one or more Security Instruments.

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) modified from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.08 and (b) modified from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 12.04(b) . The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Annex I hereto, in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment or in an amendment entered into in connection with an increase of the total Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08 , as applicable. The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments on the Effective Date is $200,000,000.

Commitment Fee Rate ” means, at any time, the per annum rate set forth in the grid contained in the definition of “Applicable Margin” under the heading “Commitment Fee Rate” determined in accordance with the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1, et seq.), as amended from time to time, any successor statute, and any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof).

 

7


Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for any period of determination, the sum of (without duplication, and without giving effect to any extraordinary losses or gains or any interest income during such period) the following determined on a consolidated basis: (a) Consolidated Net Income during such period plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income in such period: (i) income tax expense, (ii) franchise tax expense (including Texas margin tax expense), (iii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iv) amortization (including amortization of equity compensation expenses), depreciation and noncash nonrecurring items during such period, (v) fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, documentation, closing and consummation of Permitted Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 for any Permitted Acquisition, (vi) nonrecurring cash expenses for employee severance, employee relocation and employee hiring costs incurred during such period, (vii) nonrecurring cash expenses for accounting and reorganization costs incurred during such period in an aggregate amount not to exceed $750,000 in any Rolling Period, (viii) nonrecurring cash expenses for insurance deductible costs incurred during such period, (ix) fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, documentation, closing and consummation of the Frio Contribution and the other Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $14,000,000, and (x) any non-cash loss on dispositions of assets, plus (c) the aggregate Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments during such period; provided that the aggregate Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Consolidated EBITDA for such period prior to giving effect to any Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments for such period; provided, further , that if the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall acquire or dispose of any Property during such period, then Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or disposition, as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the first day of such period. All calculations of Consolidated EBITDA shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, for any period of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA (or Annualized Consolidated EBITDA, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015) divided by (b) Consolidated Interest Expense.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period of determination, the sum (determined without duplication) of the aggregate gross interest expense of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP, including: (a) amortization of debt discount, (b) capitalized interest, and (c) expenses directly related to the extinguishment of debt and (d) the portion of any payments or accruals under Capital Leases allocable to interest expense, plus the portion of any payments or accruals under Synthetic Leases allocable to interest expense whether or not the same constitutes interest expense under GAAP.

 

8


Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period of determination, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (a) the net income of any Person, other than a Loan Party, in which the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in cash during such period by such other Person to the Borrower or to a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be; (b) the net income (but not loss) during such period of any Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by that Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary or is otherwise restricted or prohibited, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; (c) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction; (d) any extraordinary non-cash gains or losses during such period, (e) any gains or losses attributable to writeups or writedowns of assets, and (f) any non-cash gains or losses resulting from the requirements of ASC 815; provided , further , that if the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall acquire or dispose of any Property during such period, then Consolidated Net Income shall be calculated, which calculation shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition or disposition, as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the first day of such period; provided , further , that, (i) solely with respect to amounts constituting revenue actually received in cash by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of the operation of the Oscar Assets pursuant to the Topaz Agreements (as in effect on March 13, 2014) and which cash receipts would otherwise not be included in calculating “Consolidated Net Income” due to requirements that such revenues be recognized over the life of transportation contracts pursuant to GAAP, such amounts shall be included, without duplication, in calculating “Consolidated Net Income” at the time of receipt by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries notwithstanding, and in lieu of when recognized as net income by, such revenue recognition requirements under GAAP, and (ii) solely with respect to the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2014, Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal quarter shall be adjusted by adding up to $1,241,000 thereto in respect of purchase price adjustments in connection with the Oscar Acquisition resulting from certain demand fees prepaid prior to the closing thereof, solely to the extent such adjustments reduce the aggregate consideration paid by Nueces Pipelines for the Oscar Assets at such closing.

Consolidated Senior Secured Indebtedness ” means, on any date, all Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness on such date that is not Subordinated Indebtedness and that is secured by a Lien on any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, for any period of determination, the ratio of Consolidated Senior Secured Indebtedness as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which such determination is being made divided by Consolidated EBITDA (or Annualized Consolidated EBITDA, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015, and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015) for the Rolling Period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter.

 

9


Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, “Consolidated Subsidiaries” does not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness ” means, at any date, without duplication, the sum of (a) all obligations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for borrowed money, including, but not limited to, senior bank Indebtedness (including, without limitation, the Loans under this Agreement and the Term Loans), senior notes and subordinated Indebtedness, (b) all obligations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under Capital Leases, (c) all obligations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries with respect to each outstanding standby letter of credit with a termination date of more than seventy-five (75) days after the date on which it was issued (but excluding any obligations under any such standby letter of credit that is issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course for purchases or transportation of natural gas by such Person(s) and which standby letter of credit has a termination date of one year or less after the date on which such standby letter of credit was issued), and (d) all contingent obligations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries with respect to the Indebtedness described in clauses (a) , (b)  and (c) .

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio ” means, for any period of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which such determination is being made divided by (b) Consolidated EBITDA (or Annualized Consolidated EBITDA, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015, and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015) for the Rolling Period ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter.

Consolidated Unadjusted EBITDA ” means, for any period of determination, Consolidated EBITDA prior to giving effect to (a) any amounts added to Consolidated Net Income in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (v) , (vi) , (vii) , (viii)  and (ix) of clause (b) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, and (b) any Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments for In Process Specified Projects for such period.

Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

10


Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender, as determined by the Administrative Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend or expect to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit, (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) (i) become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent or (ii) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not become a Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or Person controlling such Lender or the exercise of control over a Lender or Person controlling such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.

Disqualified Capital Stock ” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the earlier of (a) the Maturity Date and (b) the date on which there are no Loans, LC Exposure or other obligations hereunder outstanding and all of the Commitments are terminated.

dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Effective Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 6.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02 ).

Effective Date Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Embargoed Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22 .

 

11


Environmental Laws ” means any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining in any way to health, safety, the environment, the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, or the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting, or at any time has conducted, business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located, including, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“ OPA ”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“ CERCLA ”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“ RCRA ”), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and other environmental conservation or protection Governmental Requirements.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, registration, license, notice, approval, consent, exemption, variance, spill or response plan, or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

EP Contract ” means that certain Gas Gathering and Processing Agreement (Portions of Atascosa, Dimmit and La Salle Counties) dated February 18, 2014, entered into between Frio LP and EP Energy E&P Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as in effect on the Effective Date.

EP MVC Adjustment ” means, solely with respect to each of the Rolling Periods ending September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, a positive pro forma adjustment to Annualized Consolidated EBITDA in an amount determined in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as the excess, if any, of (a) an amount equal to the revenue under the EP Contract for such Rolling Period assuming throughput volumes of 35,000 mcf/day, minus (b) an amount equal to the annualized actual gross revenue attributable to the EP Contract included in the calculation of Annualized Rich Gas EBITDA for such Rolling Period; provided that, (x) if any event or circumstance has the effect of reducing or deferring the anticipated revenues or volumes to be received under the EP Contract, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount determined under clause (a) above, and (y) the amount determined under clause  (a) above shall be deemed to be zero in the event that the EP Contract ceases to be enforceable and in full force and effect with minimum revenues satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Equity Cure Amount has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e)(ii) .

Equity Cure Contribution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e)(ii) .

Equity Cure Delivery Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e)(i) .

Equity Cure Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e)(i) .

Equity Cure Right ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e) .

 

12


Equity Cure Test Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e)(i) .

Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such Equity Interests.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute.

ERISA Affiliate ” means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or a Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a “Reportable Event” described in section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (e) receipt of a notice of withdrawal liability pursuant to section 4202 of ERISA or (f) any other event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

Eurodollar ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01 .

Excepted Liens ” means: (a) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (c) statutory landlord’s liens, operators’, interest owners’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, workers’, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens, in each case, arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the operation and maintenance of Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (d) Liens arising solely by virtue of customary deposit account agreements with the creditor depositary institution or any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, provided that no such deposit

 

13


account is a dedicated cash collateral account or is subject to restrictions against access by the depositor in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board and no such deposit account is intended by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depository institution or any other Person (other than the Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Instruments); (e) zoning and land use requirements, easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations affecting, and minor irregularities or deficiencies in title to, any real Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that do not secure Indebtedness and which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such Property for the purposes of which such Property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (f) Liens on cash or securities pledged to secure performance of tenders, surety, appeal and supersedeas bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, regulatory obligations, obligations in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of government benefits or insurance and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (g) Liens, titles and interests of lessors of Property leased by such lessors to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such Property and the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interests therein imposed by such leases, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such lessors’ titles and interests in such Property and to which the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s leasehold interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record; provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and do not encumber Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Property that is the subject of such leases; (h) Liens, titles and interests of licensors of software and other intangible Property licensed by such licensors to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such Property and the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interests therein imposed by such licenses, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such licensors’ titles and interests in such Property and to which the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s license interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record; provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and do not encumber Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Property that is the subject of such licenses; and (i) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default, provided that any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired and no action to enforce such Lien has been commenced. Any Lien described in clauses (a)  through (d)  shall remain an “Excepted Lien” only for so long as (A) the appropriate Loan Party shall cause any proceeding instituted contesting such Lien to stay the sale or forfeiture of any portion of the Collateral on account of such Lien, (B) the appropriate Loan Party shall maintain adequate reserves related to such Lien to the extent required by GAAP, and (C) such Lien shall in all respects be subject and subordinate in priority to the Liens created and evidenced by the Security Instruments, except if and to the extent that the Governmental Requirements creating, permitting or authorizing such Lien provides that such Lien is or must be superior to the Liens created and evidenced by the Security Instruments; provided that no intention to subordinate the first priority Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Instruments is to be hereby implied or expressed by the permitted existence of such Excepted Liens.

 

14


Excess Cash ” means the amount, if any, that (a) the sum of (i) the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ cash on hand plus (ii) the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ Investments of the types described in clauses (c) , (d) , (e)  and (f)  of Section 9.05 exceeds (b) the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s accounts payable and accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services that are greater than ninety (90) days past the later of the date of invoice or the scheduled payment date unless such accounts payable, expenses or liabilities or other obligations are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP.

Excluded Hedging Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, individually determined on a Loan Party by Loan Party basis, any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement if, and solely to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee by such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time such guarantee or grant of a security interest becomes effective with respect to such related Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement. If any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement arises under a master agreement governing more than one transaction or confirmation, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement that is attributable to transactions or confirmations for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Person designated on the Effective Date as such on Schedule 7.14 or that the Borrower has designated in writing to the Administrative Agent to be an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.15(a) , and which has not been redesignated a Loan Party pursuant to Section 8.15(b) , and (b) any Subsidiary of an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes (i) imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Guarantor is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 5.04(b) ), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 5.03(f) , except to

 

15


the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(c) , and (d) any United States federal withholding taxes imposed by FATCA.

Executive Order ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(a) .

Existing Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Letters of Credit ” means, collectively, letters of credit issued under the Existing Credit Agreement and outstanding as of the Effective Date, which “Existing Letters of Credit” are listed on Annex II hereto.

FATCA ” means sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any regulations or official interpretations thereof.

FCPA ” means the Foreign corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Federal Flood Insurance ” means federally backed Flood Insurance available under the National Flood Insurance Program to owners of real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Area in a community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters ” and “ Fee Letter ” mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, (a) the commitment letter dated October 2, 2012, among the Borrower (as successor in interest to Southcross Energy LLC), Wells Fargo, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, (b) the fee letter dated as of November 7, 2012, among the Borrower, and Wells Fargo, and (c) any other fee letter entered into between the Borrower and Wells Fargo and/or one or more of its Affiliates from time to time in respect of the Loans.

FEMA ” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that administers the National Flood Insurance Program.

 

16


Financial Covenant Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(e) .

Financial Officer ” means, for any Person, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Financial Officer means a Financial Officer of the Borrower or of the General Partner acting on behalf of the Borrower.

Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Flood Insurance ” means, for any owned real Property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, Federal Flood Insurance or private insurance that meets or exceeds the requirements set forth by FEMA in its Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines. Flood Insurance shall be in commercially reasonable amounts at least up to the maximum policy limits set under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood Insurance Regulations ” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC § 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Frio Assets ” means, collectively, (a) the Loan Parties’ Equity Interests in the Frio Joint Ventures and (b) the Frio Processing Plant.

Frio Contribution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Frio Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Frio GP ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Frio Group ” means, collectively, Frio GP, Frio LP, the Frio Joint Ventures and their respective Subsidiaries.

Frio Joint Ventures ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, (a) T2 Eagle Ford Gathering Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (b) T2 EF Cogeneration Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (c) T2 LaSalle Gathering Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Frio LP ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

17


Frio Processing Plant ” means that certain natural gas processing plant located in Pettus, Bee County, Texas and owned by Frio LP.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 1.05 .

General Partner ” means Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of the Borrower.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, rules of common law, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantors ” means, collectively, (a) the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 7.14 , and (b) each other Subsidiary that guarantees the Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 8.14(a) . For the avoidance of doubt, “Guarantors” does not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

Guaranty and Collateral Agreement ” means a Third Amended and Restated Revolver Guaranty and Collateral Agreement executed by the Borrower and the Guarantors in substantially the form of Exhibit E granting and confirming security interests in certain Collateral and unconditionally guarantying on a joint and several basis, payment of the Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Hazardous Material ” means any substance regulated or as to which liability might arise under any applicable Environmental Law including: (a) any chemical, compound, material, product, byproduct, substance or waste defined as or included in the definition or meaning of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “solid waste,” “toxic waste,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” or words of similar meaning or import found in any applicable Environmental Law; (b) Hydrocarbons, petroleum products, petroleum substances, natural gas, oil, oil and gas waste, crude oil, and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof; and (c) radioactive materials, explosives, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, infectious or medical wastes.

Hedging Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded, “over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies,

 

18


commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions (including any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act); provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Hedging Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) , the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined by the counterparties to such Hedging Agreements.

Highest Lawful Rate ” means, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Loans or on other Secured Obligations under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws allow as of the date hereof.

Hydrocarbons ” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

In Process Specified Project ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment” set forth in this Section 1.02 .

Incremental Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Agreement.

Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, bankers’ acceptances, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (b) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (c) all accounts payable and all accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services, except (i) trade accounts payable of such Person arising in the ordinary course of business if and to the extent that such trade accounts payable are not past due by more than ninety (90) days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and for which adequate reserves have been established or are subject to an offset in favor of such Person as a result of accounts receivable owed to such Person and (ii) non-cash purchase price adjustments or non-cash earnouts and the portion of any cash purchase price adjustments or cash earnouts that is not determinable; (d) all obligations under Capital Leases; (e) all obligations under Synthetic Leases; (f) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others secured by (or for

 

19


which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien on any Property of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness of any Person described in this clause (f) shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness or (ii) the fair market value of the Property encumbered; (g) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the Indebtedness (howsoever such assurance shall be made) to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such Indebtedness and the maximum stated amount of such guarantee or assurance against loss; (h) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Indebtedness or Property of others; (i) obligations to pay for electricity, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and other commodities under contracts having an initial term in excess of one (1) year even if such electricity, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons, and other commodities are not actually taken, received or utilized by such Person; (j) any Indebtedness of a partnership for which such Person is liable either by agreement, by operation of law or by a Governmental Requirement but only to the extent of such liability; and (k) Disqualified Capital Stock.

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitee has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.03(b) .

Information has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.11 .

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the intercreditor agreement entered into as of the Effective Date, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Term Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04 .

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day

 

20


for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Investment ” means, for any Person: (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, Property, services or securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests of any other Person (including, without limitation, any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such short sale); (b) the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or capital contribution to, assumption of Indebtedness of, purchase or other acquisition of any other Indebtedness or equity participation or interest in, or other extension of credit to, any other Person (including the purchase of Property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such Property to such Person, but excluding any such advance, loan or extension of credit having a term not exceeding ninety (90) days representing the purchase price of inventory or supplies sold by such Person in the ordinary course of business); (c) the purchase or acquisition (in one or a series of transactions) of Property of another Person that constitutes a business unit or (d) the entering into of any guarantee of, or other contingent obligation (including the deposit of any Equity Interests to be sold) with respect to, Indebtedness or other liability of any other Person and (without duplication) any amount committed to be advanced, lent or extended to such Person.

ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuing Banks ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, each of Wells Fargo, Barclays, and UBS AG in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder, their respective successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.07(i) , and, if requested by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, any other Person who is a Lender at the time of such request and who accepts such appointment (it being understood that, if any such Person ceases to be a Lender hereunder, such Person will remain an Issuing Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Person that remains outstanding as of the date such Person ceases to be a Lender). Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

Joint Arranger ” and “ Joint Arrangers ” mean, individually or collectively as the context requires, each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, and UBS Securities LLC in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners hereunder.

LC Disbursement ” means a payment made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

 

21


LC Sublimit ” means, at any time, $75,000,000.

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Annex I and any Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or in an amendment entered into in connection with an increase of the total Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08 , other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued (or deemed issued) pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, Existing Letters of Credit.

Letter of Credit Agreements ” means all letter of credit applications and other agreements (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto) submitted by the Borrower, or entered into by the Borrower, with any Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Participation Fees ” means all fees payable pursuant to Section 3.05(b)(i) .

Lewis Contract ” means that certain Gas Transportation, Processing and Purchase Agreement dated October 1, 2012, by and among Southcross Marketing Company Ltd., Lewis Petro Properties, Inc., and BP America Production Company, as amended.

LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to such Eurodollar Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Lien ” means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, deed of trust, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. The term “Lien” shall include easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits,

 

22


conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which they have acquired or hold subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Liquidity ” means, as of any date, the sum of (a) Availability on such date (but only to the extent that (i) the Borrower is permitted to borrow such amount under the terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, Section 6.02 hereof, and (ii) if such amounts were borrowed, the Borrower would be in pro forma compliance (as set forth in Section 1.05(c) ) with all applicable covenants set forth in Section 9.01 hereof) plus (b) the amount of Excess Cash on such date.

Loan means a loan made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) .

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Letters of Credit, the Fee Letters, the Security Instruments, and the Intercreditor Agreement.

Loan Parties ” and “ Loan Party ” mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, the Borrower and the Guarantors. For the avoidance of doubt, “Loan Party” and “Loan Parties” do not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

Material Adverse Change ” means any circumstance or event that has had a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse change in, or material adverse effect on, or a material impairment of (a) the business, operations, Property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document, (c) the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or (d) the rights and remedies of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Document.

Material Contracts ” means, collectively, (a) the EP Contract, (b) the Lewis Contract, and (c) each other contract for which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $7,500,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the Hedging Termination Value.

Material Real Property ” means any real Property with a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) exceeding $2,500,000; provided that aggregate fair market value of all real Property that is not “Material Real Property” shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time.

 

23


Maturity Date ” means August 4, 2019.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Mortgage ” means each mortgage, deed of trust or any other document creating and evidencing a Lien on real or immovable Property and other Property in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the Loan Documents.

Mortgaged Property ” means any real Property owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is subject to a Mortgage.

National Flood Insurance Program ” means the program created by the United States Congress pursuant to the Flood Insurance Regulations, that mandates the purchase of flood insurance to cover real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in participating communities and provides protection to property owners through a federal insurance program.

Net Cash Proceeds ” means, for any Recovery Event requiring a repayment of Loans pursuant to Section 3.04(b)(iii) , the gross cash proceeds (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) from such Recovery Event, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset which is the subject of such Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Instrument) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

Net Sale Proceeds ” means for any sale or other disposition of Property pursuant to an Asset Sale, the gross cash proceeds (including any cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to a promissory note, receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received from such Asset Sale, net of (a) reasonable transaction costs (including, without limitation, any underwriting, brokerage or other customary selling commissions, reasonable legal, advisory and other fees and expenses (including title and recording expenses), associated therewith and sales, VAT and transfer taxes arising therefrom), (b) the amount of such gross cash proceeds required to be used to permanently repay any Indebtedness (other than the Secured Obligations) which is permitted hereunder and which is secured by the respective Property which was sold or otherwise disposed of, (c) the estimated net marginal increase in income taxes which will be payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to the fiscal year of the Borrower in which the Asset Sale occurs as a result of such Asset Sale, and (d) the amount of all reserves required to be maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP for any

 

24


potential indemnity obligations that may be required to be made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of as a result of such Asset Sale; provided , however , that (i) such gross proceeds shall not include any portion of such gross cash proceeds which the Borrower determines in good faith should be reserved for post-closing adjustments (to the extent the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer as to such determination), it being understood and agreed that on the day that all such post-closing adjustments have been determined (which shall not be later than thirteen (13) months following the date of the respective Asset Sale), the amount (if any) by which the reserved amount in respect of such Asset Sale exceeds the actual post-closing adjustments payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall constitute Net Sale Proceeds on such date received by the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary from such Asset Sale, and (ii) at such time as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are no longer required to maintain any indemnity reserves in accordance with GAAP as a result of any Asset Sale, the amount (if any) by which such reserved amount in respect of such Asset Sale exceeds the actual amount of indemnity payments made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for which such reserves were required to be maintained in respect of such Asset Sale shall constitute Net Sale Proceeds at such time.

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 12.02 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Notes ” means the promissory notes of the Borrower described in Section 2.02(d) and being substantially in the form of Exhibit A , together with all amendments, modifications, replacements, extensions and rearrangements thereof.

Nueces Pipelines ” means Southcross Nueces Pipelines LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non US jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Oscar Acquisition ” means the acquisition by Nueces Pipelines of the Oscar Assets pursuant to the Oscar Acquisition Agreement.

 

25


Oscar Acquisition Agreement ” means that certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated February 14, 2014, by and among Onyx Midstream, LP, Onyx Pipeline Company, and Nueces Pipelines, as amended.

Oscar Assets ” means the “Assets” under and as defined in the Oscar Acquisition Agreement.

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Lender or Issuing Bank, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or Issuing Bank and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Lender or Issuing Bank having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or Property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.04 ).

Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(d)(i) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(d)(ii) .

Partnership Agreement ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Borrower dated as of the Effective Date, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Payment in Full ” means, the time at which (a) no Lender or Issuing Bank shall have (i) any Commitments, Loan, LC Disbursements or other amounts payable under the Loan Documents unpaid, unsatisfied or outstanding (other than in respect of contingent obligations, indemnities and expenses related thereto that are not then payable or in existence) and (ii) any Letters of Credit outstanding that (A) have not been cash collateralized in a manner reasonably satisfactory or (B) have not had other arrangements made with respect to them that are reasonably satisfactory, in each case, to the applicable Issuing Bank, (b) the Commitments have been terminated, and (c) all Secured Hedging Agreements have been terminated or novated and each Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty has received payment of all amounts, if any, payable to it in connection with such termination or novation.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.

Permitted Acquisition ” means any Investment in a joint venture or any other acquisition of Equity Interests or assets of a Person meeting each of the following conditions:

(a) no Default exists or results therefrom;

 

26


(b) the joint venture or target is engaged in, or the acquired assets are useful in, the line of business in which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are engaged in on the Effective Date;

(c) after giving effect to such transaction (and any debt incurred in connection therewith):

(i) the Borrower’s Liquidity is not less than $20,000,000; and

(ii) the Borrower is in pro forma compliance (as set forth in Section 1.05(c) ) with all applicable covenants set forth in Section 9.01 hereof;

(d) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition that involves a purchase price of not less than $10,000,000, the Administrative Agent shall have received not less than 10 Business Days’ (or such lesser time period as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior notice of such Investment, which notice shall include (i) such pro forma financial statements that the Administrative Agent may be reasonably request and that demonstrate compliance with the foregoing clause (c)  and (ii) copies of the material agreements relating to such Investment;

(e) such acquisition shall be consensual, shall have been approved by the target’s board of directors (or comparable governing body) and shall be consummated in compliance with all applicable Governmental Requirements; and

(f) the Borrower shall deliver, or cause each applicable Subsidiary to deliver, such Security Instruments and other documents as required pursuant to, and prior to the deadlines set forth in, Section 8.14 .

Permitted Note Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries resulting from the issuance by such parties of senior unsecured notes; provided that (a) such Indebtedness does not mature or require any scheduled payments of the principal amount thereof prior to the date that is 180 days after the Maturity Date in effect on the date of such Permitted Note Indebtedness issuance, (b) such Indebtedness bears no greater than a market interest rate as of the time of its issuance or incurrence (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (c) no indenture or other agreement governing such Indebtedness contains (i) maintenance financial covenants or (ii) covenants or events of default that, taken as a whole, are more restrictive on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those contained in this Agreement are on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (d) after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, the Borrower shall be in compliance (as set forth in Section 1.05(c) ) with all applicable covenants set forth in Section 9.01 , and (e) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, which (a) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (b) was at any time during the six (6) calendar years preceding the date hereof, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

 

27


Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in San Francisco, California; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective. Such rate is set by the Administrative Agent as a general reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate; it being understood that many of the Administrative Agent’s commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer and that the Administrative Agent may make various commercial or other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to such rate.

Pro Forma Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Projected Capacity ” means, with respect to any Specified Project, the Borrower’s good faith estimate of the production and/or revenue capacity of such Specified Project in the first certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) to the Administrative Agent that includes the first calculation of pro forma Specified Project Projected EBITDA for such Specified Project, which estimate may be subsequently changed by the Borrower in accordance with Section 8.01(m) .

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible (including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts, contract rights and, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests or other ownership interests of any other Person), whether now in existence or owned or hereafter acquired.

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Purchase Money Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness, the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition, construction, installation, transport and/or improvement of inventory, equipment or other Property in the ordinary course of business.

Q3 2014 Base Period ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, each of the periods commencing on July 1, 2014 and ending on September 30, 2014, December 31, 2014, and March 31, 2015, respectively.

Q4 2014 Base Period ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, each of the periods commencing on October 1, 2014 and ending on December 31, 2014, March 31, 2015, and June 30, 2015, respectively.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Hedging Agreement, each Loan Party that (a) has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time any guaranty of obligations under such Hedging Agreement or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective or (b) otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

28


Recently Completed Specified Project ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment” set forth in this Section 1.02 .

Recovery Event ” means the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation awards payable by reason of a Casualty Event.

Redemption ” means with respect to any Indebtedness, the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, repayment, or defeasance or any other acquisition or retirement for value (or the segregation of funds with respect to any of the foregoing) of such Indebtedness. “ Redeem ” has the correlative meaning thereto.

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(c) .

Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the Board, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

Related Affiliates ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Contribution Agreement.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Release ” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing.

Remedial Work ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11(a) .

Required Lenders ” means, at any time while no Revolving Credit Exposure is outstanding, at least two (2) Lenders having greater than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Commitments; and at any time while any Revolving Credit Exposure is outstanding, at least two (2) Lenders holding greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total Revolving Credit Exposure (without regard to any sale by a Lender of a participation in any Loan under Section 12.04(d) ); provided that the Commitments and the principal amount of the total Revolving Credit Exposure of the Defaulting Lenders (if any) shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Financial Officer or any Vice President of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or of the General Partner acting on behalf of the Borrower.

 

29


Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other Property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.

Rolling Period ” means, with respect to the last day of any fiscal quarter, (a) solely for the purpose of determining Annualized Rich Gas EBITDA and Unadjusted Rich Gas EBITDA with respect to each Rolling Period ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015, the applicable Base Period ending on such date, and (b) for all other purposes (including the determination of the EP MVC Adjustment), the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter.

Sanctions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(d) .

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Scheduled Completion Date ” means, with respect to any Specified Project, the date indicated as the Borrower’s good faith estimate of the scheduled date of the completion of such Specified Project in the first certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) to the Administrative Agent that includes the first calculation of pro forma Specified Project Projected EBITDA for such Specified Project, which date may not be subsequently changed by the Borrower.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Secured Hedging Agreement ” means any Hedging Agreement of the Borrower or any Subsidiary with a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty.

Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty ” means any (a) Person that is a party to a Hedging Agreement with the Borrower or any Subsidiary that enters into such Hedging Agreement while such Person is or before such Person becomes a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, whether or not such Person at any time ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, as the case may be, or (b) assignee of any Person described in clause (a) above so long as such assignee is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

Secured Obligations ” means any and all obligations of and amounts owing or to be owing (including interest accruing at any post-default rate and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party (whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter

 

30


arising): (a) to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any trustee or any Lender under any Loan Document; (b) to any Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty under any Secured Hedging Agreement, including any Secured Hedging Agreement in existence prior to the date hereof, but excluding any additional transactions or confirmations entered into (i) after such Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or (ii) after assignment by such Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty to another Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) to any Bank Products Provider in respect of any Bank Products; and (d) all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the above; provided that, solely with respect to any Loan Party that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act, Excluded Hedging Obligations of such Loan Party shall in any event be excluded from “Secured Obligations” owing by such Loan Party.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, each Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty and each Bank Products Provider.

Security Instruments ” means the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages, the other agreements, instruments or certificates described or referred to in Schedule 1.02(a) , and any and all other agreements, instruments, consents, or certificates now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than Secured Hedging Agreements, Bank Products agreements or participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Secured Obligations pursuant to this Agreement) in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of the Secured Obligations, the Notes, this Agreement, or reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person as of any date, that (a) the value of the assets of such Person (both at fair value and present fair saleable value) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as of such date, (b) as of such date, such Person is able to pay all liabilities of such Person as such liabilities mature, and (c) as of such date, such Person does not have unreasonably small capital given the nature of its business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations ” means the representations and warranties made by TexStar or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the Contribution Agreement with respect to the Frio Assets as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or its affiliates have the right to terminate the obligations of the Borrower or its affiliates under the Contribution Agreement or otherwise decline to close the Frio Contribution as a result of a breach of any such Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations or any such Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations not being accurate.

Specified Projects ” means (a) the projects of the Loan Parties identified in Schedule 1.02(c) and (b) certain other projects of the Loan Parties (i) that have Capital Expenditures attributable thereto in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that are identified in the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) , and (iii) for which the Borrower has provided to the

 

31


Administrative Agent, not less than thirty (30) days (or such lesser period as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the last day of the first fiscal quarter for which the Borrower desires to commence inclusion of a Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment with respect to such project, information, as applicable, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, regarding (A) enforceable minimum revenue contracts that have been entered into with unaffiliated third parties and the ability of counterparties and third parties to perform under such enforceable minimum revenue contracts, (B) projected revenues from such enforceable minimum revenue contracts, other contracts or negotiated settlements, as the case may be, (C) projected capital costs and projected operating and general administrative expenses of such project, and (D) any other aspect of such project as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment ” means the amount that may be added to Consolidated Net Income in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA (or, in the case of each Rolling Period ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015, the amount that may be included in the calculation of Annualized Consolidated EBITDA) attributable to a particular Specified Project as set forth in this definition, whether completed or in process. When calculating such amount,

(a) for any Specified Project for which the Actual Completion Date occurred on or after the first day of the applicable Rolling Period, but at least thirty (30) days prior to the last day of such Rolling Period (a “ Recently Completed Specified Project ”), the Specified Project EBITDA Adjustment for such Recently Completed Specified Project shall be equal to: (i) the actual Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such Recently Completed Specified Project following the Actual Completion Date, divided by (ii) the number of days in such Rolling Period following the Actual Completion Date, multiplied by (iii) the number of days in such Rolling Period prior to the Actual Completion Date;

(b) for any Specified Project where construction has begun but the Actual Completion Date has not occurred or for which the Actual Completion Date has occurred but a full thirty (30) days has not elapsed since such Actual Completion Date (an “ In Process Specified Project ”), Consolidated EBITDA for any period attributable to such In Process Specified Project will reflect the projected Consolidated EBITDA related to such In Process Specified Project for the first full four-fiscal quarter period following the Scheduled Completion Date based on (i) the difference between enforceable minimum revenue, as determined by such In Process Specified Project’s Projected Capacity, and projected operating and general administrative expenses of such In Process Specified Project for such four-fiscal quarter period (such projected annual Consolidated EBITDA as calculated based on this clause (i) , the “ Specified Project Projected EBITDA ”), multiplied by (ii) the ratio of actual Capital Expenditures spent through such period on such In Process Specified Project relative to the total expected Capital Expenditures for the completion of such In Process Specified Project, such amounts, in each case, approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment; provided that the Specified Project Projected EBITDA attributable to such In Process Specified Project for the fiscal quarter in which such In Process Specified Project’s Actual Completion Date occurs shall be calculated net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such In

 

32


Process Specified Project. The contribution of a Specified Project to the Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment shall be reduced in future periods if such Specified Project is not completed by, or if the estimated date by which such construction to be completed is beyond, a date that is more than 90 days beyond the Scheduled Completion Date for such Specified Project, such reduction to be reflected in the next certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) to the Administrative Agent on or after the date such Specified Project is not so completed or it is determined that such Specified Project will not be so completed and to be in an amount equal to the product of (x) the applicable percentage reduction rate relating to the number of days of delay as set forth below and (y) the amount of the Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment attributable to such Specified Project:

 

Delay or Estimated Delay,
whichever is greater

   Applicable Percentage
Reduction Rate
 

> 90 days but £ 180 days

     25

> 180 days but £ 270 days

     50

> 270 days

     100

; and

(c) the Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments attributable to Recently Completed Specified Projects and In Process Specified Projects (excluding any EP MVC Adjustment), shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (based on the relative percentages of the total Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments represented by Recently Completed Specified Projects and In Process Specified Projects, as applicable, but excluding any EP MVC Adjustment) to the extent necessary so that the aggregate Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments (excluding any EP MVC Adjustment) shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Consolidated EBITDA for such period prior to giving effect to any Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustments for such period.

Specified Project Projected EBITDA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment” set forth in this Section 1.02 .

Specified Representations ” means the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents relating to corporate existence of the Loan Parties; power and authority, due authorization, execution and delivery and enforceability, in each case, relating to the Loan Parties entering into and performance of the Loan Documents; no conflicts with or consents under the Loan Parties’ organizational documents; solvency as of the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; use of proceeds; Federal Reserve margin regulations; the Investment Company Act; the PATRIOT Act; OFAC; and the FCPA; and creation, validity and, subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.01 and Section 8.20 , perfection of security interests in the Collateral.

Specified Transactions ” means, collectively, the Frio Contribution and each of the transactions consummated on or prior to the Effective Date in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the transactions set forth on Schedule 1.02(b) .

 

33


Sponsors ” means, collectively or individually as the context requires, each of (a) Tailwater Capital LLC, (b) EIG Management Company, LLC and (c) Charlesbank Equity Fund VI, Limited Partnership, a Massachusetts limited partnership.

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subject Transaction ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05(c) .

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means the collective reference to any Indebtedness of the Loan Parties subordinated in right and time of payment to the Secured Obligations and containing such other terms and conditions, in each case as are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Subsidiary ” means: (a) any Person of which at least a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, manager or other governing body of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by (i) another Person, (ii) one or more of such other Person’s Subsidiaries, or (iii) collectively, such other Person and one or more of such other Person’s Subsidiaries, and (b) any partnership of which such other Person or any of such other Person’s Subsidiaries is a general partner. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “ Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the term “ Subsidiary ” does not include any Excluded Subsidiaries.

Synthetic Leases ” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, treated as operating leases on the financial statements of the Person liable (whether contingently or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder and which were properly treated as indebtedness for borrowed money for purposes of U.S. federal income taxes, if the lessee in respect thereof is obligated to either purchase for an amount in excess of, or pay upon early termination an amount in excess of, 80% of the residual value of the Property subject to such operating lease upon expiration or early termination of such lease.

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

34


Term Administrative Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Term Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Term Loans ” means, collectively, the Effective Date Term Loans and any Incremental Term Loans.

Term Loan Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Term Loan Documents ” means, collectively, the “Loan Documents” under and as defined in the Term Loan Agreement.

Term Loan Facility ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Termination Date ” means the earlier of (a) the Maturity Date and (b) the date of termination of the Commitments.

TexStar ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Topaz Agreements ” means (a) that certain Pipeline Services Agreement dated March 6, 2014, between Nueces Pipelines and Barney M. Davis, LP, and (b) that certain Pipeline Services Agreement dated March 6, 2014 between Nueces Pipelines and Nueces Bay WLE, LP.

Transactions ” means (a) the Specified Transactions, including, without limitation, the Frio Contribution, (b) with respect to the Borrower, the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof (including, without limitation, to refinance the Existing Indebtedness), the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, and the grant of Liens by the Borrower on Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments, and (c) with respect to each Guarantor, the execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of each Loan Document to which it is a party, the guaranteeing of the Secured Obligations and the other obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement by such Guarantor and such Guarantor’s grant of the security interests and provision of Collateral under the Security Instruments, and the grant of Liens by such Guarantor on Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments.

Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

UBS AG ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch, in its individual capacity.

Unadjusted Rich Gas EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Rolling Period ending on or prior to March 31, 2015, and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015, the portion of Consolidated Unadjusted EBITDA for such Rolling Period attributable solely to the Frio Assets.

 

35


USA Patriot Act ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.16 .

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.03(f) .

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of which all of the outstanding Equity Interests (other than any directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law), on a fully-diluted basis, are owned by the Borrower and/or one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent.

Section 1.03 Types of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “ Eurodollar Loan ”), and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “ Eurodollar Borrowing ”).

Section 1.04 Terms Generally; Rules of Construction . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in the Loan Documents), (b) any reference herein to any law or regulation shall be construed, unless otherwise specified, as referring to such law or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to the restrictions contained in the Loan Documents), (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) with respect to the determination of any time period, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to and including” and (f) any reference herein to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be interpreted or construed against any Person solely because such Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

Section 1.05 Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP; Pro Forma Compliance .

(a) Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements except for changes in which the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to

 

36


the Administrative Agent on the next date on which Financial Statements are required to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a) ; provided that unless the Borrower and the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing, no such change shall modify or affect the manner in which compliance with the covenants contained herein is computed such that all such computations shall be conducted utilizing financial information presented consistently with prior periods.

(b) Notwithstanding GAAP or anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for the purposes of calculating the ratios that are the subject of Section 9.01 hereof and the components of each of them, all Excluded Subsidiaries (including the assets, liabilities, income, losses, cash flows and elements thereof) shall be excluded, except that any dividends or distributions actually paid in cash by any Person to the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall be deemed to be income to the Borrower or such other Loan Party, as applicable, when received by it whether or not constituting income in accordance with GAAP.

(c) For purposes of determining hereunder whether the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with its applicable financial covenants contained in Section 9.01 hereof after the occurrence of a certain event (a “ Subject Transaction ”), in all cases such calculation shall be based on the financial information for the most recent Rolling Period for which financial information has been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) or (b) , and calculated as if such Subject Transaction had occurred on the first day of such applicable period. For the purposes of the definition of “ Permitted Note Indebtedness ”, the covenants (and levels thereof) that must be complied with are those set forth in Sections 9.01(a)(ii) , 9.01(b) , and 9.01(c) . For all other purposes hereunder, the covenants (and levels thereof) that must be complied with are those that were in effect as of the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such Subject Transaction.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01 Commitments .

(a) Revolving Loan Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make revolving loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (ii) the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the Loans.

(b) Reallocation of Loans . After giving effect to this Agreement and any Loans made on the Effective Date, (i) each Lender who holds Loans in an aggregate amount less than its Applicable Percentage (after giving effect to this Agreement) of all Loans shall advance new Loans that shall be disbursed to the Administrative Agent and used to repay Loans outstanding to each Lender who holds Loans in an aggregate amount greater than its Applicable Percentage of Loans, (ii) each Lender’s participation in each Letter of Credit, if any, shall be automatically adjusted to equal its Applicable Percentage (after giving effect to this Agreement),

 

37


and (iii) such other adjustments shall be made as the Administrative Agent shall specify so that each Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure equals its Applicable Percentage (after giving effect to this Agreement) of the aggregate Loans of all Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, payments effected between or among the Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.04(a) and (b)

Section 2.02 Loans and Borrowings .

(a) Borrowings; Several Obligations . Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Types of Loans . Subject to Section 3.03 , each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Minimum Amounts; Limitation on Number of Borrowings . At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.07(e) . Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time, provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of four (4) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

(d) Notes . The Loans made by each Lender, if requested by such Lender, shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit A , dated, in the case of (i) any Lender party hereto as of the date of this Agreement, as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any Lender that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or in an amendment entered into in connection with an increase of the total Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08 , as of the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption or amendment, payable to such Lender in a principal amount equal to its Commitment, and otherwise duly completed. In the event that any Lender’s Commitment increases or decreases for any reason (whether pursuant to Section 2.06 , Section 2.08 , Section 12.04(b) or otherwise), if requested by such Lender, the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered on the effective date of such increase or decrease, a new Note payable to such Lender in a principal amount equal to its Commitment, as applicable, after giving effect to such increase or decrease, and otherwise duly completed. The date, amount, Type, interest rate and, if

 

38


applicable, Interest Period of each Loan made by each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender on its books for its applicable Note, and, prior to any transfer, may be endorsed by such Lender on a schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender. Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any Lender’s or the Borrower’s rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.

Section 2.03 Requests for Borrowings . To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that no such notice shall be required for any deemed request of an ABR Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.07(e) . Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or e-mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in substantially the form of Exhibit B and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 :

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;

(v) the current total Revolving Credit Exposures (without regard to the requested Borrowing) and the pro forma total Revolving Credit Exposures (giving effect to the requested Borrowing); and

(vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05 .

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Each Borrowing Request shall constitute a representation that (a) the amount of the requested Borrowing shall not cause the total Revolving Credit Exposures to exceed the total Commitments, and (b) each condition precedent set forth in Section 6.02 has been satisfied with respect to such Borrowing.

 

39


Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03 , the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.04 Interest Elections .

(a) Conversion and Continuance . Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.04 . The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) Interest Election Requests . To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.04 , the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or e-mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in substantially the form of Exhibit C and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Information in Interest Election Requests . Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 :

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to Sections 2.04(c)(ii) and (iii)  shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

 

40


(d) Notice to Lenders by the Administrative Agent . Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) Effect of Failure to Deliver Timely Interest Election Request and Events of Default on Interest Election . If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing: (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing (and any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective) and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.05 Funding of Borrowings .

(a) Funding by Lenders . Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Central time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in Dallas, Texas or as otherwise directed in writing by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.07(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for its Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for its Loan in any particular place or manner.

(b) Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.05(a) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays

 

41


its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.06 Termination and Reduction of Commitments .

(a) Scheduled Termination of Commitments . Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date. If at any time the Commitments are terminated or reduced to zero, then the Commitments shall terminate on the effective date of such termination or reduction.

(b) Optional Termination and Reduction of Commitments .

(i) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (A) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (B) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 3.04(b)(i) , the total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

(ii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.06(b)(i) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall be irrevocable; provided any notice of termination delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Loans with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such refinancing is not consummated ( provided that the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.02 ).

(c) Termination and Reductions of Commitments . Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent and may not be reinstated except pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with each Lender’s Applicable Percentage.

Section 2.07 Letters of Credit .

(a) General . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of dollar denominated Letters of Credit for its own account or for the account of any of its Subsidiaries, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period; provided that the Borrower may not request the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit hereunder, if, after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (w) the LC Exposure would exceed the LC Sublimit, (x) the

 

42


total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments, (y) the aggregate LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by Wells Fargo would not exceed $37,500,000, and (z) the aggregate LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by UBS AG and the aggregate LC Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued by Barclays, in either case, would not exceed $18,750,000. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . The Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued hereunder as of the Effective Date. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or fax (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (not less than three (3) Business Days in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice:

(i) requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended;

(ii) specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day);

(iii) specifying the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 2.07(c) );

(iv) specifying the amount of such Letter of Credit;

(v) specifying the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit;

(vi) specifying the current total Revolving Credit Exposures (without regard to the requested Letter of Credit or the requested amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit) and the pro forma total Revolving Credit Exposures (giving effect to the requested Letter of Credit or the requested amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit); and

(vii) specifying whether such Letter of Credit will be issued in the ordinary course for purchases or transportation of natural gas by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (and as a result the obligations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of such Letter of Credit will be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness).

Each notice shall constitute a representation and warranty with respect to the information set forth therein and that after giving effect to the requested issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, (x) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Sublimit, (y) the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total Commitments, and (z) each condition precedent set forth in Section 6.02 has been satisfied with respect to such Letter of Credit.

 

43


If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit, the Borrower also shall submit an appropriately completed letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form as in effect from time to time, which application may require the inclusion of draft language for such Letter of Credit that is reasonably acceptable to such Issuing Bank and may be required to be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

No Issuing Bank will be required to: (A) issue any Letter of Credit if (1) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, (2) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally, (3) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000, (4) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars, or (5) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or (B) amend or extend any Letter of Credit if such Issuing Bank would not be required at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or if the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment thereto. Any request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit that is made at any time that there is a Defaulting Lender shall be subject to Section 4.04(d) .

(c) Expiration Date . Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one (1) year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date. Each Letter of Credit with a one (1) year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one (1) year periods; provided that no such period shall extend beyond the date described in clause (ii)  above.

(d) Participations . By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the any Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided

 

44


in Section 2.07(e) , or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this Section 2.07(d) in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or the reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) Reimbursement . If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Central time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Central time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrower shall, subject to the conditions to Borrowing set forth herein, be deemed to have requested, and the Borrower does hereby request under such circumstances, that such payment be financed with an ABR Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Borrowing. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.05 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.05 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.07(e) , the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this Section 2.07(e) to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the applicable Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.07(e) to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

(f) Obligations Absolute . The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in Section 2.07(e) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft

 

45


or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or any Letter of Credit Agreement, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.07(f) , constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised all requisite care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g) Disbursement Procedures . Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(h) Interim Interest . If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, until the Borrower shall have reimbursed such Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement (either with its own funds or a Borrowing under Section 2.07(e) ), the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Loans. Interest accrued pursuant to this Section 2.07(h) shall be for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.07(e) to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

46


(i) Replacement of any Issuing Bank . Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of any Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement becomes effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.05(a) . From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous or existing Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous and existing Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of any Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(j) Cash Collateralization . If (i) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.07(j) , or (ii) the Borrower is required to pay to the Administrative Agent the excess attributable to an LC Exposure in connection with any prepayment pursuant to Section 3.04(b)(i) , then the Borrower shall deposit, in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to, in the case of an Event of Default, the LC Exposure, and in the case of a payment required by Section 3.04(b)(i) , the amount of such excess as provided in Section 3.04(b)(i) , as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) . The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, an exclusive first priority and continuing perfected security interest in and Lien on such account and all cash, checks, drafts, certificates and instruments, if any, from time to time deposited or held in such account, all deposits or wire transfers made thereto, any and all investments purchased with funds deposited in such account, all interest, dividends, cash, instruments, financial assets and other Property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise payable in respect of, or in exchange for, any or all of the foregoing, and all proceeds, products, accessions, rents, profits, income and benefits therefrom, and any substitutions and replacements therefor. The Borrower’s obligation to deposit amounts pursuant to this Section 2.07(j) shall be absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount under the terms of a Letter of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may now or hereafter have against any such beneficiary, any Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any other Person for any reason whatsoever. Such deposit shall be held as collateral securing the payment and performance of the Borrower’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such

 

47


deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, and the Borrower is not otherwise required to pay to the Administrative Agent the excess attributable to an LC Exposure in connection with any prepayment pursuant to Section 3.04(b)(i) , then such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(k) Applicability of ISP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by any Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Issuing Bank shall be responsible to the Borrower for, and such Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of such Issuing Bank required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the law or any order of a jurisdiction where such Issuing Bank or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade –International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(l) Calculation of Maximum Stated Amount . For all purposes of this Agreement, the amount of a Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at the time of determination.

Section 2.08 Optional Increase in Commitments .

(a) The Borrower shall have the right to increase the total Commitments by obtaining additional Commitments, from one or more of the Lenders and/or one or more other lending institutions, on the condition that (i) no Lender shall be obligated to increase its Commitment, (ii) any such request for an increase shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000, (iii) the Borrower may make a maximum of two such requests after the Effective Date, (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks have each approved the identity of any such new Lender, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (v) any such new Lender assumes all of the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder, (vi) the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries are in compliance on a pro forma basis, before and after giving effect to the

 

48


incurrence of such increase (and assuming that the increased Commitments are fully drawn), with a Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio of less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00, and (vii) the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(a)(vi) and Sections 6.02(a) and (b)  are satisfied.

(b) Any amendment hereto in connection with an increase of the total Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08(a) shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall only require the written signatures of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lender(s) being added or increasing their respective Commitment(s), as applicable, subject only to the approval of all Lenders if any such increase would cause the aggregate Commitments to exceed an amount equal to the difference of (i) $320,000,000 minus (ii) an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Term Loans incurred by the Borrower pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement on or after the Effective Date, over (B) $100,000,000.

(c) Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase in the total Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08(a) , the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise Annex I to reflect such increase and shall distribute such revised Annex I to each of the Lenders and the Borrower, whereupon such revised Annex I shall replace the old Annex I and become part of this Agreement. On the Business Day following any such increase, unless all Lenders have increased their Commitments proportionately and there is no newly added Lender, the Lender(s) and/or the newly added Lender(s), as applicable, shall purchase a pro rata portion of the outstanding Loans (and participation interests in Letters of Credit) of each of the other Lenders (and such Lenders hereby agree to sell and to take all such further action to effectuate such sale) such that each Lender (including any newly added Lender, if applicable) shall hold its Applicable Percentage of the outstanding Loans (and participation interests) after giving effect to the increase in the Commitments. Eurodollar Loans shall not be reallocated among the Lenders prior to the expiration of the applicable Interest Period in effect at the time of any such increase.

ARTICLE III

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST; PREPAYMENTS; FEES

Section 3.01 Repayment of Loans . The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Termination Date.

Section 3.02 Interest .

(a) ABR Loans . The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

 

49


(b) Eurodollar Loans . The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(c) Post-Default Rate . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, then all Loans outstanding, in the case of an Event of Default, and such overdue amount, in the case of a failure to pay amounts when due, shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%)  plus (i) when used with respect to obligations other than Loans and Letter of Credit Participation Fees, an interest rate equal to the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in Section 3.02(a) , (ii) when used with respect to Loans the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans and (iii) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Participation Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Margin but, in each case, in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(d) Interest Payment Dates . Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, on the Termination Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 3.02(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than an optional prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the Termination Date), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) Interest Rate Computations . All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and be binding upon the parties hereto.

Section 3.03 Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

50


then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made either as an ABR Borrowing or at an alternate rate of interest determined by the Required Lenders as their cost of funds.

Section 3.04 Prepayments .

(a) Optional Prepayments .

(i) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 3.04(a)(ii) .

(ii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or e-mail) of any prepayment hereunder (A) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (B) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided , that a notice of prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied (provided that the failure of such condition shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations under Section 5.02 in respect thereof). Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02 . Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments pursuant to Section 3.04(a) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02 .

(b) Mandatory Prepayments .

(i) If, after giving effect to any termination or reduction of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06(b) , the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the total Commitments, then the Borrower shall (A) prepay the Borrowings on the date of such termination or reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, and (B) if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Borrowings as a result of an LC Exposure, pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders an amount equal to such excess to be held as cash collateral as provided in Section 2.07(j) .

 

51


(ii) Except to the extent required to be applied as a prepayment of the Term Loan Facility in accordance with the Term Loan Agreement, on each date on or after the Effective Date upon which the Borrower or any Subsidiary receives any cash proceeds from any Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 9.11(j) , an amount equal to 100% of the Net Sale Proceeds therefrom shall be applied by the Borrower on such date as a mandatory repayment in accordance with Section 3.04(b)(iv) ; provided, however , that such Net Sale Proceeds shall not be required to be so applied on such date so long as no Event of Default then exists and such Net Sale Proceeds shall be used to purchase Property (other than inventory and working capital) used or to be used in the businesses permitted pursuant to Section 9.06 within 180 days following the date of such Asset Sale, and provided, further , that if all or any portion of such Net Sale Proceeds not required to be so applied as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(ii) are not so reinvested within such 180-day period (or such earlier date, if any, as the Borrower or relevant Subsidiary determines not to reinvest the Net Sale Proceeds from such Asset Sale as set forth above), such remaining portion shall be applied on the last day of such period (or such earlier date, as the case may be) as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(ii) without regard to the preceding proviso.

(iii) Except to the extent required to be applied as a prepayment of the Term Loan Facility in accordance with the Term Loan Agreement, on each date on or after the Effective Date upon which the Borrower or any Subsidiary receives any cash proceeds from any Recovery Event, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Recovery Event shall be applied on such date as a mandatory repayment in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.04(b)(iv) ; provided , however , that so long as no Event of Default then exists, such Net Cash Proceeds shall not be required to be so applied on such date to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds shall be used to replace or restore any Property in respect of which such Net Cash Proceeds were paid within 180 days following the date of the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, and provided , further , that if all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds are not so used within 180 days after the date of the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds (or such earlier date, if any, as the Borrower or relevant Subsidiary determines not to reinvest the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Recovery Event as set forth above), such remaining portion shall be applied on the last day of such period (or such earlier date, as the case may be) as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(iii) without regard to the proviso or the immediately preceding proviso.

(iv) Each prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.04(b) shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowings. Each prepayment pursuant to Section 3.04(b)(i) shall be applied to any outstanding Borrowings and the LC Exposure as described in Section 3.04(b)(i) . Prepayments pursuant to Section 3.04(b) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02 . Each prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to Section 3.04(b) shall be applied, first, ratably to any ABR Borrowings of then outstanding, and, second, to any Eurodollar Borrowings then outstanding, and if more than one Eurodollar Borrowing is then outstanding, to each such Eurodollar Borrowing in order of priority beginning with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the least number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto and ending with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the most number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

52


(v) If the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment of Eurodollar Borrowings under this Section 3.04 , the Borrower shall have the right, in lieu of making such prepayment in full, to deposit an amount equal to such mandatory prepayment with the Administrative Agent in a cash collateral account maintained (pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) by and in the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent. Any amounts so deposited shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the prepayment of such Eurodollar Rate Loans and shall be applied to the prepayment of the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans at the end of the current Interest Periods applicable thereto. At the request of the Borrower, amounts so deposited shall be invested by the Administrative Agent in Cash Equivalents maturing prior to the date or dates on which it is anticipated that such amounts will be applied to prepay such Eurodollar Rate Loans; any interest earned on such Cash Equivalents will be for the account of the Borrower and the Borrower will deposit with the Administrative Agent the amount of any loss on any such Cash Equivalents to the extent necessary in order that the amount of the prepayment to be made with the deposited amounts may not be reduced.

(c) No Premium or Penalty . Prepayments permitted or required under this Section 3.04 shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.02 .

(d) No Permanent Reduction in Commitments . No prepayment permitted or required under this Section 3.04 shall cause, effect or result in any permanent reductions in the Lenders’ Commitments.

Section 3.05 Fees .

(a) Commitment Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the unused amount of the Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but excluding the Termination Date. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the Termination Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. The commitment fee shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For avoidance of doubt, the “unused amount” of the Commitment of any Lender shall be determined by subtracting such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure on the date of determination from such Lender’s Commitment on such date of determination.

(b) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Margin used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, (ii) to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to 0.125% of the stated amount of each Letter of Credit issued by it payable on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, provided that in no event shall such fronting fee be less than

 

53


$750.00 for any Letter of Credit, and (iii) to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, its standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, transfer, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit issued by it or processing of drawings thereunder payable upon the effectiveness thereof. Participation fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third (3rd) Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date of this Agreement; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the Termination Date and any such fees accruing after the Termination Date shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 3.05(b) shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c) Administrative Agent Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the applicable Fee Letter.

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET-OFFS

Section 4.01 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

(a) Payments by the Borrower . The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 or otherwise) prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without defense, deduction, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim. Fees, once paid, shall be fully earned and shall not be refundable under any circumstances. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices specified in Section 12.01 , except payments to be made directly to the applicable Issuing Bank as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b) Application of Insufficient Payments . If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

 

54


(c) Sharing of Payments by Lenders . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and other such obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (ii) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that (A) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (B) the provisions of this Section 4.01 shall not be construed to apply to (1) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (2) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant. Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

Section 4.02 Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or any Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Section 4.03 Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(a) , Section 2.07(d) , Section 2.07(e) , Section 4.02 or otherwise hereunder then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (a) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks to satisfy such Lender’s obligations hereunder until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (b) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender

 

55


hereunder, in the case of each of (a)  and (b)  above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion. If at any time prior to the acceleration or maturity of the Loans, the Administrative Agent receives any payment in respect of principal of a Loan or reimbursement of an LC Disbursement while one or more Defaulting Lenders is a party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall apply such payment first to the Borrowing(s) for which any such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its pro rata share until such time as such Borrowing(s) are paid in full or each Lender (including each Defaulting Lender) is owed its Applicable Percentage of all Loans then outstanding. After acceleration or maturity of the Loans, all principal will be applied ratably as provided in Section 10.02(c) .

Section 4.04 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.05(a) ;

(b) the Commitment and the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.02 ), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each adversely affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than all other Lenders or all other adversely affected Lenders, as the case may be, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;

(c) if any LC Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i) all or any part of such LC Exposure shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent (A) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments and (B) the conditions set forth in Section 6.02 are satisfied at such time; and

(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.07(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to this Section 4.04(c) , the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.05(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

(iv) if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to this Section 4.04(c) , then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.05(a) and Section 3.05(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; or

 

56


(v) if any Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this Section 4.04(c) , then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Banks or any Lender hereunder, all commitment fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) under Section 3.05(a) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 3.05(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and

(d) so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 4.04(c) , and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 4.01(c)(i) (and any Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Defaulting Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Defaulting Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Defaulting Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

ARTICLE V

INCREASED COSTS; BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS; TAXES; ILLEGALITY

Section 5.01 Increased Costs .

(a) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;

(ii) subject any Lender or any Issuing Bank to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit , any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or any Issuing Bank in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes covered by Section 5.03 or Connection Income Taxes and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or any Issuing Bank); or

 

57


(iii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, upon request of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements and affecting such Lender or any Issuing Bank or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or any Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or any Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or any Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or any Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.01(a) or (b)  and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(d) Effect of Failure or Delay in Requesting Compensation . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or such Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 5.01 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 365 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided , further , that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 365-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

58


Section 5.02 Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04(b) , then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.

A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

Section 5.03 Taxes .

(a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower or any Guarantor shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.03(a) ), the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower or such Guarantor shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or such Guarantor shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without limiting the provisions of Section 5.03(a) , the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

59


(c) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.03 ) payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability under this Section 5.03 delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(d)(ii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (d) .

(e) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Status of Lenders .

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Withholding Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Withholding Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as will enable the Withholding Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the

 

60


contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution, and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 5.03(f)(ii)(A) and 5.03(f)(ii)(B) and Section 5.03(g) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution, or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a “United States person” as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code,

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Withholding Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Withholding Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from or reduction of, United States federal withholding tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”), and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification

 

61


documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; and

(5) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Withholding Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification, or promptly notify the Withholding Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Bank determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.03 , it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 5.03 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 5.03 shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(h) FATCA . If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender fails to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Withholding Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as may be necessary for the

 

62


Withholding Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for the purposes of this Section 5.03(h) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Section 5.04 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) Designation of Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01 , or requires the Borrower to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.04(b) ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 12.04(b)(iv) , (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Revolving Credit Exposure, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.04(c) or Section 5.02 ), from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.01 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.03 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter, (iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law, and (v) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if such Lender or any of its Affiliates is a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty with any outstanding Secured Hedging Agreements with any Loan Party (to the extent obligations under such Secured Hedging Agreements constitute Secured Obligations), unless on or prior to the effectiveness of such assignment, all such Secured Hedging Agreements have been terminated or novated to another Person and such Lender or its Affiliate, as the case may be, has received payment of all amounts, if any, payable to it in connection with such termination or novation.

 

63


Section 5.05 Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its applicable lending office to honor its obligation to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans either generally or having a particular Interest Period hereunder, then (a) such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make such Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended (the “ Affected Loans ”) until such time as such Lender may again make and maintain such Eurodollar Loans and (b) all Affected Loans which would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as ABR Loans (and, if such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, all Affected Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into ABR Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected Loans are so made as (or converted into) ABR Loans, all payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its ABR Loans.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 6.01 Effective Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder (exclusive of the Existing Letters of Credit) shall not become effective until the Business Day on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02 ):

(a) The Administrative Agent, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders shall have received all commitment, facility and agency fees and all other fees and amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Administrative Agent).

(b) The Borrower shall have deposited $10,000 with Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Administrative Agent, which deposit shall be separate from and in addition to any similar deposit required in connection with the Term Loan Facility, to be held by such counsel and applied toward payment of costs and expenses for recordation of certain Security Instruments, as provided pursuant to Section 12.03(a) . If such deposit exceeds the amount of such costs and expenses, the excess shall be returned to the Borrower. If such deposit is less than such costs and expenses, the deficit shall be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 12.03(a) .

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors (or its equivalent) with respect to the authorization of such Loan Party to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the Transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of such Loan Party (A) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party and (B) who will, until replaced by another

 

64


officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized officers, and (iv) the Organization Documents of such Loan Party, certified as being true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from such Loan Party to the contrary.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of each Loan Party in its state of formation.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 , duly and properly executed by a Financial Officer and dated as of the Effective Date.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Notes payable to each Lender that has requested a Note in a principal amount equal to its Commitment dated as of the date hereof.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party thereto duly executed counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of the Security Instruments. In connection with the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments, the Administrative Agent shall:

(i) be reasonably satisfied that the Security Instruments create (or will create, upon proper filing, recording or registration) first priority, perfected Liens (subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) ) on all of the tangible and intangible Property of the Loan Parties (other than de minimis Property excluded in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion); and

(ii) have received certificates, together with undated, blank stock powers for each such certificate, representing all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of the Loan Parties (other than the Borrower), to the extent certificated.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of (i) Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel to the Borrower, and (ii) local counsel in Alabama and Mississippi and any other jurisdictions requested by the Administrative Agent, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of insurance coverage of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties evidencing that the Borrower and the other Loan Parties are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.12 .

 

65


(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the Borrower has received all consents and approvals required by Section 7.03 .

(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Financial Statements, and (ii) projections for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for each fiscal year of the Borrower through the fiscal year ending 2019, which projections shall be prepared on a quarterly basis for the first year following the Effective Date and on an annual basis for each subsequent year.

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate UCC search certificates reflecting no prior Liens encumbering the Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for Delaware, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi, as applicable, and any other jurisdiction requested by the Administrative Agent; other than those being assigned or released on or prior to the Effective Date or Liens permitted by Section 9.03 .

(n) The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate termination statements, mortgage releases and such other documentation as shall be necessary to terminate, release or assign to the Administrative Agent all Liens encumbering the Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, other than Liens permitted by Section 9.03 , in each case, in proper form for filing, registration or recordation in the appropriate jurisdictions.

(o) The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit H, certifying that after giving effect to the Transactions on the Effective Date, (i) each of the Loan Parties, on an individual basis, is Solvent, and (ii) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

(p) Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by this Agreement or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) ), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(q) Since June 11, 2014, there shall not have occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a “Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) with respect to the Frio Group.

(r) Substantially concurrently with the funding of the initial borrowings hereunder and under the Term Loan Facility, the Specified Transactions shall be consummated in accordance with the Contribution Agreement.

(s) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying (i) that attached to such certificate is a true, correct, complete and fully-executed copy of the Contribution Agreement (together with all amendments thereto, if any), and (ii) that the conditions contained in clauses (r) , (t), and (u)  of this Section 6.01 have been satisfied.

 

66


(t) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Borrower has concurrently received gross cash proceeds of the Effective Date Term Loans in an amount not less than $450,000,000, and the Administrative Agent shall have received final executed copies of the Term Loan Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

(u) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that, after giving effect to the Transactions, on the Effective Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding hereunder (excluding Letters of Credit) is less than or equal to $50,000,000.

(v) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Loan Parties, to the extent requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act.

(w) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Loan Parties, to the extent requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that, for any material Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or material Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation), in each case situated on any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, (i) such Loan Party maintains Flood Insurance for such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home or (ii) such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (as defined in the applicable Flood Regulation).

(x) The Specified Representations and the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects or to the extent that any such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.04 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.01 , each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 6.01 to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Effective Date specifying its objection thereto. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 12.02 ) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central time, on September 30, 2014 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

 

67


Notwithstanding the foregoing (including each of the requirements set forth in Section 6.01(h) , (j) , and (p)  above) to the extent any security interest in any Collateral (other than any Lien on Collateral that may be perfected by (x) the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code and (y) the delivery of certificates evidencing the Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) is not or cannot be perfected on the Effective Date after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then the perfection of such security interests shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Loans on the Effective Date, but instead shall be required to be delivered, provided and/or perfected within 60 days after the Effective Date (unless extended by the Administrative Agent) or, with respect to the items set forth therein, within the time periods specified on Schedule 8.20 .

Section 6.02 Each Subsequent Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, in each case, after the Effective Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Guarantors set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except that (i) to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified earlier date, and (ii) to the extent that any such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all respects.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.03 or a request for a Letter of Credit and related Letter of Credit Agreement in accordance with Section 2.07(b) , as applicable.

Each request for a Borrowing and each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit and each acceptance of the foregoing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Sections 6.02(a) and (b) .

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries), and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Banks and the Lenders that:

 

68


Section 7.01 Organization; Powers . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary, to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where failure to have such power, authority, licenses, authorizations, consents, approvals and qualifications could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02 Authority; Enforceability . The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action (including, without limitation, any action required to be taken by any class of directors of the Borrower or any other Person, whether interested or disinterested, in order to ensure the due authorization of the Transactions). Each Loan Document to which a Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 7.03 Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other third Person (including shareholders or any class of directors, whether interested or disinterested, of the Borrower or any other Person), nor is any such consent, approval, registration, filing or other action necessary for the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect other than (i) the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement and (ii) those third party approvals or consents which, if not made or obtained, would not cause a Default hereunder, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or do not have an adverse effect on the enforceability of the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate (i) any applicable law or regulation, (ii) any Organization Documents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or other agreement regarding Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (d) will not violate or result in a default under any other agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or its Properties, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, other than such violations or defaults which would not cause a Default hereunder, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or do not have an adverse effect on the enforceability of any Loan Documents, and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents).

Section 7.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change .

(a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income stockholders equity and cash flows (A) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (B) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year

 

69


ended June 30, 2014, certified by its chief financial officer (or the chief financial officer of the General Partner) (collectively, the “ Borrower Financial Statements ”), (ii) (A) an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended, and (B) the Frio Group’s (together with certain of its Affiliates’) consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of March 31, 2014 and the related consolidated unaudited statement of income and cash flows for the three-month period then ended (collectively, the “ Frio Financial Statements ”), and (iii) the Borrower’s pro forma summary financial statements, Consolidated EBITDA and other operating data in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case after giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on such date in the case of any balance sheet and as of the beginning of all of the periods presented in the case of Consolidated EBITDA and other operating data (collectively, the “ Pro Forma Financial Statements ” and, together with the Borrower Financial Statements and the Frio Financial Statements, the “ Financial Statements ”). The Borrower Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP. The Frio Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates on a consolidated basis as of the respective dates thereof and for the periods therein referred to, all in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The Frio Financial Statements have been prepared from and are in accordance with the accounting records of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates (and such records are true, correct and accurately reflect in all material respects all transactions engaged in by the members of the Frio Group). Since January 1, 2012, except as set forth in the Frio Financial Statements, there has been no material change of the accounting (tax or otherwise) policies, practices or procedures of any member of the Frio Group. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith by the Borrower, based on the assumptions stated therein (which assumptions were and are believed by the Borrower, on the date thereof and the Effective Date, to be reasonable in light of then current conditions and facts then known by the Borrower), are based on the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, accurately reflect all adjustments required to be made to give effect to the Transactions, and present fairly in all material respects the pro forma consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods, assuming that the Transactions have occurred at such dates and at the beginnings of such periods. The representations in this Section 7.04(a) , as applicable, are subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and accruals and the absence of notes.

(b) Since December 31, 2013, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has, on the date hereof after giving effect to the Transactions, any Material Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) or any contingent liabilities, off-balance sheet liabilities or partnerships, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial Statements and the Term Loans.

 

70


(d) The projections regarding the financial performance of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries furnished to the Lenders have been prepared in good faith by the Borrower and based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time such projections were provided (and on the Effective Date in the case of forecasts provided prior to the Effective Date) (it being recognized by the Lenders, however, that projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period(s) covered by such projections may differ from the projected results and that such differences may be material and that neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary makes any representation that such projections will be realized).

Section 7.05 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their Properties (a) not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

Section 7.06 Environmental Matters . Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and each of their respective Properties and operations thereon are, and within all applicable statute of limitation periods have been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;

(b) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits required for their respective operations and each of their Properties, with all such Environmental Permits being currently in full force and effect, and none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has received any written notice or otherwise has knowledge that any such existing Environmental Permit will be revoked or that any application for any new Environmental Permit or renewal of any existing Environmental Permit will be protested or denied;

(c) there are no claims, demands, suits, orders, inquiries, investigations, requests for information or proceedings concerning any violation of, or any liability (including as a potentially responsible party) under, any applicable Environmental Law that is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective Properties or as a result of any operations at such Properties;

(d) none of the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary contain or have contained any: (i) underground storage tanks; (ii) asbestos-containing materials; (iii) landfills or dumps; (iv) hazardous waste management units as defined pursuant to RCRA or any comparable state law; or (v) sites on or nominated for the National Priority List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or any state remedial priority list promulgated or published pursuant to any comparable state law;

 

71


(e) there has been no Release or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Properties, there are no investigations, remediations, abatements, removals, or monitorings of Hazardous Materials required under applicable Environmental Laws at such Properties and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, none of such Properties are adversely affected by any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material originating or emanating from any other real property;

(f) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice asserting an alleged liability or obligation under any applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the investigation, remediation, abatement, removal, or monitoring of any Hazardous Materials at, under, or Released or threatened to be Released from any real properties offsite the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Properties and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of such written notice;

(g) there has been no exposure of any Person or Property to any Hazardous Materials as a result of or in connection with the operations and businesses of any of the Borrower’s or the Subsidiaries’ Properties that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for damages or compensation, and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of notice regarding such exposure; and

(h) the Borrower has provided, or has caused its Subsidiaries to provide, to the Lenders complete and correct copies of all environmental site assessment reports, investigations, studies, analyses, and correspondence on environmental matters (including matters relating to any alleged non-compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws) that are in any of the Borrower’s or the Subsidiaries’ possession or control and relating to their respective Properties or operations thereon.

Section 7.07 Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults .

(a) Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it or its Property and all agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, and possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, exemptions, approvals and other governmental authorizations necessary for the ownership of its Property and the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default or would require the Borrower or a Subsidiary to Redeem or make any offer to Redeem under any indenture, note, credit agreement or instrument pursuant to which any Material Indebtedness is outstanding or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their Properties is bound.

(c) No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

72


Section 7.08 Investment Company Act . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 7.09 Taxes . Except as set forth on Schedule 7.09 , each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate. No currently outstanding Tax Lien has been filed against the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Properties, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted against the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Properties with respect to any such Tax or other such governmental charge in each case, except with respect to Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

Section 7.10 ERISA .

(a) The Borrower, the Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b) Each Plan is, and has been, established and maintained in compliance with its terms, ERISA and, where applicable, the Code, except where the failure to so establish and maintain such Plan could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

(d) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan as of the date hereof.

(e) Neither the Borrower, the Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, with respect to which its sponsorship of, maintenance of or contribution to may not be terminated by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability.

(f) Neither the Borrower, the Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the six-year period preceding the date hereof sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, including a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code.

 

73


Section 7.11 Disclosure; No Material Misstatements . The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their Affiliates in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or, when taken as a whole, omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or general industry nature, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time such projected financial information was made available, it being understood that such projected financial information is not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results may vary materially from such projected financial information.

Section 7.12 Insurance . Each Loan Party has, and has caused all of its Subsidiaries to have, (a) all insurance policies sufficient for the compliance by each of them with all material Governmental Requirements and all material agreements, including, without limitation, Flood Insurance, if required, with respect to any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, and (b) insurance coverage in at least amounts and against such risk (including, without limitation, public liability) that are usually insured against by companies similarly situated and of comparable size and engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been named as additional insureds in respect of such liability insurance policies, and the Administrative Agent has been named as loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance. No Loan Party owns any material Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or material Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation), in each case situated on any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, for which such Loan Party has not delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that (a) such Loan Party maintains Flood Insurance for such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home or (b) such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

Section 7.13 Restriction on Liens . Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any material agreement or arrangement (other than (a) the Term Loan Documents, (b)Capital Leases creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Capital Lease, (c) documents evidencing or securing Purchase Money Indebtedness creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Purchase Money Indebtedness, (d) documents creating Liens which are

 

74


described in clauses (g)  or (h) ) of the definition of “Excepted Liens”, but then only on the Property that is the subject of the applicable lease or license described in such clause (g)  or (h) , (e) customary restrictions and conditions on transfers and investments contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset or any Subsidiary pending the consummation of such sale, (f) in the case of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date, any agreement in effect at the time such Person so becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming such a Subsidiary, (g) in the case of any assets acquired after the Effective Date, any agreement in effect at the time of such acquisition which pertains to such assets and only such assets and is assumed in connection with such acquisition, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition, and (h) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements permitted by Section 9.05 and applicable to joint ventures and Equity Interests therein)), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties on or in respect of its Properties to secure the Secured Obligations and the Loan Documents.

Section 7.14 Subsidiaries . Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 or as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent as promptly as practicable but in any event within 30 days of such Subsidiary’s acquisition or formation (which shall promptly furnish a copy to the Lenders, which shall be a supplement to Schedule 7.14 ), the Borrower has no Subsidiaries. Each Person on Schedule 7.14 is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary unless otherwise identified thereon as an Excluded Subsidiary. The Borrower has no Foreign Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary has been validly issued, is fully paid, is nonassessable and has not been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights. Schedule 7.14 also sets forth the holders (and percentages of ownership) of the Equity Interests in each of the Subsidiaries and lists the Excluded Subsidiaries, if any, as of the Effective Date.

Section 7.15 Location of Business and Offices . The Borrower’s jurisdiction of organization is Delaware; the name of the Borrower as listed in the public records of its jurisdiction of organization is Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.; and the organizational identification number of the Borrower in its jurisdiction of organization is 5138791 (or, in each case, as set forth in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.01(j) in accordance with Section 12.01 ). The Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address specified in Section 12.01 (or as set forth in a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(j) and Section 12.01(c) ).

Section 7.16 Properties; Titles, Etc .

(a) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and valid title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid easements, rights of way or other property interests in all of its real and personal Property except for defects that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of its business and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such Property is free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 9.03 .

 

75


(b) All leases, easements, rights of way and other agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default under any such lease or leases, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The rights and Properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights and Properties necessary to permit the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the date hereof (subject to any changes to the business resulting from transactions permitted hereunder).

(d) The Borrower and each Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual Property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and such Subsidiary does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.17 Maintenance of Properties . Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the offices, plants, gas processing plants, platforms, pipelines, improvements, fixtures, equipment, and other Property owned, leased or used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the conduct of their businesses are (a) being maintained in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, (b) structurally sound with no known defects, (c) in good operating condition and repair, subject to ordinary wear and tear, (d) not in need of maintenance or repair except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repair, (e) sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and (f) in conformity with all Governmental Requirements relating thereto.

Section 7.18 Hedging Agreements and Qualified ECP Guarantor . Schedule 7.18 , as of the date hereof, and after the date hereof, each report required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.01(e) , sets forth, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement. The Borrower is a Qualified ECP Guarantor.

Section 7.19 Security Instruments . Subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.01 and Section 8.20 :

(a) Guaranty and Collateral Agreement . The provisions of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement are effective to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on, and security interest in, all of the Collateral described therein, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Administrative Agent to the extent possession or control by the Administrative Agent is required by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement), the Liens created

 

76


by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement shall constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral covered thereby (other than such Collateral in which a Lien or a security interest cannot be perfected by filing, possession or control under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case free of all Liens other than Liens permitted under Section 9.03 , and prior and superior to all other Liens other than Excepted Liens (subject to the provisos at the end of the definition thereof) and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) .

(b) Mortgages . Each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Mortgaged Property thereunder, subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) , and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7.19 (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 or Section 8.20 , when such Mortgage is filed in the appropriate offices), the Mortgages shall constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in that portion of the Mortgaged Property constituting real property and fixtures affixed or attached to such real property, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) .

(c) Valid Liens . Each Security Instrument delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 , Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 or Section 8.20 , upon execution and delivery thereof, is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Collateral thereunder, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed or recorded in the appropriate offices as are required by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and Schedule 7.19 , and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control, the Liens created by such Security Instrument will constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral (other than such Collateral in which a Lien or security interest cannot be perfected by filing, possession or control under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case with no other Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 9.03 .

Section 7.20 Use of Loans and Letters of Credit . The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit shall be used to finance the Frio Contribution, refinance the Existing Indebtedness, to provide funding for, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with, the Transactions, for permitted Capital Expenditures and permitted Investments, and for general corporate, working capital, limited liability company or partnership purposes, as the case may be, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not engaged principally, or as one of its or their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of (a) Regulations T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board, (b) any Sanctions, or (c) the FCPA.

 

77


Section 7.21 Solvency . Each Loan Party is Solvent. No Loan Party is planning to take any action described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) .

Section 7.22 Common Enterprise . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their business operations are closely integrated with one another into a single, interdependent and collective, common enterprise so that any benefit received by any one of them from the financial accommodations provided under this Agreement will be to the direct benefit of the others. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries intend to render services to or for the benefit of each other, to purchase or sell and supply goods to or from or for the benefit of each other, to make loans, advances and provide other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of each other and to provide administrative, marketing, payroll and management services to or for the benefit of each other (in each case, except as may be prohibited by this Agreement).

Section 7.23 Material Contracts . Schedule 7.23 hereto contains a complete list, as of the Effective Date, of all Material Contracts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, including all amendments thereto. All Material Contracts are in full force and effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under any Material Contract, and to the knowledge of the Borrower and each Subsidiary after due inquiry, no other Person that is party thereto is in default under any Material Contract, except for such defaults as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Material Contracts prohibits the transactions contemplated under the Loan Documents. Each of the Material Contracts is currently in the name of, or has been assigned to, a Loan Party (with the consent or acceptance of each other party thereto if and to the extent that such consent or acceptance is required thereunder), each of the Material Contracts is assignable to the Administrative Agent as collateral, and each of the Material Contracts is assignable, unless waived by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, by the Administrative Agent to a reasonably acceptable transferee if an Event of Default were to occur. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and current copy of each of their Material Contracts existing on the Effective Date.

Section 7.24 Broker’s Fees . Except as set forth in Schedule 7.24 , no broker’s or finder’s fee, commission or similar compensation will be payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to the Transactions.

Section 7.25 Employee Matters . As of the Effective Date, (a) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective employees, is subject to any collective bargaining agreement, (b) no petition for certification or union election is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, contemplated with respect to the employees thereof and no union or collective bargaining unit has sought such certification or recognition with respect to the employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (c) there are no strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary after due inquiry, threatened between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and its respective employees.

Section 7.26 Anti-Terrorism Laws .

(a) The Borrower is not, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Borrower’s Affiliates, officers or directors is in violation of any Governmental Requirement relating to terrorism or money laundering (“ Anti-Terrorism Laws ”), including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the “ Executive Order ”), the USA Patriot Act, and the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., in each case, as amended from time to time.

 

78


(b) The Borrower is not, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, no Affiliate, officer, director, broker or other agent of the Borrower acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans is any of the following:

(i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(ii) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(iii) a Person with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;

(iv) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(v) a Person that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked Person” on the most current list published by OFAC at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list.

(c) No Loan Party and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no broker or other agent of any Loan Party acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in paragraph (b)  above, (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any Property or interests in Property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order, or (iii) engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

(d) (i) Neither the Borrower nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, is currently, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are currently (A) the subject of any material United States sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC or the United States Department of State (collectively, “ Sanctions ”) or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, and (ii) the Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the Loans or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently the subject of Sanctions.

Section 7.27 Foreign Corrupt Practices . No Loan Party, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by such Persons of the FCPA, including without limitation, making use of the

 

79


mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and, the Loan Parties and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, their Affiliates have conducted their business in material compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until Payment in Full, the Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries) and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Banks and the Lenders that:

Section 8.01 Financial Statements; Ratings Change; Other Information . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than the date on which annual financial statements are required to be delivered to the SEC, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income or operations (and, as to balance sheets and statements of income or operations, accompanied by consolidating schedules), stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than the date on which quarterly financial statements are required to be delivered to the SEC, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

80


(c) Financial Projections . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and no later than April 1 st of each calendar year, projections for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for each fiscal year of the Borrower through the end of the fiscal year in which the Maturity Date occurs, and which such projections shall include (i) volumes and pricing assumptions and (ii) itemized budget forecasts set forth on a quarterly basis in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for each of the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending during the first such fiscal year reflected in such projections.

(d) Certificate of Financial Officer – Compliance . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements required pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 9.01 , including, without limitation, reasonably detailed calculations of the Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment for each Specified Project (including a reasonably detailed summary of the terms of the applicable customer contracts relating to such calculation), each Specified Project’s Scheduled Completion Date, and each Specified Project’s Projected Capacity (and, if applicable, any changes to such Projected Capacity and supporting information as required), (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since December 31, 2013 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate, and (iv) attaching reports setting forth the processing volumes for the periods covered by such financial statements.

(e) Certificate of Financial Officer – Hedging Agreements . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer, in substantially the form of Schedule 7.18 , setting forth as of the last Business Day of such fiscal quarter or fiscal year, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto, any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counterparty to each such agreement.

(f) Certificate of Insurer – Insurance Coverage . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) , a certificate of insurance coverage from each insurer with respect to the insurance required by Section 8.07 , in substantially the form provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(j) on the Effective Date, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, all copies of the applicable policies.

(g) Other Accounting Reports . Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or letter submitted to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, and a copy of any response by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, or the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, to such letter or report.

 

81


(h) SEC and Other Filings; Reports to Shareholders . Promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or with any national or foreign securities exchange, or required by applicable law to be distributed by the Borrower to its equityholders generally, as the case may be.

(i) Notices Under Material Instruments . Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any financial statement, report or notice furnished to or by any Person pursuant to the terms of any Material Indebtedness, other than the Loan Documents, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01 .

(j) Information Regarding Loan Parties . Promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree) written notice of any change (i) any Loan Party’s corporate name or in any trade name used to identify such Person in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its Properties, (ii) in the location of any Loan Party’s chief executive office or principal place of business, (iii) in any Loan Party’s identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed, (iv) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization or such Person’s organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, and (v) in any Loan Party’s federal taxpayer identification number.

(k) Notices of Certain Changes . Except in connection with Organization Documents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) after giving effect to the Specified Transactions, promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the execution thereof, copies of any material amendment, modification or supplement to the certificate or articles of incorporation certificate or articles of formation or organization, any preferred stock designation or any other public organic document of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

(l) Certificate of Financial Officer – Consolidating Information . If, at any time, there exist any Excluded Subsidiaries of the Borrower, then concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer setting forth consolidating spreadsheets that show all Excluded Subsidiaries and the eliminating entries, in such form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(m) Changes to Projected Capacity . Promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the Borrower receives notice of a material change in the Projected Capacity of a Specified Project, the Borrower shall provide a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying the following: (A) recalculations of the amounts set forth in clauses (a)  and (b)  of the definition of “Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment” as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter but giving effect to the revised Projected Capacity, (B) updates to the information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the definition of “Specified Project s ” with respect to such Specified Project, (C) any additional information with respect to such Specified Project and such material change in Projected Capacity reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, and (D) computations of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter but giving effect to the revised Projected Capacity. Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment shall thereafter be calculated in accordance with the revised Projected Capacity of such Specified Project. In the event of a change in the Projected Capacity of a Specified Project that is not material, the Specified Projects EBITDA Adjustment shall thereafter reflect such change in the Projected Capacity of such Specified Project.

 

82


(n) Other Requested Information . Promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed with respect thereto under the Code or under ERISA), or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(a) , (b)  or (n)  shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information is available on the website of the SEC and the Borrower has delivered notice to the Administrative Agent that such reports are so available, which notice may be provided in any certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) .

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Joint Arrangers may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the General Partner or the Loan Parties, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities it will identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Joint Arrangers, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws ( provided , however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 12.11 ); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Joint Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

Section 8.02 Notices of Material Events . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

 

83


(b) the filing or commencement of, or the threat in writing of, any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Loan Party not previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders or any material adverse development in any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration (whether or not previously disclosed to the Lenders) that, in either case, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in liability in excess of $7,500,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $7,500,000;

(d) any threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority or any threatened demand or lawsuit by any Person against the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or their Properties of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws if the Borrower could reasonably anticipate that such action will result in liability (whether individually or in the aggregate) in excess of $7,500,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles; and

(e) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 8.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 8.03 Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, consents, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business and maintain, if necessary, its qualification to do business in each other jurisdiction in which its Properties are located or the ownership of its Properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 9.10 .

Section 8.04 Payment of Tax Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay its Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or result in the seizure or levy of any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Section 8.05 Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents . The Borrower will repay the Loans according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof, and the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and discharged by them under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, this Agreement, at or within the time or times and in the manner specified.

 

84


Section 8.06 Operation and Maintenance of Properties . The Borrower, at its own expense, will, and will cause each Subsidiary to:

(a) operate its Properties or cause such Properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, applicable Environmental Laws, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, condition, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its Properties, including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) promptly perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) to the extent the Borrower is not the operator of any Property, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator of such Property to comply with this Section 8.06 in accordance with customary industry practices.

Section 8.07 Insurance . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (i) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations (including hazard insurance), and (ii) in accordance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, Flood Insurance, if required. The loss payable clauses or provisions in said insurance policy or policies insuring any of the Collateral for the Loans shall be endorsed in favor of and made payable to the Administrative Agent as its interests may appear and such policies shall name the Administrative Agent as an “additional insured” and “loss payee” and provide that the insurer will give at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice of any cancellation to the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.08 Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain financial records in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours, to visit and inspect its Properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its Responsible Officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested ( provided that the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower reasonable advance notice of any proposed discussion with such

 

85


accountants and permit the Borrower and its representatives to be present during such discussions, and provided , further , that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and continues to exist, no more than one such visitation with the Borrower’s independent public accountants shall be conducted during any calendar year), and provided further that, excluding any visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights under this Section 8.08 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year absent the existence of a continuing Event of Default and only one such visit per fiscal year shall be at the Borrower’s expense).

Section 8.09 Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 8.10 Compliance with Agreements . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all agreements, contracts and instruments binding on it or affecting its Properties or business, except to the extent that such noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 8.11 Environmental Matters .

(a) The Borrower shall at its sole expense: (i) comply, and shall cause its Properties and operations and each Subsidiary and each Subsidiary’s Properties and operations to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) not Release or threaten to Release, and shall cause each Subsidiary not to Release or threaten to Release, any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties or any other property offsite the Property to the extent caused by the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, if the Release or threatened Release could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) timely obtain, file or prepare, and shall cause each Subsidiary to timely obtain, file or prepare, all Environmental Permits, if any, required under applicable Environmental Laws to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, except where such failure to obtain or file could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, and shall cause each Subsidiary to promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, any assessment, evaluation, investigation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, removal, repair, restoration, remediation or other remedial obligations (collectively, the “ Remedial Work ”) in the event any Remedial Work is required or reasonably necessary under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with the actual or suspected past, present or future Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, if failure to commence and diligently prosecute to completion could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) conduct, and cause its Subsidiaries to conduct, their respective operations and businesses in a manner that will not expose any Property or Person to Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for material damages or

 

86


compensation; and (vi) establish and implement, and shall cause each Subsidiary to establish and implement, such procedures as may be necessary to continuously determine and assure that the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ obligations under this Section 8.11(a) are timely and fully satisfied, which failure to establish and implement such procedures could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, provide existing Phase I site assessments, to the extent they are available, upon request by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in connection with any future acquisitions of Properties; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no obligation under this Section for the Borrower to obtain such assessments.

Section 8.12 Further Assurances . The Borrower at its sole expense will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to comply with, cure any defects or accomplish the conditions precedent, covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the Loan Documents, including the Notes, or to further evidence and more fully describe the Collateral intended as security for the Secured Obligations, or to correct any omissions in this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the obligations secured therein, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or the priority thereof, or to make any recordings, file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, in connection therewith.

Section 8.13 Title Information . If the Borrower or any Subsidiary acquires any new pipeline and processing Properties for consideration in excess of $5,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, provide promptly (and in any event within 30 days (or such longer period as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent)), title information regarding such new pipeline and processing Properties to the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall, within sixty (60) days of notice from the Administrative Agent (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional Properties, either (i) cure any such title defects or exceptions (including defects or exceptions as to priority) which are not permitted by Section 9.03 raised by such information to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, or (ii) deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, title information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent relative to the pipeline and processing Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Section 8.14 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors .

(a) In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary acquires or forms a subsidiary that is not designated as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with Section 8.15 , or if the Borrower or any other Subsidiary causes any Subsidiary to guarantee the Term Loan Facility, the Borrower or its Subsidiary shall promptly, but in any event within 30 days (or such later date

 

87


as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), cause such Subsidiary to guarantee the Secured Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement. In connection with any guaranty, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and such other Security Instruments (in proper form for filing, registration or recordation, as applicable) as are requested by the Administrative Agent, and take such actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a first priority, perfected Lien (subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) ) on all of the tangible and intangible Property of such Subsidiary (other than de minimis Property excluded in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion), (ii) cause the owner of the Equity Interests in such Subsidiary to pledge such Equity Interests (including, without limitation, delivery of original stock certificates evidencing the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, together with an appropriate undated stock powers for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof) and (iii) execute and deliver such other additional closing documents, certificates and legal opinions as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Borrower will at all times cause (i) all Material Real Property, and (ii) all other tangible and intangible Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary not covered by clause (a)  above, including any Equity Interests in an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case to be subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, except that, with respect to any Material Real Property acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have a period of 60 days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such acquisition within which to subject such Material Real Property to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, and, in connection therewith, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, execute and deliver such Security Instruments (in proper form for filing, registration or recordation, as applicable) as are requested by the Administrative Agent, and take such actions necessary or advisable to subject such Material Real Property to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, provided , however , that with respect to any real Property, if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the costs, financial and otherwise, of obtaining or maintaining a Lien, perfecting a Lien and/or complying with all Governmental Requirements with respect to such a Lien outweigh the benefit to the Secured Parties of the security afforded thereby, the Administrative Agent may notify the Borrower of such determination and, (x) if such real Property is not then subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, such real Property shall not be required to become subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments and, (y) if such real Property is already subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, the Administrative Agent may, upon obtaining the consent of the Required Lenders, release such Lien.

(c) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries shall take any additional actions required, if any, to cause all of its right, title and interest in each Hedging Agreement to which it is a party to be collaterally assigned to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such agreement or contract to (i) expressly permit such assignment and (ii) upon the occurrence of any default or event of default under such agreement or contract, (A) to permit the Lenders to cure such default or event of default and assume the obligations of such Loan Party under such agreement or contract and (B) to prohibit the termination of such agreement or contract by the counterparty thereto if the Lenders assume the obligations of such Loan Party under such agreement or contract and the Lenders take the actions required under the foregoing clause (A) .

 

88


(d) The Borrower agrees that it will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, grant a Lien on any Property to secure the Term Loan Facility without contemporaneously granting to the Administrative Agent, as security for the Secured Obligations, a first priority perfected Lien on the same Property pursuant to Security Instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.15 Designations with Respect to Subsidiaries .

(a) Within 30 days of the acquisition or formation of a new Subsidiary, the Borrower may designate such Subsidiary as an Excluded Subsidiary by written notification thereof to the Administrative Agent, provided that (i) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such designation, and (ii) such designation is deemed to be an Investment in such Excluded Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value as of the date of such designation of the Borrower’s direct or indirect ownership interest in such Excluded Subsidiary and such Investment would be permitted to be made at the time of such designation under Section 9.05(n) . No Loan Party may be redesignated as an Excluded Subsidiary.

(b) If the Borrower desires to designate an Excluded Subsidiary to be a Loan Party after the date hereof, and all of such Excluded Subsidiary’s outstanding Equity Interests (other than any directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law), on a fully-diluted basis, are owned by the Borrower and/or one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall cause such Excluded Subsidiary to comply with Section 8.14(a) , at which time such Person shall cease to be an “Excluded Subsidiary” and shall be deemed a “Loan Party” for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents without any amendment, modification or other supplement to any of the foregoing.

Section 8.16 Excluded Subsidiaries . The Borrower:

(a) will cause the management, business and affairs of each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to be conducted in such a manner (including, without limitation, by keeping separate books of account) so that each Excluded Subsidiary will be treated as an entity separate and distinct from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that the foregoing will not prohibit payments under expense sharing agreements with such Excluded Subsidiaries that are consistent with past practices and/or required by any applicable Governmental Authority.

(b) will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, assume, guarantee or be or become liable for any Indebtedness of any of the Excluded Subsidiaries.

(c) will not permit any Excluded Subsidiary to hold any Equity Interest in the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

 

89


Section 8.17 ERISA Compliance . The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent (a) promptly after the filing thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the United States Secretary of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service (or if filed by a third party, promptly after the Borrower or a Subsidiary becomes aware of such filing), copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, and (b) promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any “prohibited transaction,” as described in section 406 of ERISA or in section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by the President or the principal Financial Officer, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate, as the case may be, specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor with respect thereto.

Section 8.18 Interest Rate Hedging Agreements . As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014, the Borrower shall have entered into Hedging Agreements for the purpose of hedging the Borrower’s exposure to variable interest rates, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other Hedging Agreements of the Loan Parties then in effect in respect of interest rates) shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Loans and the Term Loan Facility. Such Hedging Agreements shall be in the form of floating-to-fixed rate swaps, the purchase of interest rate caps, or any similar hedging instrument designed to mitigate interest rate risk, in each case approved by the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.19 Commodity Exchange Act Keepwell Provisions . The Borrower hereby guarantees the payment and performance of all Secured Obligations of each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) and absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) in order for such Loan Party to honor its obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement including obligations with respect to Hedging Agreements ( provided , however , that the Borrower shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section, or otherwise under this Agreement or any Loan Document, as it relates to such other Loan Parties, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until all Indebtedness is paid in full to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all other Secured Parties, and all of the Lenders’ Commitments are terminated. The Borrower intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Section 8.20 Post-Closing Obligations . The Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, each of the items set forth on Schedule 8.20 , in each case on or prior to the date specified in such Schedule for such item or such later date as the Administrative Agent may determine and agree to in writing in its sole discretion.

 

90


ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until Payment in Full, the Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries) and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Banks and the Lenders that:

Section 9.01 Financial Covenants .

(a) Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio .

(i) Prior to the incurrence by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries of Permitted Notes Indebtedness, the Borrower will not, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2014, permit its Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to exceed the ratio set forth in the grid below for the corresponding Rolling Period:

 

Rolling Period Ending

   Maximum Consolidated Total
Leverage Ratio
 

September 30, 2014

     5.75 to 1.00   

December 31, 2014

     5.75 to 1.00   

March 31, 2015

     5.50 to 1.00   

June 30, 2015

     5.25 to 1.00   

September 30, 2015 and thereafter

     5.00 to 1.00   

(ii) From and after the incurrence by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries of Permitted Notes Indebtedness, the Borrower will not, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter then remaining during the term of this Agreement, permit its Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to exceed 5.25 to 1.00.

(b) Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio . From and after the incurrence by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries of Permitted Notes Indebtedness, the Borrower will not, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter then remaining during the term of this Agreement, permit its Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.00.

(c) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . The Borrower will not, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2014, permit its Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.

(d) Borrower’s Right to Elect Q4 2014 Base Periods . For the purposes of determining the Borrower’s compliance with clauses (a) , (b) , and (c)  of this Section 9.01 , the Borrower may elect the application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods by delivering an irrevocable written election thereof to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date that annual audited financial statements are due for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 pursuant to Section 8.01(a) . Unless and until the Borrower elects the application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Borrower’s compliance with this Section 9.01 for the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015 and with any other financial test that includes Annualized Rich Gas EBITDA as a component or a subcomponent thereof shall be calculated by reference to the Q3 2014 Base Periods.

 

91


(e) Borrower’s Right to Cure . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.01 , in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of clauses (a) , (b) , and/or (c)  of this Section 9.01 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (such date, the “ Equity Cure Test Date ”) ending on or after the Effective Date (such event, a “ Financial Covenant Default ”), then the Borrower shall have the right to cure any such Financial Covenant Default (such right, the “ Equity Cure Right ”) subject to the following terms and conditions:

(i) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice of its intent to exercise the Equity Cure Right (an “ Equity Cure Notice ”) no later than ten (10) calendar days after the date (the “ Equity Cure Delivery Date ”) on which financial statements and a compliance certificate for the Rolling Period ending on such Equity Cure Test Date are required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 8.01(a) , (b) , and (d) , as applicable. The Equity Cure Notice shall set forth the calculation of the applicable Equity Cure Amount (as defined below) and be certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

(ii) No later than five (5) calendar days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of an Equity Cure Notice, the Borrower shall cause the Sponsors and/or any of their Affiliates to purchase Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) in or make capital contributions to the Borrower (such purchase or capital contribution, as applicable, the “ Equity Cure Contribution ”) resulting in the Borrower receiving net cash proceeds not less than the amount which, if added to Consolidated EBITDA (or Annualized Consolidated EBITDA, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015, and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015) for the Rolling Period ended on such Equity Cure Test Date, would result in the Borrower being in pro forma compliance with clauses (a) , (b)  and (c)  of this Section 9.01 , in each case to the extent applicable on such Equity Cure Test Date (such amount, which shall be calculated in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the “ Equity Cure Amount ”).

(iii) The Equity Cure Right shall not be exercised more than two (2) times in any twelve-month period or more than four (4) times during the term of this Agreement.

(iv) From the applicable Equity Cure Delivery Date until the earliest of (A) five (5) calendar days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of an Equity Cure Notice or (B) consummation of the Equity Cure Contribution, and (C) (the date on which the Administrative Agent is notified by the Borrower that no Equity Cure Contribution will be made, the applicable Financial Covenant Default shall constitute an Event of Default for all purposes under this Agreement, but neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall impose default interest, accelerate the Secured Obligations, terminate the Commitments or exercise any enforcement remedy against any Loan Party or any of their respective Property, in each case solely with respect to such Financial Covenant Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.01(e)(iv) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to exercise any of their respective rights and remedies under this Agreement and under applicable law to the extent that any other Event of Default (other than the applicable Financial Covenant Default) has occurred and is continuing.

 

92


(v) Upon the timely consummation of the Equity Cure Contribution and Borrower’s receipt of net cash proceeds thereof in an amount not less than the Equity Cure Amount, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of clauses (a) , (b) , and (c)  of this Section 9.01 as of the applicable Equity Cure Test Date with the same effect as though there was no failure to comply therewith as of such Equity Cure Test Date, and the Financial Covenant Default shall be automatically deemed cured and waived for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(vi) With respect to any Equity Cure Contribution, solely for the purposes of calculating the Borrower’s compliance with clauses (a) , (b) , and (c)  of this Section 9.01 , as applicable, for each Rolling Period ending after the applicable Equity Cure Test Date that includes the fiscal quarter ending on such Equity Cure Test Date, (A) the Borrower shall be deemed to have received the Equity Cure Amount during the fiscal quarter ending on such Equity Cure Test Date, and (B) the Borrower may add the applicable Equity Cure Amount in calculating its Consolidated EBITDA (or Annualized Consolidated EBITDA, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on or prior to March 31, 2015, and, if the Borrower elects application of the Q4 2014 Base Periods in accordance with Section 9.01(d) , the Rolling Period ending on June 30, 2015) for such Rolling Period. For the avoidance of doubt, no Equity Cure Amount shall be retroactively netted or credited against Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness in the calculation of the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, as applicable, for the purpose of determining the Borrower’s compliance with clauses (a)  and (b)  of this Section 9.01 for the Rolling Period ending on the Equity Cure Test Date for which such Equity Cure Amount is received.

Section 9.02 Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, the Secured Hedging Agreements or with respect to any Bank Products, or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, the Secured Hedging Agreements or with respect to any Bank Products;

(b) Indebtedness under Capital Leases or that constitutes Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness described in this Section 9.02(b) at any one time outstanding shall not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate;

(c) Indebtedness associated with performance bonds, bid bonds, surety bonds, appeal bonds or customs bonds required in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default;

 

93


(d) intercompany Indebtedness between the Borrower and any Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 9.05(g) ; provided that such Indebtedness is not held, assigned, transferred, negotiated or pledged to any Person other than the Borrower or one of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, and, provided, further, that any such Indebtedness owed by a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms set forth in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement;

(e) Indebtedness constituting a guaranty by any Loan Party of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by any other Loan Party under this Section 9.02 ;

(f) endorsements of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Permitted Note Indebtedness;

(h) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, the underlying policy;

(i) Indebtedness incurred by the Loan Parties in connection with a Permitted Acquisition consisting of indemnities in the ordinary course of business or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments or earn-outs, provided , in the case of earn-outs, that the Borrower is in pro forma compliance (as set forth in Section 1.05(c) ) with all applicable covenants set forth in Section 9.01 hereof at the time the relevant earn-out obligation is created;

(j) Indebtedness (i) arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft, payment order or other debit drawn, presented or issued against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence or (ii) arising under any Bank Products provided by a bank or other financial institution to the Loan Parties in the ordinary course of business;

(k) other unsecured Indebtedness not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; and

(l) Indebtedness consisting of Term Loans incurred under the Term Loan Facility, provided that such Indebtedness (i) is subject at all times to the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) does not exceed a maximum principal amount equal to the difference of (A) $670,000,000 minus (B) the aggregate amount of all increases of the Commitments under this Agreement on or after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.08 .

Section 9.03 Liens . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except:

(a) Liens securing the payment of any Secured Obligations pursuant to the Security Instruments;

(b) Excepted Liens;

 

94


(c) Liens securing Capital Leases and Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02(b) but only on the Property under lease or the Property purchased with such Purchase Money Indebtedness, as applicable;

(d) Liens on proceeds of Letters of Credit permitted to be posted in connection with Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 9.17 ;

(e) (i) pledges and deposits of cash in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to such Person and (ii) Liens on proceeds of insurance policies securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.02(h) ;

(f) Liens on cash earnest money or escrowed deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.05 , to be applied against the purchase price for and indemnities with respect to such Investment, solely to the extent such Investment would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(g) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or assets of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;

(h) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02(l) , which Liens rank pari passu with the Secured Obligations and are at all times subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; and

(i) other Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Collateral or any Material Real Property.

Section 9.04 Restricted Payments . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, return any capital to its stockholders or make any distribution of its Property to its Equity Interest holders, except:

(a) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends and distributions with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock);

(b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends to other Loan Parties ratably with respect to their Equity Interests;

 

95


(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its common or subordinated Equity Interests with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new common or subordinated Equity Interests;

(d) the Borrower may declare and pay quarterly cash distributions of Available Cash to the holders of any Equity Interests in the Borrower in accordance with the Borrower’s Organization Documents; provided , that no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;

(e) substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the Specified Transactions on Effective Date, the Borrower may declare and pay Restricted Payments to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement;

(f) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in connection with long-term incentive plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for directors, management, employees or consultants of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(g) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to redeem its Equity Interests that are held at such time by “Ineligible Holders” (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Partnership Agreement;

(h) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) the Borrower may repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of the Borrower held by any current or former officer, director, consultant, or employee of the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the General Partner pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’, members’ or partnership agreement or similar agreement, plan or arrangement or any Plan and (ii) to the extent such payments are deemed to be Restricted Payments, the Borrower may make payments under stock appreciation rights, phantom stock or other similar cash settled interests issued under the Borrower’s long term incentive program; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (h)  shall not exceed $2,500,000 during any fiscal year; and

(i) payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments by the Borrower to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional units upon the exercise of options or warrants.

Section 9.05 Investments, Loans and Advances . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make or permit to remain outstanding, or enter into any agreement to make, any Investments in or to any Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a) Investments as of the Effective Date that are disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 9.05 ;

(b) accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

96


(c) direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of creation thereof;

(d) commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof rated in one of the two highest grades by S&P or Moody’s;

(e) deposits maturing within one (1) year from the date of creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $100,000,000 (as of the date of such bank or trust company’s most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time, by S&P or Moody’s, respectively;

(f) deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in Investments described in Section 9.05(c) , Section 9.05(d) or Section 9.05(e) ;

(g) Investments (i) made by the Borrower in or to the Guarantors, and (ii) made by any Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(h) Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts arising from Investments permitted under this Section 9.05 owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result of a bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the obligor in respect of such debts or upon the enforcement of any Lien in favor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prompt written notice in the event that the aggregate amount of all Investments held at any one time under this Section 9.05(h) exceeds $1,000,000;

(i) Investments constituting Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.02 ;

(j) credit provided to new or existing customers of the Loan Parties for the costs and expenses of extending service to such customers and for which such customers are contractually obligated to reimburse the Loan Party providing such credit in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Permitted Acquisitions;

(l) Investments representing non-cash consideration received with respect to dispositions permitted under Section 9.11 ;

(m) Investments in Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 9.17 ;

(n) Investments in Excluded Subsidiaries, partnerships, joint ventures or any other Person in a similar business to the Loan Parties; provided that (i) no Default exists or results therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to such Investment (and any debt incurred in connection therewith), (A) the Borrower’s Liquidity is not less than $20,000,000 and (B) the Borrower is in pro forma c ompliance (as set forth in Section 1.05(c) ) with all applicable covenants set forth in Section 9.01 hereof;

 

97


(o) Investments made substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the Specified Transactions on the Effective Date to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement; and

(p) other Investments not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Section 9.06 Nature of Business; International Operations . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage (directly or indirectly) in any business other than those businesses in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Effective Date (or which are reasonably related, incidental or complimentary thereto or are reasonable extensions, developments or expansions thereof). From and after the date hereof, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will not acquire or make any other expenditure (whether such expenditure is capital, operating or otherwise) in or related to, any real Property not located within the geographical boundaries of the United States.

Section 9.07 Proceeds of Loans . The Borrower will not permit the proceeds of the Loans to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by Section 7.20 . Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulations T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board, or to violate Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.

Section 9.08 ERISA Compliance . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time:

(a) engage in, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

(b) fail to make, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto;

(c) contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to (i) any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that contributions to or the obligation to contribute to may not be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any material liability, or (ii) any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, including a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code; and

 

98


(d) acquire, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA Affiliate with respect to the Borrower or a Subsidiary or with respect to any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower or a Subsidiary if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, (i) that is a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or (ii) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.

Section 9.09 Sale or Discount of Receivables . Except (a) in connection with the Specified Transactions, (b) sales otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 9.11 and (c) for receivables obtained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary out of the ordinary course of business or the settlement of joint interest billing accounts in the ordinary course of business or discounts granted to settle collection of accounts receivable or the sale of defaulted accounts arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable.

Section 9.10 Mergers, Etc . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property to any other Person (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) (any such transaction, a “ consolidation ”), or liquidate or dissolve, except that:

(a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with any other Person; provided that (i) no Default is continuing, (ii) any such consolidation would not cause a Default hereunder, (iii) if the Borrower consolidates with any Person, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person, and (iv) if any Subsidiary consolidates with any Person (other than the Borrower or another Subsidiary) and such Subsidiary is not the surviving Person, such surviving Person shall expressly assume in writing (in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) all obligations of such Subsidiary under the Loan Documents;

(b) any Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with the Borrower ( provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or any other Subsidiary and if one of such Subsidiaries is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, then the surviving Person shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(c) a Subsidiary may wind-up, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer its assets if (i) all of its Property is transferred to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and (ii) the Loan Party acquiring such Property promptly complies with its obligations under Sections 8.12 and 8.14 ; and

 

99


(d) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property to any other Person to the extent permitted by Section 9.11 .

Section 9.11 Sale of Properties . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or otherwise transfer any Property except for:

(a) dispositions of cash and cash equivalents in the ordinary course of business and in connection with the consummation of the Specified Transactions and other transactions permitted by this Agreement;

(b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(c) the sale or transfer of obsolete or worn out property and property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business or is replaced by replacement property of at least comparable value and use;

(d) issuances of distributions or other Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 9.04 ;

(e) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.04 and Liens permitted by Section 9.03 ;

(f) the transfer of Property to another Loan Party;

(g) the transfer of Property to an Excluded Subsidiary, provided that (i) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such transfer, and (ii) such transfer is deemed to be an Investment in such Excluded Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Property transferred as of the date of such transfer and such Investment would be permitted to be made at the time of such transfer under Section 9.05(n) ;

(h) the transfer of Property occurring in connection with a transaction permitted by, and made in compliance with the provisions of, Section 9.10 ;

(i) Asset Sales having, in the aggregate for all Asset Sales by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, a fair market value not to exceed $5,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower;

(j) other Asset Sales, subject to Section 3.04(b)(ii) ;

(k) dispositions of accounts receivables in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business to the extent permitted under Section 9.09 ;

(l) grants of Leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), easements, rights of way or similar rights or encumbrances in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

 

100


(m) transfers of Property that has suffered a Casualty Event upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event.

Section 9.12 Environmental Matters . Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the Properties and any operations thereat or associated therewith, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, be in violation of Environmental Law, have any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials other than those that are in compliance with Environmental Law, allow any exposure to Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for damages or compensation, or be required under Environmental Law to perform any Remedial Work.

Section 9.13 Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or any Guarantor), except (a) in connection with the Specified Transactions, (b) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.04 , (c) Investments permitted by Section 9.05 , (d) transactions contemplated by the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Effective Date or, if applicable, to the extent modified as permitted hereunder, (e) transactions approved by the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner or the conflicts committee thereof (acting in good faith), and (f) transactions that are otherwise permitted under this Agreement and are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it, when taken as a whole, than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

Section 9.14 Subsidiaries . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create or acquire any additional Subsidiary unless the Borrower gives prior written notice to the Administrative Agent of such creation or acquisition and complies with Section 8.14(a) . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary except in compliance with Section 9.11(f) , Section 9.11(h) or Section 9.15 . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have any Foreign Subsidiaries.

Section 9.15 Limitation on Issuance of Equity Interests . The Borrower shall not permit any Subsidiary to issue any Equity Interest (including by way of sales of treasury stock) or any options or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, any Equity Interest, except for Equity Interests issued to another Loan Party or to another Person in accordance with a merger or other transaction permitted by Section 9.10(a) and to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. The Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall comply with Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 and, if applicable, Section 9.10(a) with respect to any such issued Equity Interests.

Section 9.16 Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any material agreement or arrangement (other than (a) the Loan Documents, (b) the Term Loan Documents (c) Capital Leases creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Capital Lease, (d) documents evidencing or securing Purchase Money

 

101


Indebtedness creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Purchase Money Indebtedness, (e) documents creating Liens which are described in clauses (g)  or (h)  of the definition of “Excepted Liens”, but then only on the Property that is the subject of the applicable lease or license described in such clause (g) or (h)), (f) customary restrictions and conditions on transfers and investments contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset or any subsidiary pending the consummation of such sale, (g) in the case of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date, any agreement in effect at the time such Person so becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming such a Subsidiary, (h) in the case of any assets acquired after the Effective Date, any agreement in effect at the time of such acquisition which pertains to such assets and only such assets and is assumed in connection with such acquisition, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition, and (i) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements permitted by Section 9.05 and applicable to joint ventures and Equity Interests therein) that in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, or that requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith, or that restricts any Subsidiary from paying dividends or making distributions to the Borrower or any Guarantor, or that requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith.

Section 9.17 Hedging Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedging Agreements with any Person other than Hedging Agreements in respect of commodities or interest rates (i) with an Approved Counterparty and (ii) that are entered into for the purpose of hedging exposure to interest rates or commodity prices and that are not for speculative purposes. In no event shall any Hedging Agreement contain any requirement, agreement or covenant for the Borrower or any Subsidiary to post collateral or margin to secure their obligations under such Hedging Agreement or to cover market exposures, other than Letters of Credit (and the proceeds thereof) the face amounts of which do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Section 9.18 Holding Company . The Borrower will remain a holding company and will not own any real property, immovable property, or other assets of material value other than Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries, furniture, furnishings and equipment acquired and maintained in the ordinary course of business, Investments to the extent permitted hereunder, assets acquired that are promptly, and in any event within 30 days of acquisition by the Borrower, transferred, contributed or otherwise assigned by the Borrower to one or more of the other Loan Parties, and interests in contracts customarily entered into by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

Section 9.19 Sale and Leaseback . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such Property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property being sold or transferred.

 

102


Section 9.20 Amendments to Organization Documents, Term Loan Documents, Material Contracts, or Fiscal Year End; Prepayments of other Indebtedness .

(a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) its Organization Documents; provided that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may amend, supplement or otherwise modify any of its Organization Documents in any manner that (A) is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect and (B) does not conflict with any of the Loan Documents, subject to compliance with the provisions of Section 8.01(j) , Section 8.01(k) and Section 8.12 to the full extent applicable; provided further that any amendment, supplement or other modification to the definition of the term “Available Cash” contained in the Partnership Agreement that results in an increase in the amount of Available Cash shall be deemed to be adverse to the Lenders in a material respect.

(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) any Material Contract in a manner that would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect.

(c) The Borrower shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) the Contribution Agreement in a manner that would be materially adverse to the Lenders.

(d) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, change the last day of its fiscal year from December 31 of each year, or the last days of the first three fiscal quarters in each of its fiscal years from March 31, June 30 and September 30 of each year, respectively.

(e) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or acquisition for value of, or any prepayment or redemption as a result of any asset sale, change of control or similar event of, any outstanding Subordinated Indebtedness, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement.

(f) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional prepayment or redemption or acquisition for value of, of any Term Loan unless (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving effect to such prepayment, redemption or acquisition, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with Section 9.01 .

(g) The Borrower shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) the Term Loan Agreement or any Term Loan Document, except in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 9.21 Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering .

(a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) knowingly conduct any business or engage in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in Section 7.26 , (ii) knowingly deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any Property or interests in Property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law (and the Borrower shall deliver to any Lender any certification or other evidence requested from time to time by such Lender confirming the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ compliance with this Section 9.21(a) ).

 

103


(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, cause or permit any of the funds of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are used to repay the Loans to be derived from any unlawful activity with the result that the making of the Loans would be in violation of any Governmental Requirement.

Section 9.22 Embargoed Person . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, permit (a) any of the funds or Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are used to repay the Loans to constitute Property of, or be beneficially owned directly or indirectly by, any Person subject to sanctions or trade restrictions under United States law (“ Embargoed Person ” or “ Embargoed Persons ”) that is identified on (i) the “List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq., The Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., and any Executive Order or Governmental Requirement promulgated thereunder, with the result that the investment in the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by a Governmental Requirement, or the Loans would be in violation of a Governmental Requirement, or (ii) the Executive Order, any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders or (b) any Embargoed Person to have any direct or indirect interest, of any nature whatsoever in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, with the result that the investment in the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by a Governmental Requirement or the Loans are in violation of a Governmental Requirement.

ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

Section 10.01 Events of Default . One or more of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof, by acceleration or otherwise.

(b) The Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount (other than an amount referred to in Section 10.01(a) ) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days.

(c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification of any Loan Document or waiver under such Loan Document, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made.

 

104


(d) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 8.01(j) , Section 8.02 , Section 8.03 , (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 8.07 , Section 8.14 , Section 8.16 , Section 8.20 , or in Article IX .

(e) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in Section 10.01(a) , Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(d) ) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) or (ii) a Responsible Officer, or a Responsible Officer of such Subsidiary, otherwise becoming aware of such default.

(f) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment of principal of or interest on any Material Indebtedness (including the Term Loans), when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure to pay shall extend beyond any applicable period of grace.

(g) Any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness (including the Term Loans) becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause such Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the Redemption thereof or any offer to Redeem to be made in respect thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity or require the Borrower or any Subsidiary to make an offer in respect thereof.

(h) An involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered.

(i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 10.01(h) , (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any limited liability company or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

 

105


(j) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.

(k) (i) One or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $7,500,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage and is not subject to an insolvency proceeding) or (ii) any one or more non-monetary judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof.

(l) The Loan Documents (including the Intercreditor Agreement) after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms against any Loan Party party thereto or, in the case of the Intercreditor Agreement, any other party thereto, or shall be repudiated by any of them, or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority required thereby on any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, or any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates shall so state in writing.

(m) An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in the liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $7,500,000 in the aggregate.

(n) A Change in Control shall occur.

Section 10.02 Remedies .

(a) In the case of an Event of Default other than one described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) , at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors accrued hereunder and under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.07(j) ), shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other notice of any kind, all of

 

106


which are hereby waived by the Borrower and each Guarantor; and in case of an Event of Default described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) , the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and the other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors accrued hereunder and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.07(j) ), shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and each Guarantor.

(b) In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have all other rights and remedies available at law and equity.

(c) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds realized from the liquidation or other disposition of Collateral or otherwise received after maturity of the Loans, whether by acceleration or otherwise, shall be applied:

(i) first , to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

(ii) second , pro rata to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Lenders;

(iii) third , pro rata to payment of accrued interest on the Loans;

(iv) fourth , pro rata to payment of (A) principal outstanding on the Loans, (B) Secured Obligations referred to in clause (b) of the definition of Secured Obligations owing to a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty, (C) Secured Obligations referred to in clause (c) of the definition of Secured Obligations owing to a Bank Products Provider, (D) any other Secured Obligations and (E) amounts to serve as cash collateral to be held by the Administrative Agent to secure the LC Exposure; and

(v) fifth , any excess, after all of the Secured Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental Requirement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from the Borrower or any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act shall not be applied to any Excluded Hedging Obligations (it being understood, that in the event that any amount is applied to Secured Obligations other than Excluded Hedging Obligations as a result of this clause, the Administrative Agent shall make such adjustments as it determines are appropriate to distributions pursuant to clause fourth above from amounts received from “eligible contract participants” under the Commodity Exchange Act to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to the Secured Obligations described in clause fourth above by the holders of any Excluded Hedging Obligations are the same as the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to other Secured Obligations pursuant to clause fourth above).

 

107


ARTICLE XI

THE AGENTS

Section 11.01 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Lenders and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article XI are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Bank, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions.

Section 11.02 Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 11.03 Exculpatory Provisions .

(a) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing (it being understood that the term “agent” used herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine or any other applicable law; rather, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties);

(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except as provided in Section 11.10 ; and

(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 and

 

108


Section 10.02) or (ii) otherwise hereunder or under any other Loan Document or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection herewith or therewith INCLUDING ITS OWN ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or as to those conditions precedent expressly required to be to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, (vi) the existence, value, perfection, or priority of any collateral security or the financial or other condition of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries or any other obligor or guarantor, or (vii) any failure by any Loan Party or any other Person (other than itself) to perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the performance or observance of any covenants, agreements, or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein.

Section 11.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof permitted hereunder is filed with the Administrative Agent.

Section 11.05 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The

 

109


Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article XI shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Section 11.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a bank as a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and each Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Bank directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 11.06 . Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article XI and Section 12.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Section 11.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement

 

110


or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. The Agents shall not be required to keep themselves informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of this Agreement, the Loan Documents, or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the Properties or books of the Loan Parties or the Subsidiaries. Except for notices, reports, and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, no Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with an credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, or business of the Loan Parties (or any of their Affiliates) which may come into possession of such Agent or any of its Affiliates. In this regard, each Lender acknowledges that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is acting in this transaction as special counsel to the Administrative Agent only, except that to the extent otherwise expressly stated in any legal opinion or any Loan Document. Each other party hereto will consult with its own legal counsel to the extent that it deems necessary in connection with the Loan Documents and the matters contemplated therein.

Section 11.08 No Other Duties, etc . The Joint Arrangers, the Co-Syndication Agents and the Documentation Agent shall have no duties, responsibilities or liabilities under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents other than, with respect to the Documentation Agent and any Co-Syndication Agent or Joint Arranger that is also a Lender, its duties, responsibilities and liabilities in its capacity as a Lender hereunder.

Section 11.09 Authority of Administrative Agent to Release Collateral and Liens . Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes, and each other Person accepting the benefit of the Liens created by the Security Instruments shall be deemed to have authorized, the Administrative Agent to release (a) any Collateral that is permitted to be sold or released pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents, and (b) any Mortgaged Property that does not constitute Material Real Property if any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) is situated on such Mortgaged Property and the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, determines that the costs, financial and otherwise, of obtaining or maintaining a Lien or complying with all Governmental Requirements with respect to such Lien outweigh the benefit to the Secured Parties of the security afforded thereby. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes, and each other Person accepting the benefit of the Liens created by the Security Instruments shall be deemed to have authorized, the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower (or file, if appropriate), at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, any and all releases of Liens, termination statements, assignments or other documents reasonably requested by the Borrower in connection with any sale or other disposition of Property to the extent such sale or other disposition is permitted by the terms of Section 9.11 or is otherwise authorized by the terms of the Loan Documents. To the extent any Property is sold, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred as expressly permitted by Section 9.11 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred free and clear of all Liens created by the Loan Documents.

Section 11.10 Action by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the

 

111


circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 ) and in all cases the Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder or under any other Loan Documents unless it shall (a) receive written instructions from the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable, (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 ) specifying the action to be taken and (b) be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expenses which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The instructions as aforesaid and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto by the Administrative Agent shall be binding on all of the Lenders. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, then the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as shall be directed by the requisite Lenders in the written instructions (with indemnities) described in this Section, provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders. In no event, however, shall the Administrative Agent be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement, the Loan Documents or applicable law. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, neither the Syndication Agent nor the Documentation Agent shall have any obligation to perform any act in respect thereof.

Section 11.11 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Indebtedness that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 12.03 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

Furthermore, any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent consents to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 12.03 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Indebtedness or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

112


Section 11.12 Intercreditor Agreement . The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and to amend such agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.02 . Each Lender (by receiving the benefits thereunder and of the Collateral pledged pursuant to the Security Instruments) agrees that the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be binding on such Lender and its successors and assigns, as if it was a party thereto.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices .

(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to Section 12.01(b) ), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

 

  (i) if to the Borrower, to it at the following:

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

1700 Pacific Ave., Suite 2900

Dallas, TX 75201

Attn: David Biegler and David Mueller

Fax: 214.393.7504

Email: biegler@southcrossenergy.com and

            mueller@southcrossenergy.com

 

     with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street

Suite 3700

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Catherine Ozdogan

Fax: 713.546.7401

Email: catherine.ozdogan@lw.com

 

113


  (ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to it at the following:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

201 Main Street

Suite 300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Attn: Charles D. Kirkham

Fax: 817.334.7000

Email: kirkham@wellsfargo.com

with a copy to:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

1700 Lincoln St. 3rd Floor

MAC: C7300-035

Denver, CO 80203

Attn: Amira Bahloul

Fax: 303.863.5533

Email: amira.a.bahloul@wellsfargo.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2001 Ross Ave., Suite 3700

Dallas, TX 75201-2975

Attn: Erec Winandy

Fax: 214-999-7756

Email: ewinandy@velaw.com

 

  (iii) if to Wells Fargo, as Issuing Bank, to it at the following:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

201 Main Street

Suite 300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Attn: Charles D. Kirkham

Fax: 817.334.7000

Email: kirkham@wellsfargo.com

with a copy to:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

1700 Lincoln St. 3rd Floor

MAC: C7300-035

Denver, CO 80203

Attn: Amira Bahloul

Fax: 303.863.5533

Email: amira.a.bahloul@wellsfargo.com

 

114


(iv) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 12.01(b) below, shall be effective as provided in Section 12.01(b) .

(b) Electronic Communications .

(i) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II , Article III , Article IV and Article V if such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article(s) by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (B) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (B) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefore.

(c) Change of Address, Etc . Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

Section 12.02 Waivers; Amendments .

(a) No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right, power or privilege, under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or

 

115


privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 12.02(b) , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof nor any Security Instrument nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, or reduce any other Secured Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (A) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Participation Fees at the Default Rate or (B) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment or prepayment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, (excluding mandatory prepayments), or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or any other Secured Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone or extend the Termination Date or Maturity Date without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (iv) change Section 4.01(b) or Section 4.01(c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) waive or amend Section 3.04(c) , Section 6.01 , Section 10.02(c) or Section 12.14 or change the definition of the terms “Domestic Subsidiary”, “Foreign Subsidiary” or “Subsidiary”, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (vi) release any Guarantor (except as permitted pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement or in connection with a sale of such Guarantor permitted under Section 9.11 ) or release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (vii) change any of the provisions of this Section 12.02(b) , Section 10.02(c) , or the definitions of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or any other Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender other than any Defaulting Lender, or (viii) change the application of prepayments under Section 3.04(b)(iv) , without the written consent of the Required Lenders (it being understood that the Required Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment so long as the application of any such prepayment that is still required to be made is not changed); provided , further , that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative

 

116


Agent, any other Agent, or any Issuing Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such other Agent or any Issuing Bank, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) any supplement to Schedule 7.14 (Subsidiaries) shall be effective simply by delivering to the Administrative Agent a supplemental schedule clearly marked as such and, upon receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly deliver a copy thereof to the Lenders, (y) the Borrower (or other applicable Loan Party) and the Administrative Agent may amend this Agreement or any other Loan Document without the consent of the Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by Lenders constituting the Required Lenders within 5 Business Days after the Administrative Agent delivers written notice thereof to the Lenders, and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or other applicable Loan Party) may enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or enter into any agreement or instrument to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Mortgaged Property or Property to become Mortgaged Property to secure the Secured Obligations for the benefit of the Lenders or as required by any Governmental Requirement to give effect to, protect or otherwise enhance the rights or benefits of any Lender under the Loan Documents without the consent of any Lender.

Section 12.03 Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel and other outside consultants for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent as to the rights and duties of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect thereto) of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of or consents related to the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all costs, expenses, Taxes, assessments and other charges incurred by any Agent or any Lender in connection with any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated by this Agreement or any Security Instrument or any other document referred to therein, (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iv) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 12.03 or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including, without limitation, all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.03(a) or elsewhere in any of the Loan Documents, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be obligated to pay or reimburse any Person for any costs, expenses, fees, taxes or other charges of any nature whatsoever that are incurred or payable by any Person in connection with any assignment referred to in Section 12.04(b) , any participation referred to in Section 12.04(d) or any pledge or security interest referred to in Section 12.04(f) .

 

117


(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE BORROWER . THE BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY EACH AGENT (AND ANY SUB-AGENT THEREOF), THE JOINT ARRANGERS, ANY ISSUING BANK AND EACH LENDER, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “ INDEMNITEE ”) AGAINST, AND DEFEND AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE, INCURRED BY ANY INDEMNITEE OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF (i) THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO OR THE PARTIES TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, (ii) THE FAILURE OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, INCLUDING THIS AGREEMENT, OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT, (iii) ANY INACCURACY OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY OR COVENANT OF THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY INSTRUMENTS, DOCUMENTS OR CERTIFICATIONS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, (iv) ANY LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, (A) ANY REFUSAL BY ANY ISSUING BANK TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT, OR (B) THE PAYMENT OF A DRAWING UNDER ANY LETTER OF CREDIT NOTWITHSTANDING THE NON-COMPLIANCE, NON-DELIVERY OR OTHER IMPROPER PRESENTATION OF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, (v) ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (vi) THE OPERATIONS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE BORROWER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES BY THE BORROWER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (vii) ANY ASSERTION THAT THE LENDERS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, (viii) ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING, THE PRESENCE, GENERATION, STORAGE, RELEASE, THREATENED RELEASE, USE, TRANSPORT, DISPOSAL, ARRANGEMENT OF DISPOSAL OR TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, (ix) THE BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, (x) THE PAST OWNERSHIP BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR PAST ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH, THOUGH LAWFUL AND FULLY

 

118


PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT IN PRESENT LIABILITY, (xi) THE PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE, STORAGE, TREATMENT, DISPOSAL, GENERATION, THREATENED RELEASE, TRANSPORT, ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSPORT OR ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (xii) ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR (xiii) ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR (xiv) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY, WHETHER BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO, AND SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL EXTEND TO EACH INDEMNITEE NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES (x) ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE, (y) RESULT FROM A CLAIM BROUGHT BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE FOR BREACH IN BAD FAITH OF SUCH INDEMNITEE’S OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, IF THE BORROWER OR SUCH SUBSIDIARY HAS OBTAINED A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ITS FAVOR ON SUCH CLAIM AS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION OR (z) RESULT FROM ANY DISPUTE SOLELY AMONG INDEMNITEES, OTHER THAN ANY CLAIMS AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE IN ITS CAPACITY OR IN FULFILLING ITS ROLE AS AN AGENT, JOINT ARRANGER, OR ANY SIMILAR ROLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, AND OTHER THAN ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANY ACT OR OMISSION ON THE PART OF THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly any amount required under Sections 12.03(a) or (b)  to be paid by it to any Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Joint Arranger,any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger, such Issuing Bank or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed

 

119


expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger or such Issuing Bank in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger or such Issuing Bank in connection with such capacity.

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any other party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof (other than to the extent any such damages are asserted pursuant to a third-party claim that would otherwise be required to be indemnified or reimbursed pursuant to any Loan Document). No Indemnitee referred to in Section 12.03(b) shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the Transactions.

(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section 12.03 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 12.04 Assignments and Participations .

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues a Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except (A) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04(b) , (B) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04(d) , or (C) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 12.04(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in Section 12.04(d) ) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignments shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

120


(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in Section 12.04(b)(i)(A) , the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii)  shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights on a non- pro rata basis.

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 12.04(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of a Commitment or Revolving Credit Exposure if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

(C) the consent of each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in LC Exposure (whether or not then outstanding).

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (unless the assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund), and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

121


(v) No Assignment to Borrower . No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower, any Sponsor, or any of the Borrower’s or any Sponsor’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

(vii) No Assignments to Defaulting Lenders . No such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 12.04(c) , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.04(d) .

(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). Upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 12.04(b) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 12.04(b) , the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this Section 12.04(c) . The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Banks and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In connection with any changes to the Register, if necessary, the Administrative Agent will reflect the revisions on Annex I and forward a copy of such revised Annex I to the Borrower, the Issuing Banks and each Lender.

 

122


(d) Participations .

(i) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(ii) Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the proviso to Section 12.02 that affects such Participant. In addition such agreement must provide that the Participant be bound by the provisions of Section 12.03 . Subject to Section 12.04(e) , the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 and Section 5.03 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.04(b) . To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.01(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.03 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 5.03(f) as though it were a Lender

 

123


(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and Section 12.04(e) shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Restrictions if Registration Required . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 12.04 , no transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender or any grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment or grant would require the Borrower and the Guarantors to file a registration statement with the SEC or to qualify the Loans under the “Blue Sky” laws of any state.

Section 12.05 Survival; Revival; Reinstatement .

(a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 and Article XI shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

(b) To the extent that any payments on the Secured Obligations or proceeds of any Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Secured Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Loan Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such event, each Loan Document shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to effect such reinstatement.

 

124


Section 12.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution .

(a) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

(b) Integration . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

(c) Effectiveness . Except as provided in Section 6.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(d) Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 12.07 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 12.08 Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (of whatsoever kind, including, without limitations obligations under Hedging Agreements, and in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the

 

125


account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section 12.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

Section 12.09 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH THEREIN, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW PERMITS ANY LENDER TO CONTRACT FOR, CHARGE, RECEIVE, RESERVE OR TAKE INTEREST AT THE RATE ALLOWED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE WHERE SUCH LENDER IS LOCATED.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH THEREIN, BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.

(c) EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 12.01 OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS IS SPECIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12.01 (OR ITS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION), SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF A PARTY OR ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

126


(d) EACH PARTY HEREBY (i) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN; (ii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES; (iii) CERTIFIES THAT NO OTHER PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY FOR ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (iv) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 12.09 .

Section 12.10 Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 12.11 Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors (including accountants and legal counsel) and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.11 , to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Hedging Agreement relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 12.11 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any

 

127


Issuing Bank, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For purposes of this Section 12.11 , “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 12.11 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Section 12.12 Interest Rate Limitation . It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the Transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Secured Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (a) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Lender under any of the Loan Documents or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Loans shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Secured Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Secured Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower); and (b) in the event that the maturity of the Loans is accelerated by reason of an election of the holder thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by such Lender as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Secured Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Secured Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the stated term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (i) the amount of interest payable to any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.12 and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue

 

128


to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.12 . To the extent that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code is relevant for the purpose of determining the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to a Lender, such Lender elects to determine the applicable rate ceiling under such Chapter by the weekly ceiling from time to time in effect. Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code does not apply to the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

Section 12.13 EXCULPATION PROVISIONS . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT READ THIS AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT “CONSPICUOUS.”

Section 12.14 Collateral Matters; Secured Hedging Agreements; Bank Products . The benefit of the Security Instruments and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Collateral securing the Secured Obligations shall also extend to and be available to the Secured Hedging Counterparties with respect to any Secured Hedging Agreement (including any Secured Hedging Agreement in existence prior to the date hereof, but excluding any additional transactions or confirmations entered into (a) after such Secured Hedging Counterparty ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or (b) after assignment by a Secured Hedging Counterparty to another Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) and Bank Products Providers with respect to any obligations in respect of Bank Products. No Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender shall have any voting or consent rights under any Loan Document as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Secured Hedging Agreements or in respect of Bank Products.

Section 12.15 No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the agreement of the Lenders to make Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend Letters of Credit hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Borrower, and no other Person (including, without limitation, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, any obligor,

 

129


contractor, subcontractor, supplier or materialman) shall have any rights, claims, remedies or privileges hereunder or under any other Loan Document against the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender for any reason whatsoever. There are no third party beneficiaries.

Section 12.16 USA Patriot Act Notice . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ USA Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.

Section 12.17 Amendment and Restatement . It is the intention of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders, and such parties hereby agree, from and after the Effective Date, this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety, and that (a) such amendment and restatement shall operate to renew, amend and modify certain of the rights and obligations of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement as provided herein, but shall not act as a novation thereof, and (b) the Liens securing the “Secured Obligations” under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall not be extinguished, but shall be carried forward and shall secure such obligations and Indebtedness as renewed, amended, restated, and modified hereby. Unless specifically amended hereby, each of the Loan Documents, the Exhibits and the Schedules shall continue in full force and effect and, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained therein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement. Each Lender hereunder that is an Existing Lender and the Borrower each hereby consent to the amendments to, and amendments and restatements of, the Existing Loan Documents in the form of the Loan Documents.

Section 12.18 NON-RECOURSE TO THE GENERAL PARTNER . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS DO NOT AND WILL NOT IN ANY WAY CONSTITUTE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER. IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IS HELD BY ANY AUTHORITY TO CONSTITUTE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, SUCH PROVISION SHALL BE DEEMED INEFFECTIVE TO THE EXTENT SUCH PROVISION CONSTITUTES A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY. NEITHER THIS AGREEMENT NOR ANY LOAN DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO CREATE ANY LIABILITY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREUNDER OR HEREUNDER. NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY LENDER SHALL HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE GENERAL PARTNER (INCLUDING ANY RECOURSE FOR ANY DEFICIENCY REMAINING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AFTER THE DISPOSITION OF COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE GP COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE GENERAL PARTNER); PROVIDED , THAT,

 

130


NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL THIS SECTION 12.18 RELIEVE THE GENERAL PARTNER FROM ANY LIABILITY IT MAY HAVE AS A RESULT OF ITS FRAUD, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OR THAT OF ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CERTIFICATES OR DOCUMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE GENERAL PARTNER ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE BORROWER’S GENERAL PARTNER.

Section 12.19 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that: (a) (i) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Joint Arranger or any Lender is intended to be or has been created in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has advised or is advising the Borrower or any Subsidiary on other matters; (ii) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand; (iii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent that it has deemed appropriate; and (iv) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; and (b) (i) the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person; (ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 12.20 Intercreditor Agreement . Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Term Administrative Agent, as “Term Facility Administrative Agent” (as defined therein), and the Administrative Agent, as “Revolving Facility Administrative Agent” (as defined therein). Each Lender hereunder (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) consents to the

 

131


priority of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (c) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as if it was a signatory thereto and (d) authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Administrative Agent and on behalf of such Lender. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the “Term Facility Lenders” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to permit the incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

132


The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER:   SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
  By:   Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
    By:  

/s/ David W. Biegler

    Name:   David W. Biegler
    Title:   Chairman and Chief Exective Officer

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,      
ISSUING BANK,      
AND LENDER:     WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Brandon Kast

    Name:   Brandon Kast
    Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:     BARCLAYS BANK PLC
    By:  

/s/ Ann E. Sutton

    Name:   Ann E. Sutton
    Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ISSUING BANK AND LENDER:     UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
    By:  

/s/ Lana Gifas

    Name:   Lana Gifas
    Title:   Director
    By:  

/s/ Jennifer Anderson

    Name:   Jennifer Anderson
    Title:   Associate Director

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Stephanie Balette

    Name:   Stephanie Balette
    Title:   Authorized Officer

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC
    By:  

/s/ Urvashi Zutshi

    Name:   Urvashi Zutshi
    Title:   Managing Director
    By:  

/s/ Elizabeth Johnson

    Name:   Elizabeth Johnson
    Title:   Managing Director

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Bryan Heller

    Name:   Bryan Heller
    Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     CADENCE BANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ David Anderson

    Name:   David Anderson
    Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
    By:  

/s/ Evans Swann, Jr.

    Name:   Evans Swann, Jr.
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     REGIONS BANK
    By:  

/s/ Robert Kaufman

    Name:   Robert Kaufman
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     MIDFIRST BANK
    By:  

/s/ Steve A. Griffin

    Name:   Steve A. Griffin
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


LENDER:     RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Alexander L. Rody

    Name:   Alexander Rody
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page]

T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED R EVOLVING C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ANNEX I

LIST OF COMMITMENTS

 

Name of Lender

   Commitment      Applicable
Percentage
 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   $ 27,500,000         13.75

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 20,000,000         10.00

UBS AG, Stamford Branch

   $ 20,000,000         10.00

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

Cadence Bank, N.A.

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

Regions Bank

   $ 17,500,000         8.75

MidFirst Bank

   $ 15,000,000         7.50

Raymond James Bank, N.A.

   $ 12,500,000         6.25
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 200,000,000.00         100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


ANNEX II

EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

Issuing Bank

  

Beneficiary

   Applicant    Amount      Issue Date  

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   SAN PATRICIO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.    Borrower    $ 960,000.00         1/22/2013   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   SAN PATRICIO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.    Borrower    $ 420,000.00         1/22/2013   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   DEVON ENERGY    Borrower    $ 1,800,000.00         10/1/2013   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   EXXON    Borrower    $ 1,300,000.00         10/8/2013   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   EOG    Borrower    $ 7,200,000.00         3/10/2014   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   HILCORP    Borrower    $ 2,500,000.00         4/1/2014   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   DENBURY OFFSHORE    Borrower    $ 750,000.00         4/23/2014   

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   XTO    Borrower    $ 2,500,000.00         5/8/2014   


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST

[                    ], 20[    ]

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), pursuant to Section 2.03 of that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 (together with all amendments, restatements, supplements, or other modifications, if any, from time to time made thereto, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the various financial institutions that are or may become a party thereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ”), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity together with any successors thereto, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and the other agents which are or may become parties thereto (unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used herein has the meaning assigned to it in the Credit Agreement), hereby requests a Borrowing as follows:

 

  (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing is $[            ];

 

  (ii) the date of such Borrowing is [            ], 20[    ];

 

  (iii) such Borrowing is to be [an ABR Borrowing] [a Eurodollar Borrowing];

 

  (iv) [the initial Interest Period applicable thereto is [one, three or six months]] 1 ;

 

  (v) the current total Revolving Credit Exposures (without regard to the requested Borrowing) is $[            ];

 

  (vi) the pro forma total Revolving Credit Exposures (giving effect to the requested Borrowing) is $[            ]; and

 

  (vii) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which complies with the requirements of Section 2.05 of the Credit Agreement, are as follows:

[                                      ]

[                                      ]

[                                      ]

[                                      ]

[                                      ]

[                                      ]

The undersigned certifies that he/she is the [            ] of the Borrower’s General Partner, and that as such he/she is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower. The

 

 

1  

To be included if the requested Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing.

 

Exhibit B-1


undersigned further certifies, represents and warrants on behalf of the Borrower that the conditions to lending specified in Section [6.01] 2 [6.02] 3 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied as of the date hereof and that the Borrower is entitled to receive the requested Borrowing under the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement.]

 

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, its

general partner

  By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

 

2   With respect to Loans made on the Effective Date only.
3   With respect to Loans made after the Effective Date only.

 

Exhibit B-2

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

August 4, 2014

among

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.,

as Borrower,

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

and

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, and UBS Securities LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I   

Definitions and Accounting Matters

     2   

Section 1.01

  Terms Defined Above      2   

Section 1.02

  Certain Defined Terms      2   

Section 1.03

  Types of Loans and Borrowings      28   

Section 1.04

  Terms Generally; Rules of Construction      28   

Section 1.05

  Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP      28   
Article II   

The Credits

     29   

Section 2.01

  Initial Term Loan      29   

Section 2.02

  Loans and Borrowings      29   

Section 2.03

  Procedure for Advance of Loans      30   

Section 2.04

  Interest Elections      30   

Section 2.05

  Funding of Loans      32   

Section 2.06

  Incremental Term Loans      32   
Article III   

Payments of Principal and Interest; Prepayments; Fees

     35   

Section 3.01

  Repayment of Loans      35   

Section 3.02

  Interest      35   

Section 3.03

  Alternate Rate of Interest      36   

Section 3.04

  Prepayments      36   

Section 3.05

  Fees      39   

Section 3.06

  Extension of Maturity Date      39   
Article IV   

Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

     41   

Section 4.01

  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs      41   

Section 4.02

  Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent      42   

Section 4.03

  Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent      42   

Section 4.04

  Defaulting Lenders      43   
Article V   

Increased Costs; Break Funding Payments; Taxes; Illegality

     43   

Section 5.01

  Increased Costs      43   

Section 5.02

  Break Funding Payments      44   

Section 5.03

  Taxes      45   

Section 5.04

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      48   

Section 5.05

  Illegality      49   

 

i


Article VI   

Conditions Precedent

     49   

Section 6.01

  Closing Date      49   

Section 6.02

  Each Subsequent Credit Event      53   
Article VII   

Representations and Warranties

     54   

Section 7.01

  Organization; Powers      54   

Section 7.02

  Authority; Enforceability      54   

Section 7.03

  Approvals; No Conflicts      54   

Section 7.04

  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change      55   

Section 7.05

  Litigation      56   

Section 7.06

  Environmental Matters      56   

Section 7.07

  Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults      57   

Section 7.08

  Investment Company Act      58   

Section 7.09

  Taxes      58   

Section 7.10

  ERISA      58   

Section 7.11

  Disclosure; No Material Misstatements      59   

Section 7.12

  Insurance      59   

Section 7.13

  Restriction on Liens      60   

Section 7.14

  Subsidiaries      60   

Section 7.15

  Location of Business and Offices      60   

Section 7.16

  Properties; Titles, Etc      61   

Section 7.17

  Maintenance of Properties      61   

Section 7.18

  Hedging Agreements and Qualified ECP Guarantor      61   

Section 7.19

  Security Instruments      62   

Section 7.20

  Use of Loans      63   

Section 7.21

  Solvency      63   

Section 7.22

  Common Enterprise      63   

Section 7.23

  Material Contracts      63   

Section 7.24

  Broker’s Fees      63   

Section 7.25

  Employee Matters      64   

Section 7.26

  Anti-Terrorism Laws      64   

Section 7.27

  Foreign Corrupt Practices      65   
Article VIII   

Affirmative Covenants

     65   

Section 8.01

  Financial Statements; Ratings Change; Other Information      65   

Section 8.02

  Notices of Material Events      68   

Section 8.03

  Existence; Conduct of Business      69   

Section 8.04

  Payment of Tax Obligations      69   

Section 8.05

  Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents      69   

Section 8.06

  Operation and Maintenance of Properties      69   

Section 8.07

  Insurance      70   

 

ii


Section 8.08   Books and Records; Inspection Rights      70   

Section 8.09

  Compliance with Laws      70   

Section 8.10

  Compliance with Agreements      71   

Section 8.11

  Environmental Matters      71   

Section 8.12

  Further Assurances      71   

Section 8.13

  Title Information      72   

Section 8.14

  Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      72   

Section 8.15

  Designations with Respect to Subsidiaries      74   

Section 8.16

  Excluded Subsidiaries      74   

Section 8.17

  ERISA Compliance      74   

Section 8.18

  Interest Rate Hedging Agreements      75   

Section 8.19

  Commodity Exchange Act Keepwell Provisions      75   

Section 8.20

  Post-Closing Obligations      75   
Article IX   

Negative Covenants

     75   

Section 9.01

  [Reserved]      76   

Section 9.02

  Indebtedness      76   

Section 9.03

  Liens      77   

Section 9.04

  Restricted Payments      78   

Section 9.05

  Investments, Loans and Advances      79   

Section 9.06

  Nature of Business; International Operations      80   

Section 9.07

  Proceeds of Loans      80   

Section 9.08

  ERISA Compliance      80   

Section 9.09

  Sale or Discount of Receivables      81   

Section 9.10

  Mergers, Etc      81   

Section 9.11

  Sale of Properties      82   

Section 9.12

  Environmental Matters      83   

Section 9.13

  Transactions with Affiliates      83   

Section 9.14

  Subsidiaries      83   

Section 9.15

  Limitation on Issuance of Equity Interests      83   

Section 9.16

  Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions      84   

Section 9.17

  Hedging Agreements      84   

Section 9.18

  Holding Company      84   

Section 9.19

  Sale and Leaseback      85   

Section 9.20

  Amendments to Organization Documents, Revolver Loan Documents, Material Contracts, or Fiscal Year End; Prepayments of other Indebtedness      85   

Section 9.21

  Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering      86   

Section 9.22

  Embargoed Person      86   
Article X   

Events of Default; Remedies

     86   

Section 10.01

  Events of Default      86   

Section 10.02

  Remedies      88   

 

iii


Article XI   

The Agents

     90   

Section 11.01

  Appointment and Authority      90   

Section 11.02

  Rights as a Lender      90   

Section 11.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      90   

Section 11.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      91   

Section 11.05

  Delegation of Duties      92   

Section 11.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      92   

Section 11.07

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      92   

Section 11.08

  No Other Duties, etc      93   

Section 11.09

  Authority of Administrative Agent to Release Collateral and Liens      93   

Section 11.10

  Action by the Administrative Agent      93   

Section 11.11

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      94   

Section 11.12

  Intercreditor Agreement      95   
Article XII   

Miscellaneous

     95   

Section 12.01

  Notices      95   

Section 12.02

  Waivers; Amendments      97   

Section 12.03

  Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver      99   

Section 12.04

  Assignments and Participations      102   

Section 12.05

  Survival; Revival; Reinstatement      105   

Section 12.06

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution      106   

Section 12.07

  Severability      107   

Section 12.08

  Right of Setoff      107   

Section 12.09

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      107   

Section 12.10

  Headings      108   

Section 12.11

  Confidentiality      109   

Section 12.12

  Interest Rate Limitation      109   

Section 12.13

  EXCULPATION PROVISIONS      110   

Section 12.14

  Collateral Matters; Secured Hedging Agreements; Bank Products      111   

Section 12.15

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      111   

Section 12.16

  USA Patriot Act Notice      111   

Section 12.17

  Non-Recourse to the General Partner      111   

Section 12.18

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      112   

Section 12.19

  Intercreditor Agreement      112   

 

iv


ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Annex I    Initial Term Loan Commitments
Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C    Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit D-1    Form of Compliance Certificate (Closing Date)
Exhibit D-2    Form of Compliance Certificate (Ongoing)
Exhibit E    Form of Guaranty and Collateral Agreement
Exhibit F    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit G-1    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; not partnerships)
Exhibit G-2    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants; not partnerships)
Exhibit G-3    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants: partnerships)
Exhibit G-4    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; partnerships)\

 

Schedule 1.02(a)    Security Instruments as of the Closing Date
Schedule 1.02(b)    Specified Transactions
Schedule 7.09    Taxes
Schedule 7.14    Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.18    Hedging Agreements
Schedule 7.19    Jurisdictions for Security Instrument Filings
Schedule 7.23    Material Contracts
Schedule 7.24    Broker’s Fees
Schedule 8.20    Post-Closing Obligations
Schedule 9.05    Existing Investments

 

v


THIS TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 4, 2014, is among: Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”); each of the Lenders from time to time party hereto; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (in its individual capacity, “ Wells Fargo ”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”); and UBS Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as co-syndication agents for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with their successors in such capacity, the “ Co-Syndication Agents ”).

R E C I T A L S

A. The Borrower, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, and each of the financial institutions party thereto as lenders (the “ Existing Revolver Lenders ”) are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 7, 2012 (as amended, the “ Existing Revolving Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Existing Revolver Lenders provided certain loans and extensions of credit to the Borrower (all Indebtedness (as defined below) arising pursuant to the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement, the “ Existing Indebtedness ”).

B. The Borrower, Southcross Energy GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Borrower (“ Southcross OpCo GP ”), and TexStar Midstream Services, LP, a Texas limited partnership (“ TexStar ”), entered into that certain Contribution Agreement dated June 11, 2014 (as amended, the “ Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which (a) TexStar has agreed to contribute (i) 100% of the outstanding limited partnership interest in FL Rich Gas Services, LP, a Texas limited partnership formerly known as Frio LaSalle Pipeline, LP (“ Frio LP ”), and (ii) 100% of the outstanding limited liability company interest in FL Rich Gas Services GP, LLC, a Texas limited liability company formerly known as Frio LaSalle GP, LLC and the sole general partner of Frio LP (“ Frio GP ”) to the Borrower, and (b) the Borrower has agreed to contribute, directly or indirectly, (i) 100% of the Equity Interests in Frio GP to Southcross OpCo GP and (ii) 100% of the limited partnership interest in Frio LP to Southcross Energy LP LLC, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Contribution Agreement (such transactions, collectively, the “ Frio Contribution ”).

C. The Borrower is entering into that certain Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith (as amended, restated, amended and restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Revolving Credit Agreement ”), which Revolving Credit Agreement amends and restates the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement, with the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (together with their successors and assigns, collectively, the “ Revolver Lenders ”) and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent for the Revolver Lenders (together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Revolver Administrative Agent ”), pursuant to which the Revolver Lenders are providing certain revolving loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower (such credit facility, the “ Revolving Credit Facility ”).

D. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain of its Affiliates, as applicable, are consummating the Frio Contribution and the other Specified Transactions (as defined below).

 

1


E. Subject to the conditions precedent set forth herein, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to finance the Frio Contribution and certain other Specified Transactions and refinance the Existing Indebtedness as provided in this Agreement.

F. In consideration of the premises, the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the satisfaction of each condition precedent set forth in Section 6.01 hereof, the parties hereto further agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

Section 1.01 Terms Defined Above . As used in this Agreement, each term defined above has the meaning indicated above.

Section 1.02 Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.05 .

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Co-Syndication Agents; and “ Agent ” means any one of the Administrative Agent and any Co-Syndication Agent, as the context requires.

Agreement ” means this Term Loan Credit Agreement, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.

All-In Yield ” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, original issue discount, upfront fees, a Eurodollar rate or ABR floor, or other fees paid ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness, in each case, incurred or payable by the Loan Parties generally to all the lenders of such Indebtedness; provided, that (a) original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness),

 

2


and (b) “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees, success fees, ticking fees, consent or amendment fees and any similar fees (regardless of whether shared with, or paid to, in whole or in part, any or all lenders) and any other fees not paid ratably to all lenders of such Indebtedness.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.5% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.0%. For the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day (or the immediately preceding Business Day if such day is not a day on which banks are open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

Anti-Terrorism Law ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(a) .

Applicable Margin ” means, for any day with respect to the Initial Term Loan, (a) with respect to any ABR Borrowing, 3.25%, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, 4.25%.

Approved Counterparty ” means (a) any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender and (b) any other Person whose (or whose credit support provider’s) long term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Person (including by way of redemption by such Person) of any Property (including, without limitation, any capital stock or other securities of, or Equity Interests in, another Person), but excluding (a) dispositions resulting from Casualty Events, and (b) sales and other dispositions of Property pursuant to Sections 9.11(a)-(f) .

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 12.04(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Available Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

3


Bank Products ” means any of the following bank services: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards, and (c) treasury or cash management services (including, without limitation, deposit accounts, funds transfers, automated clearinghouse services, auto-borrow services, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement services, lockboxes, account reconciliation and reporting service, trade finance services, overdraft protection, and interstate depository network services).

Bank Products Provider ” means any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that provides Bank Products to the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America or any successor Governmental Authority.

Borrower Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Dallas, Texas are authorized or required by law to remain closed; and if such day relates to a Borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such Borrowing or continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any day which is also a day on which banks are open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures ” means, in respect of any Person, for any period, the aggregate (determined without duplication) of all expenditures and costs that are capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, exclusive of, with respect to each Loan Party, expenditures and costs incurred by such Loan Party to the extent that an unaffiliated third Person has provided such Loan Party with funds to pay such expenditures and costs prior to incurrence.

Capital Leases ” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases on the balance sheet of the Person liable (whether contingent or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder.

Casualty Event ” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Change in Control ” means:

(a) the Sponsors and their Affiliates, collectively, shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests in the General Partner representing a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner;

 

4


(b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than the Sponsors,and their respective Affiliates of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner;

(c) the General Partner shall cease to be the sole general partner of the Borrower, with substantially the same (or more expansive) powers to manage the Borrower as are granted to the General Partner under the Organization Documents of the Borrower as of the Closing Date;

(d) except for transactions permitted by Section 9.10 or Section 9.11 , the Borrower shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, all of the Equity Interests in each of the other Loan Parties; or

(e) within any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were neither (i) members of the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner on the first day of such period, (ii) persons who were appointed or nominated by such persons, nor (iii) persons who were appointed or nominated by a Sponsor (or an Affiliate of a Sponsor) shall constitute a majority of the members of the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Class ” means, when used in reference to any Loan, whether such Loan is the Initial Term Loan, an Incremental Loan, or an Extended Term Loan.

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 6.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02 ).

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

5


Collateral ” means any and all Property of the Loan Parties or any other Person that is secured by a Lien under one or more Security Instruments.

Commitment ” means, (a) with respect to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make a portion of the Initial Term Loan and/or any Incremental Term Loan, as applicable, to the Borrower hereunder on the Closing Date (in the case of the Initial Term Loan) or the applicable Incremental Effective Date (in the case of any Incremental Term Loan) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be increased, reduced or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) with respect to all Lenders, the aggregate commitments of all Lenders to make such Loans. The aggregate Commitments with respect to the Initial Term Loan of all Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $450,000,000.

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof.

Consolidated Subsidiaries ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, “Consolidated Subsidiaries” does not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender, as determined by the Administrative Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend or expect to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans, (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) (i) become

 

6


or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent or (ii) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not become a Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or Person controlling such Lender or the exercise of control over a Lender or Person controlling such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.

Disqualified Capital Stock ” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the earlier of (a) the latest Maturity Date in effect at the date of issuance of such Equity Interest, and (b) the date on which there are no Loans or other obligations hereunder outstanding.

dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Embargoed Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22 .

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining in any way to health, safety, the environment, the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, or the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting, or at any time has conducted, business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located, including, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“ OPA ”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“ CERCLA ”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“ RCRA ”), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and other environmental conservation or protection Governmental Requirements.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, registration, license, notice, approval, consent, exemption, variance, spill or response plan, or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

 

7


EP Contract ” means that certain Gas Gathering and Processing Agreement (Portions of Atascosa, Dimmit and La Salle Counties) dated February 18, 2014, entered into between Frio LP and EP Energy E&P Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as in effect on the Closing Date.

Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such Equity Interests.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute.

ERISA Affiliate ” means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or a Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a “Reportable Event” described in section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (e) receipt of a notice of withdrawal liability pursuant to section 4202 of ERISA or (f) any other event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

Eurodollar ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01 .

Excepted Liens ” means: (a) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (c) statutory landlord’s liens, operators’, interest owners’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, workers’, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens, in each case, arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the operation and maintenance of Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (d) Liens arising solely by virtue of customary deposit account agreements with the

 

8


creditor depositary institution or any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, provided that no such deposit account is a dedicated cash collateral account or is subject to restrictions against access by the depositor in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board and no such deposit account is intended by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depository institution or any other Person (other than the Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Instruments); (e) zoning and land use requirements, easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations affecting, and minor irregularities or deficiencies in title to, any real Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that do not secure Indebtedness and which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such Property for the purposes of which such Property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (f) Liens on cash or securities pledged to secure performance of tenders, surety, appeal and supersedeas bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, regulatory obligations, obligations in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of government benefits or insurance and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (g) Liens, titles and interests of lessors of Property leased by such lessors to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such Property and the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interests therein imposed by such leases, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such lessors’ titles and interests in such Property and to which the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s leasehold interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record; provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and do not encumber Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Property that is the subject of such leases; (h) Liens, titles and interests of licensors of software and other intangible Property licensed by such licensors to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such Property and the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s interests therein imposed by such licenses, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such licensors’ titles and interests in such Property and to which the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s license interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record; provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and do not encumber Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the Property that is the subject of such licenses; and (i) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default, provided that any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired and no action to enforce such Lien has been commenced. Any Lien described in clauses (a)  through (d)  shall remain an “Excepted Lien” only for so long as (A) the appropriate Loan Party shall cause any proceeding instituted contesting such Lien to stay the sale or forfeiture of any portion of the Collateral on account of such Lien, (B) the appropriate Loan Party shall maintain adequate reserves related to such Lien to the extent required by GAAP, and (C) such Lien shall in all respects be subject and subordinate in priority to the Liens created and evidenced by the Security Instruments, except if and to the extent that the Governmental Requirements creating, permitting or authorizing such Lien provides that such Lien is or must be superior to the Liens created and evidenced by the Security Instruments; provided that no intention to subordinate the first priority Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Instruments is to be hereby implied or expressed by the permitted existence of such Excepted Liens.

 

9


Excess Cash ” means the amount, if any, that (a) the sum of (i) the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ cash on hand plus (ii) the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s and the other Loan Parties’ Investments of the types described in clauses (c) , (d) , (e)  and (f)  of Section 9.05 exceeds (b) the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s accounts payable and accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services that are greater than ninety (90) days past the later of the date of invoice or the scheduled payment date unless such accounts payable, expenses or liabilities or other obligations are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP.

Excluded Hedging Obligation ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, individually determined on a Loan Party by Loan Party basis, any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement if, and solely to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee by such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time such guarantee or grant of a security interest becomes effective with respect to such related Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement. If any Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement arises under a master agreement governing more than one transaction or confirmation, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Indebtedness in respect of any Hedging Agreement that is attributable to transactions or confirmations for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) any Person designated on the Closing Date as such on Schedule 7.14 or that the Borrower has designated in writing to the Administrative Agent to be an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.15(a) , and which has not been redesignated a Loan Party pursuant to Section 8.15(b) , and (b) any Subsidiary of an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes (i) imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Guarantor is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 5.04(b) ), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new

 

10


lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 5.03(f) , except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(c) , and (d) any United States federal withholding taxes imposed by FATCA.

Executive Order ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(a) .

Existing Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Maturity Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Existing Revolver Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Existing Term Loan Tranche ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Extended Maturity Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c) .

Extended Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

Extending Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c) .

Extension Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(g) .

Extension Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c) .

Extension Request ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a) .

FATCA ” means sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any regulations or official interpretations thereof.

FCPA ” means the Foreign corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Federal Flood Insurance ” means federally backed Flood Insurance available under the National Flood Insurance Program to owners of real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Area in a community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if

 

11


such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters ” and “ Fee Letter ” mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, any fee letter entered into between the Borrower and Wells Fargo and/or one or more of its Affiliates from time to time in respect of the Loans.

FEMA ” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that administers the National Flood Insurance Program.

Financial Officer ” means, for any Person, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Financial Officer means a Financial Officer of the Borrower or of the General Partner acting on behalf of the Borrower.

Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Flood Insurance ” means, for any owned real Property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, Federal Flood Insurance or private insurance that meets or exceeds the requirements set forth by FEMA in its Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines. Flood Insurance shall be in commercially reasonable amounts at least up to the maximum policy limits set under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood Insurance Regulations ” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC § 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Frio Assets ” means, collectively, (a) the Loan Parties’ Equity Interests in the Frio Joint Ventures and (b) the Frio Processing Plant.

Frio Contribution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Frio Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Frio GP ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

12


Frio Group ” means, collectively, Frio GP, Frio LP, the Frio Joint Ventures and their respective Subsidiaries.

Frio Joint Ventures ” means, individually or collectively as the context requires, (a) T2 Eagle Ford Gathering Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (b) T2 EF Cogeneration Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (c) T2 LaSalle Gathering Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Frio LP ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Frio Processing Plant ” means that certain natural gas processing plant located in Pettus, Bee County, Texas and owned by Frio LP.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 1.05 .

General Partner ” means Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of the Borrower.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, rules of common law, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantors ” means, collectively, (a) the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 7.14 , and (b) each other Subsidiary that guarantees the Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 8.14(a) . For the avoidance of doubt, “Guarantors” does not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

Guaranty and Collateral Agreement ” means a Term Loan Guaranty and Collateral Agreement executed by the Borrower and the Guarantors in substantially the form of Exhibit E granting and confirming security interests in certain Collateral and unconditionally guarantying on a joint and several basis, payment of the Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

13


Hazardous Material ” means any substance regulated or as to which liability might arise under any applicable Environmental Law including: (a) any chemical, compound, material, product, byproduct, substance or waste defined as or included in the definition or meaning of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “solid waste,” “toxic waste,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” or words of similar meaning or import found in any applicable Environmental Law; (b) Hydrocarbons, petroleum products, petroleum substances, natural gas, oil, oil and gas waste, crude oil, and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof; and (c) radioactive materials, explosives, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, infectious or medical wastes.

Hedging Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded, “over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions (including any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act); provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees, or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedging Agreement.

Hedging Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) , the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined by the counterparties to such Hedging Agreements.

Highest Lawful Rate ” means, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Loans or on other Secured Obligations under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws allow as of the date hereof.

Hydrocarbons ” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

Incremental Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that is entered into among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any applicable Incremental Lenders in connection with the incurrence of Incremental Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.06 .

Incremental Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a) .

Incremental Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a) .

Incremental Term Loan ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a) .

 

14


Incremental Term Loan Commitment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a) .

Indebtedness ” means, for any Person, the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, bankers’ acceptances, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (b) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (c) all accounts payable and all accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services, except (i) trade accounts payable of such Person arising in the ordinary course of business if and to the extent that such trade accounts payable are not past due by more than ninety (90) days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and for which adequate reserves have been established or are subject to an offset in favor of such Person as a result of accounts receivable owed to such Person, and (ii) non-cash purchase price adjustments or non-cash earnouts and the portion of any cash purchase price adjustments or cash earnouts that is not determinable; (d) all obligations under Capital Leases; (e) all obligations under Synthetic Leases; (f) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien on any Property of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness of any Person described in this clause (f)  shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness or (ii) the fair market value of the Property encumbered; (g) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the Indebtedness (howsoever such assurance shall be made) to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such Indebtedness and the maximum stated amount of such guarantee or assurance against loss; (h) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Indebtedness or Property of others; (i) obligations to pay for electricity, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and other commodities under contracts having an initial term in excess of one (1) year even if such electricity, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons, and other commodities are not actually taken, received or utilized by such Person; (j) any Indebtedness of a partnership for which such Person is liable either by agreement, by operation of law or by a Governmental Requirement but only to the extent of such liability; and (k) Disqualified Capital Stock.

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.03(b) .

Information ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.11 .

Initial Term Loan ” means the Term Loan made by the Lenders to the Borrower on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01 .

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the intercreditor agreement entered into as of the Closing Date, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Revolver Administrative Agent, and the Loan Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

15


Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04 .

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Investment ” means, for any Person: (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, Property, services or securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests of any other Person (including, without limitation, any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such short sale); (b) the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or capital contribution to, assumption of Indebtedness of, purchase or other acquisition of any other Indebtedness or equity participation or interest in, or other extension of credit to, any other Person (including the purchase of Property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such Property to such Person, but excluding any such advance, loan or extension of credit having a term not exceeding ninety (90) days representing the purchase price of inventory or supplies sold by such Person in the ordinary course of business); (c) the purchase or acquisition (in one or a series of transactions) of Property of another Person that constitutes a business unit or (d) the entering into of any guarantee of, or other contingent obligation (including the deposit of any Equity Interests to be sold) with respect to, Indebtedness or other liability of any other Person and (without duplication) any amount committed to be advanced, lent or extended to such Person.

Joint Arranger ” and “ Joint Arrangers ” mean, individually or collectively as the context requires, each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, and UBS Securities LLC in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners hereunder.

 

16


Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Annex I and any Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Incremental Amendment or an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Lewis Contract ” means that certain Gas Transportation, Processing and Purchase Agreement dated October 1, 2012, by and among Southcross Marketing Company Ltd., Lewis Petro Properties, Inc., and BP America Production Company, as amended.

LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to such Eurodollar Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided further that the LIBO Rate with respect to the Initial Term Loan that bear interest at a rate based on this definition will be deemed not to be less than 1.00% per annum.

Lien ” means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, deed of trust, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. The term “Lien” shall include easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which they have acquired or hold subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Loan ” and “ Loans ” mean, individually or collectively as the context requires, the Initial Term Loan and each Incremental Term Loan.

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the Fee Letters, the Security Instruments, and the Intercreditor Agreement.

Loan Parties ” and “ Loan Party ” mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, the Borrower and the Guarantors. For the avoidance of doubt, “Loan Party” and “Loan Parties” do not include Excluded Subsidiaries.

 

17


Material Adverse Change ” means any circumstance or event that has had a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse change in, or material adverse effect on, or a material impairment of (a) the business, operations, Property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document, (c) the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or (d) the rights and remedies of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, or any Lender under any Loan Document.

Material Contracts ” means, collectively, (a) the EP Contract, (b) the Lewis Contract, and (c) each other contract for which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $9,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the Hedging Termination Value.

Material Real Property ” means any real Property with a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) exceeding $2,500,000; provided that aggregate fair market value of all real Property that is not “Material Real Property” shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time.

Maturity Date ” means, (a) with respect to the Initial Term Loan, August 4, 2021, (b) with respect to any Incremental Term Loan, the final maturity date of such Incremental Term Loan as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment, and (c) with respect to any Extended Term Loan, the Extended Maturity Date applicable to such Extended Term Loan as specified in the applicable Extension Amendment.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Mortgage ” means each mortgage, deed of trust or any other document creating and evidencing a Lien on real or immovable Property and other Property in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the Loan Documents.

Mortgaged Property ” means any real Property owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is subject to a Mortgage.

National Flood Insurance Program ” means the program created by the United States Congress pursuant to the Flood Insurance Regulations, that mandates the purchase of flood insurance to cover real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in participating communities and provides protection to property owners through a federal insurance program.

 

18


Net Cash Proceeds ” means, for any Recovery Event requiring a repayment of Loans pursuant to Section 3.04(b)(iii) , the gross cash proceeds (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) from such Recovery Event, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset which is the subject of such Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Instrument) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

Net Sale Proceeds ” means for any sale or other disposition of Property pursuant to an Asset Sale, the gross cash proceeds (including any cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to a promissory note, receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received from such Asset Sale, net of (a) reasonable transaction costs (including, without limitation, any underwriting, brokerage or other customary selling commissions, reasonable legal, advisory and other fees and expenses (including title and recording expenses), associated therewith and sales, VAT and transfer taxes arising therefrom), (b) the amount of such gross cash proceeds required to be used to permanently repay any Indebtedness (other than the Secured Obligations) which is permitted hereunder and which is secured by the respective Property which was sold or otherwise disposed of, (c) the estimated net marginal increase in income taxes which will be payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to the fiscal year of the Borrower in which the Asset Sale occurs as a result of such Asset Sale, and (d) the amount of all reserves required to be maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP for any potential indemnity obligations that may be required to be made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of as a result of such Asset Sale; provided , however , that (i) such gross proceeds shall not include any portion of such gross cash proceeds which the Borrower determines in good faith should be reserved for post-closing adjustments (to the extent the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer as to such determination), it being understood and agreed that on the day that all such post-closing adjustments have been determined (which shall not be later than thirteen (13) months following the date of the respective Asset Sale), the amount (if any) by which the reserved amount in respect of such Asset Sale exceeds the actual post-closing adjustments payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall constitute Net Sale Proceeds on such date received by the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary from such Asset Sale, and (ii) at such time as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are no longer required to maintain any indemnity reserves in accordance with GAAP as a result of any Asset Sale, the amount (if any) by which such reserved amount in respect of such Asset Sale exceeds the actual amount of indemnity payments made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for which such reserves were required to be maintained in respect of such Asset Sale shall constitute Net Sale Proceeds at such time.

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 12.02 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

19


Non-Extending Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(c) .

Notes ” means the promissory notes of the Borrower described in Section 2.02(d) and being substantially in the form of Exhibit A , together with all amendments, modifications, replacements, extensions and rearrangements thereof.

Notice of Borrowing ” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 .

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non US jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Lender, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or Property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.04 ).

Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(d)(i) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(d)(ii) .

Partnership Agreement ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Borrower dated as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Payment in Full ” means, the time at which (a) no Lender shall have any Commitments, Loan, or other amounts payable under the Loan Documents unpaid, unsatisfied or outstanding (other than in respect of contingent obligations, indemnities and expenses related thereto that are

 

20


not then payable or in existence) and, (b) any outstanding Commitments have been terminated, and (c) all Secured Hedging Agreements have been terminated or novated and each Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty has received payment of all amounts, if any, payable to it in connection with such termination or novation.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.

Permitted Acquisition ” means any Investment in a joint venture or any other acquisition of Equity Interests or assets of a Person meeting each of the following conditions:

(a) no Default exists or results therefrom;

(b) the joint venture or target is engaged in, or the acquired assets are useful in, the line of business in which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are engaged in on the Closing Date;

(c) after giving effect to such transaction (and any debt incurred in connection therewith), the Borrower is in Pro Forma Compliance under the Revolving Credit Agreement;

(d) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition that involves a purchase price of not less than $10,000,000, the Administrative Agent shall have received not less than 10 Business Days’ (or such lesser time period as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior notice of such Investment, which notice shall include (i) such pro forma financial statements that the Administrative Agent may be reasonably request and that demonstrate compliance with the foregoing clause (c)  and (ii) copies of the material agreements relating to such Investment;

(e) such acquisition shall be consensual, shall have been approved by the target’s board of directors (or comparable governing body) and shall be consummated in compliance with all applicable Governmental Requirements; and

(f) the Borrower shall deliver, or cause each applicable Subsidiary to deliver, such Security Instruments and other documents as required pursuant to, and prior to the deadlines set forth in, Section 8.14 .

Permitted Note Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries resulting from the issuance by such parties of senior unsecured notes; provided that (a) such Indebtedness does not mature or require any scheduled payments of the principal amount thereof prior to the date that is 180 days after the latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such Permitted Note Indebtedness issuance, (b) such Indebtedness bears no greater than a market interest rate as of the time of its issuance or incurrence (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (c) no indenture or other agreement governing such Indebtedness contains (i) maintenance financial covenants or (ii) covenants or events of default that, taken as a whole, are more restrictive on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those contained in this Agreement are on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (d) after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Compliance under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and (e) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence of such Indebtedness.

 

21


Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, which (a) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (b) was at any time during the six (6) calendar years preceding the date hereof, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in San Francisco, California; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective. Such rate is set by the Administrative Agent as a general reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate; it being understood that many of the Administrative Agent’s commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer and that the Administrative Agent may make various commercial or other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to such rate.

Pro Forma Compliance ” means, with respect to the Borrower, pro forma compliance (as determined in accordance with Section 1.05 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, as in effect on the Closing Date) with all applicable financial covenants set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended, modified, or waived from time to time in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Pro Forma Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.04(a) .

Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible (including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts, contract rights and, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests or other ownership interests of any other Person), whether now in existence or owned or hereafter acquired.

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01 .

Purchase Money Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness, the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition, construction, installation, transport and/or improvement of inventory, equipment or other Property in the ordinary course of business.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Hedging Agreement, each Loan Party that (a) has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time any guaranty of obligations under such Hedging Agreement or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective or (b) otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

22


Recovery Event ” means the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation awards payable by reason of a Casualty Event.

Redemption ” means with respect to any Indebtedness, the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, repayment, or defeasance or any other acquisition or retirement for value (or the segregation of funds with respect to any of the foregoing) of such Indebtedness. “ Redeem ” has the correlative meaning thereto.

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(c) .

Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the Board, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

Related Affiliates ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Contribution Agreement.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Release ” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing.

Remedial Work ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11(a) .

Required Class Lenders ” means, at any time, with respect to any Class, Lenders having outstanding Loans under such Class that, taken together, represent more than 50% of the sum of all outstanding Loans at such time under such Class.

Required Lenders ” means, at any time Lenders holding Loans representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans of all Lenders. The Loans held by any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining “Required Lenders” at any time.

Responsible Officer ” means, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Financial Officer or any Vice President of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or of the General Partner acting on behalf of the Borrower.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other Property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

23


Revolver Administrative Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Revolver Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Revolver Loan Documents ” means, collectively, the “Loan Documents” under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Revolving Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Facility ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Sanctions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.26(d) .

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Secured Hedging Agreement ” means any Hedging Agreement of the Borrower or any Subsidiary with a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty.

Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty ” means any (a) Person that is a party to a Hedging Agreement with the Borrower or any Subsidiary that enters into such Hedging Agreement while such Person is or before such Person becomes a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, whether or not such Person at any time ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, as the case may be, or (b) assignee of any Person described in clause (a) above so long as such assignee is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

Secured Obligations ” means any and all obligations of and amounts owing or to be owing (including interest accruing at any post-default rate and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party (whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising): (a) to the Administrative Agent, any trustee or any Lender under any Loan Document; (b) to any Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty under any Secured Hedging Agreement, including any Secured Hedging Agreement in existence prior to the date hereof, but excluding any additional transactions or confirmations entered into (i) after such Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or (ii) after assignment

 

24


by such Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty to another Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) to any Bank Products Provider in respect of any Bank Products; and (d) all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the above; provided that, solely with respect to any Loan Party that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act, Excluded Hedging Obligations of such Loan Party shall in any event be excluded from “Secured Obligations” owing by such Loan Party.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty and each Bank Products Provider.

Security Instruments ” means the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages, the other agreements, instruments or certificates described or referred to in Schedule 1.02(a) , and any and all other agreements, instruments, consents, or certificates now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than Secured Hedging Agreements, Bank Products agreements or participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Secured Obligations pursuant to this Agreement) in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of the Secured Obligations, the Notes, or this Agreement, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person as of any date, that (a) the value of the assets of such Person (both at fair value and present fair saleable value) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as of such date, (b) as of such date, such Person is able to pay all liabilities of such Person as such liabilities mature, and (c) as of such date, such Person does not have unreasonably small capital given the nature of its business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Southcross OpCo GP has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations ” means the representations and warranties made by TexStar or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the Contribution Agreement with respect to the Frio Assets as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or its affiliates have the right to terminate the obligations of the Borrower or its affiliates under the Contribution Agreement or otherwise decline to close the Frio Contribution as a result of a breach of any such Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations or any such Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations not being accurate.

Specified Representations ” means the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents relating to corporate existence of the Loan Parties; power and authority, due authorization, execution and delivery and enforceability, in each case, relating to the Loan Parties entering into and performance of the Loan Documents; no conflicts with or consents under the Loan Parties’ organizational documents; solvency as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated

 

25


basis; use of proceeds; Federal Reserve margin regulations; the Investment Company Act; the PATRIOT Act; OFAC; and the FCPA; and creation, validity and, subject to the last paragraph of Section 6.01 and Section 8.20 , perfection of security interests in the Collateral.

Specified Transactions ” means, collectively, the Frio Contribution and each of the transactions consummated on or prior to the Closing Date in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the transactions set forth on Schedule 1.02(b) .

Sponsors ” means, collectively or individually as the context requires, each of (a) Tailwater Capital LLC, (b) EIG Management Company, LLC and (c) Charlesbank Equity Fund VI, Limited Partnership, a Massachusetts limited partnership.

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means the collective reference to any Indebtedness of the Loan Parties subordinated in right and time of payment to the Secured Obligations and containing such other terms and conditions, in each case as are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Subsidiary ” means: (a) any Person of which at least a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, manager or other governing body of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by (i) another Person, (ii) one or more of such other Person’s Subsidiaries, or (iii) collectively, such other Person and one or more of such other Person’s Subsidiaries, and (b) any partnership of which such other Person or any of such other Person’s Subsidiaries is a general partner. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “ Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the term “ Subsidiary ” does not include any Excluded Subsidiaries.

Synthetic Leases ” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, treated as operating leases on the financial statements of the Person liable (whether contingently or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder and which were properly treated as indebtedness for borrowed money for purposes of U.S. federal income taxes, if the lessee in respect thereof is obligated to either purchase for an amount in excess of, or pay upon early termination an amount in excess of, 80% of the residual value of the Property subject to such operating lease upon expiration or early termination of such lease.

 

26


Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Termination Date ” means, with respect to any Loan, the earlier of (a) the Maturity Date of such Loan and (b) the date of acceleration of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 10.02(a) .

TexStar has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Transactions ” means (a) the Specified Transactions, including, without limitation, the Frio Contribution, (b) with respect to the Borrower, the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof (including, without limitation, to refinance the Existing Indebtedness), and the grant of Liens by the Borrower on Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments, and (c) with respect to each Guarantor, the execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of each Loan Document to which it is a party, the guaranteeing of the Secured Obligations and the other obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement by such Guarantor and such Guarantor’s grant of the security interests and provision of Collateral under the Security Instruments, and the grant of Liens by such Guarantor on Collateral pursuant to the Security Instruments.

Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

USA Patriot Act ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.16 .

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.03(f) .

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining scheduled installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final scheduled maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that the effects of any prepayments made on such Indebtedness shall be disregarded in making such calculation.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of which all of the outstanding Equity Interests (other than any directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law), on a fully-diluted basis, are owned by the Borrower and/or one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

27


Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent.

Section 1.03 Types of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “ Eurodollar Loan ”), and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “ Eurodollar Borrowing ”).

Section 1.04 Terms Generally; Rules of Construction . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in the Loan Documents), (b) any reference herein to any law or regulation shall be construed, unless otherwise specified, as referring to such law or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to the restrictions contained in the Loan Documents), (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) with respect to the determination of any time period, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to and including” and (f) any reference herein to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be interpreted or construed against any Person solely because such Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

Section 1.05 Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP . Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements except for changes in which the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to the Administrative Agent on the next date on which Financial Statements are required to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a) ; provided that unless the Borrower and the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing, no such change shall modify or affect the manner in which compliance with the covenants contained herein is computed such that all such computations shall be conducted utilizing financial information presented consistently with prior periods.

 

28


ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

S ection 2.01 Initial Term Loan . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of the Initial Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment as of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (and without affecting any other provisions hereof), the funded portion of the Initial Term Loan to be made on the Closing Date ( i.e. , the amount advanced to Borrower on the Closing Date) shall be equal to 99.5% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loan (it being agreed that the full principal amount of each the Initial Term Loan shall be the “initial” principal amount of such Loan and deemed outstanding on the Closing Date and the Borrower shall be obligated to repay 100% of the principal amount of each such Loan as provided hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the total Commitment as of the Closing Date (less any applicable original issue discount described above) is not drawn on the Closing Date, such undrawn amount shall automatically be cancelled.

Section 2.02 Loans and Borrowings .

(a) Borrowings; Several Obligations . Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Types of Loans . Subject to Section 3.03 , each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Minimum Amounts; Limitation on Number of Borrowings . At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time, provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of four (4) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding, plus two additional Eurodollar Borrowings for each additional Class of Loans created after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date applicable to such Class of Loans.

(d) Notes . The Loans made by each Lender, if requested by such Lender, shall be evidenced by one or more promissory notes of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit A , dated, in the case of (i) any Lender party hereto as of the date of this Agreement, as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any Lender that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Amendment, as of the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Amendment, payable to such Lender in a principal amount equal to its Commitments, and otherwise duly completed. In the event that any Lender’s Commitment increases or decreases for any reason (whether pursuant to Section 2.06 ,

 

29


Section 12.04(b) or otherwise), if requested by such Lender, the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered on the effective date of such increase or decrease, a new Note payable to such Lender in a principal amount equal to its Commitment, as applicable, after giving effect to such increase or decrease, and otherwise duly completed. The date, amount, Type, interest rate and, if applicable, Interest Period of each Loan made by each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender on its books for its applicable Note, and, prior to any transfer, may be endorsed by such Lender on a schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender. Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any Lender’s or the Borrower’s rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.

Section 2.03 Procedure for Advance of Loans .

(a) Initial Term Loan . The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit B (each, a “ Notice of Borrowing ”) prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the Closing Date requesting that the Lenders make the Initial Term Loan as an ABR Loan on such date ( provided that the Borrower may request, no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, that the Lenders make the Initial Term Loan as a Eurodollar Loan if the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth in Section 5.02 of this Agreement). Upon receipt of such Notice of Borrowing from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(b) Incremental Term Loans . Any Incremental Term Loans shall be borrowed pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.06 .

Section 2.04 Interest Elections .

(a) Conversion and Continuance . Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.04 . The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) Interest Election Requests . To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.04 , the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Notice of Borrowing would be required under Section 2.03(a) if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the

 

30


effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile or e-mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in substantially the form of Exhibit C and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Information in Interest Election Requests . Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 :

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to Sections 2.04(c)(ii) and (iii)  shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

(d) Notice to Lenders by the Administrative Agent . Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) Effect of Failure to Deliver Timely Interest Election Request and Events of Default on Interest Election . If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing: (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing (and any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective) and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

31


Section 2.05 Funding of Loans .

(a) Funding by Lenders . Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Central time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of the Initial Term Loan in immediately available funds by wire transfer to such Person or Persons as may be designated by the Borrower in writing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for its Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for its Loan in any particular place or manner.

(b) Funding by the Lenders; Presumption by the Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.05(a) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.06 Incremental Term Loans .

(a) At any time, the Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of one or more incremental term loan commitments in respect of loans which may be term loans of the same Class as any outstanding Loans or a new Class of term loans (any such incremental term loan commitment, an “ Incremental Term Loan Commitment ”) to make an incremental term loan (any such incremental term loan, an “ Incremental Term Loan ”); provided that (i) the total aggregate amount for all such Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall not (as of any date of incurrence thereof) exceed an amount determined as the difference of (x) $220,000,000 minus (y) the aggregate amount of all increases of the initial revolving commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility on or after the Closing Date, and (ii) the total aggregate amount of each Incremental Term Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Term Loan made thereunder) shall be in integral multiples of $5,000,000 and shall not be less than a minimum principal amount of $25,000,000 or, in each case if less, the remaining amount permitted pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) . Each such notice shall specify the proposed effective date (the “ Incremental Effective Date ”) of any Incremental Term Loan Commitment, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to Administrative Agent. The Borrower may invite any Lender, any

 

32


Affiliate of any Lender and/or any Approved Fund, and/or any other Person consented to by the Administrative Agent to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 12.04(b) for an assignment of Loans to such Lender or Incremental Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment (any such Person, an Incremental Lender ) (but no existing Lender will have an obligation to make any Incremental Term Loan Commitment, nor will the Borrower have any obligation to approach any existing Lender to provide any incremental Term Loan Commitment). Any proposed Incremental Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of any Incremental Term Loan Commitment may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Term Loan Commitment.

(b) Any Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall become effective as of such Incremental Effective Date; provided that:

(i) no Default shall exist on such Incremental Effective Date before or after giving effect to (A) any Incremental Term Loan Commitment, (B) the making of any Incremental Term Loan pursuant thereto and (C) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith;

(ii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received from the Borrower a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower demonstrating that the Borrower will be in (x) Pro Forma Compliance under the Revolving Credit Agreement and (y)  pro forma compliance (as determined in accordance with Section 1.05 of the Revolving Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) with a Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio of less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00, in each case both before and after giving effect to (A) any Incremental Term Loan Commitment, (B) the making of any Incremental Term Loan pursuant thereto and (C) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith and assuming the revolving commitments under the Revolving Credit Agreement are fully drawn;

(iii) the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan shall be used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including Permitted Acquisitions);

(iv) Indebtedness incurred in respect of each Incremental Term Loan Commitment (and the Incremental Term Loan made thereunder) shall constitute Secured Obligations of the Borrower and shall be secured and guaranteed with the other Secured Obligations on a pari passu basis;

(v) in the case of each Incremental Term Loan (the terms of which shall be set forth in the relevant Incremental Amendment), (A) such Incremental Term Loan will mature and amortize in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Incremental Lenders making such Incremental Term Loan, and the Borrower, but will not in any event, as of the Incremental Effective Date, have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the existing Loan with the latest Maturity Date or a final scheduled maturity date earlier than such Maturity Date; (B) the All-In-Yield for such Incremental Term Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Borrower on the applicable Incremental Effective Date

 

33


and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided that if the All-In-Yield in respect of any Incremental Term Loan incurred within twelve months after the Closing Date exceeds the All-In-Yield for the Initial Term Loan by more than 50 basis points, then the All-In-Yield for the Initial Term Loan shall be increased so that the All-In-Yield in respect of such Initial Term Loan is equal to the All-In-Yield for such Incremental Term Loan minus 50 basis points; and (C) except as provided above, all other terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan, to the extent not consistent with the terms and conditions applicable to the Initial Term Loan, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; and

(vi) the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any customary legal opinions or other documents (including, without limitation, a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Loan Party authorizing such Incremental Term Loan) as required by the terms of the Incremental Amendment.

(c) On any Incremental Effective Date on which any Incremental Term Loan Commitment becomes effective, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall make an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Loan Commitment and shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the Incremental Term Loan made pursuant thereto (unless the Incremental Term Loan Commitments are delayed draw, in which case, the Incremental Term Loans may be funded after the Incremental Term Loan Commitments become effective on the Incremental Effective Date).

(d) The Incremental Term Loans shall be deemed to be Loans under and as defined in this Agreement. The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans of any Class shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments, and except as otherwise set forth herein, to the extent not identical to any Class of Loans, each existing on the Incremental Effective Date shall be otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that in the case of loans that are term loans of the same Class, the terms, provisions and documentation of such loans shall be identical (other than with respect to upfront fees, original issue discount or similar fees) to the applicable Class of Loans being increased, in each case, as existing on the Incremental Effective Date.

(e) Any Incremental Lender making any Incremental Term Loan shall be entitled to the same voting rights as the existing Lenders under the this Agreement and each Incremental Term Loan shall receive proceeds of prepayments on the same basis as the Initial Term Loan (such prepayments to be shared pro rata on the basis of the original aggregate funded amount thereof among the Initial Term Loan and the Incremental Term Loans).

(f) Such Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Incremental Amendments executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders (each of which Incremental Amendments may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.06 ).

 

34


ARTICLE III

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST; PREPAYMENTS; FEES

Section 3.01 Repayment of Loans .

(a) Initial Term Loan . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loan in consecutive quarterly installments on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December commencing September 30, 2014 with each installment in an amount equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loan on the Closing Date, except as the amounts of individual installments may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.04 . If not sooner paid, the Initial Term Loan shall be paid in full, together with accrued interest thereon, on the Termination Date of the Initial Term Loan.

(b) Incremental Term Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of each Incremental Lender, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each Incremental Term Loan (if any) in accordance with the applicable Incremental Amendment.

(c) Extended Term Loans . The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Extending Lender the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each Extended Term Loan (if any) in accordance with the applicable Extension Amendment.

Section 3.02 Interest .

(a) ABR Loans . The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b) Eurodollar Loans . The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(c) Post-Default Rate . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, then all Loans outstanding, in the case of an Event of Default, and such overdue amount, in the case of a failure to pay amounts when due, shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%)  plus (i) when used with respect to obligations other than Loans, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in Section 3.02(a) , and (ii) when used with respect to Loans, the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans but, in each case, in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

 

35


(d) Interest Payment Dates . Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and on the Termination Date of such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 3.02(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than an optional prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the Termination Date of such Loan), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) Interest Rate Computations . All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and be binding upon the parties hereto.

Section 3.03 Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made either as an ABR Borrowing or at an alternate rate of interest determined by the Required Lenders as their cost of funds.

Section 3.04 Prepayments .

(a) Optional Prepayments .

(i) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty (except as set forth in Section 3.04(b)(v) below and as required under Section 5.02 ), to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 3.04(a)(ii) .

 

36


(ii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or e-mail) of any prepayment hereunder (A) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (B) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Central time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided , that a notice of prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied (provided that the failure of such condition shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations under Section 5.02 in respect thereof). Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02 and shall be applied with respect to each such Class for which prepayments will be made, in the event there are amortization payments on any Loan, to the remaining scheduled amortization payments of the applicable Loans on a pro rata basis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.04 , any Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment may provide (including on an optional basis as elected by the Borrower) for a less than ratable application of offers to prepay for any Class of the Loans established thereunder. Prepayments pursuant to Section 3.04(a) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02 .

(b) Mandatory Prepayments .

(i) [Reserved]

(ii) On each date on or after the Closing Date on which the Borrower or any Subsidiary receives any cash proceeds from any Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 9.11(j) , an amount equal to 100% of the Net Sale Proceeds therefrom shall be applied by the Borrower on such date as a mandatory repayment in accordance with Section 3.04(b)(iv) ; provided, however , that such Net Sale Proceeds shall not be required to be so applied on such date so long as no Event of Default then exists and such Net Sale Proceeds shall be used to purchase Property (other than inventory and working capital) used or to be used in the businesses permitted pursuant to Section 9.06 within 180 days following the date of such Asset Sale, and provided, further , that if all or any portion of such Net Sale Proceeds not required to be so applied as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(ii) are not so reinvested within such 180-day period (or such earlier date, if any, as the Borrower or relevant Subsidiary determines not to reinvest the Net Sale Proceeds from such Asset Sale as set forth above), such remaining portion shall be applied on the last day of such period (or such earlier date, as the case may be) as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(ii) without regard to the preceding proviso.

(iii) On each date on or after the Closing Date upon which the Borrower or any Subsidiary receives any cash proceeds from any Recovery Event, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Recovery Event shall be applied on such date as a mandatory repayment in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.04(b)(iv) ; provided , however , that so long as no Event of Default then exists, such Net Cash Proceeds shall not be required to be so applied on such date to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds shall be used to replace or restore any Property in respect of which such Net Cash Proceeds were paid within 180

 

37


days following the date of the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, and provided , further , that if all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds are not so used within 180 days after the date of the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds (or such earlier date, if any, as the Borrower or relevant Subsidiary determines not to reinvest the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Recovery Event as set forth above), such remaining portion shall be applied on the last day of such period (or such earlier date, as the case may be) as provided above in this Section 3.04(b)(iii) without regard to the proviso or the immediately preceding proviso.

(iv) Each prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.04(b) shall be applied with respect to each such Class for which prepayments will be made, in the event there are amortization payments on any Loan, to the remaining scheduled amortization payments of the Loans (including any Incremental Loans) on a pro rata basis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.04 , any Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment may provide (including on an optional basis as elected by the Borrower) for a less than ratable application of offers to prepay for any Class of the Loans established thereunder. Prepayments pursuant to Section 3.04(b) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02 . Each prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to Section 3.04(b) shall be applied, first, ratably to any ABR Borrowings then outstanding, and, second, to any Eurodollar Borrowings then outstanding, and if more than one Eurodollar Borrowing is then outstanding, to each such Eurodollar Borrowing in order of priority beginning with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the least number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto and ending with the Eurodollar Borrowing with the most number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto.

(v) Call Premium . In the event that, during the six month period following the Closing Date, the Borrower (A) makes any prepayment of the Initial Term Loan in connection with any Repricing Transaction (as defined below), or (B) effects any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, in either case the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each applicable Lender, a fee in an amount equal to, (x) in the case of clause (A) , a prepayment premium of 1.0% of the amount of the Initial Term Loans being prepaid, and (y) in the case of clause (B) , a payment equal to 1.0% of the aggregate amount of the applicable Initial Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment that are affected by such Repricing Transaction. Such fees shall be due and payable within five (5) Business Days of the date of the effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction. For the purpose of this clause (v) , “ Repricing Transaction ” means, other than in connection with a Change of Control, (1) any prepayment or repayment of the Initial Term Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of the Initial Term Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans or other Indebtedness bearing interest with an All-In-Yield less than the All-In-Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans (as such comparative yields are determined in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent), and (2) any amendment to the interest rate or Applicable Margin with respect to the Initial Term Loan that reduces the All-In-Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loan.

(c) No Re-borrowings . Amounts prepaid pursuant to this Section 3.04 may not be re-borrowed.

 

38


Section 3.05 Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Joint Arrangers, the Agents and the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing, including in any Fee Letter, in the amounts and at the times so specified.

Section 3.06 Extension of Maturity Date .

(a) The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent (an “ Extension Request ”), which shall promptly notify the applicable Lenders, request one or more extensions of the maturity date applicable to the Loans of a given Class (each, an “ Existing Term Loan Tranche ” and the extended Loans of such Class, the “ Extended Term Loans ”) then in effect (such existing maturity date applicable to any Class of Loans being the “ Existing Maturity Date ”) to a date specified in such Extension Request.

(b) Each Extension Request shall specify the date on which the Borrower proposes that the extension shall be effective, which shall be a date reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Within the time period specified in such Extension Request, each applicable Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent whether it consents to such extension (which consent may be given or withheld in such Lender’s sole and absolute discretion). Any Lender not responding within the above time period shall be deemed not to have consented to such extension. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the applicable Lenders of such Lenders’ responses.

(c) The maturity date applicable to any Class of Loans shall be extended only with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche held by such Lenders that have consented thereto (the Lenders providing term loans that so consent being the “ Extending Lenders ” and the Lenders providing Loans that declined being the “ Non-Extending Lenders ”) (it being understood and agreed that, except for the consents of Extending Lenders no other consents shall be required hereunder for such extensions). If so extended, the scheduled maturity date with respect to the Loans of the relevant Class held by the Extending Lenders shall be extended to the date specified in the Extension Request, which shall become the new maturity date of the applicable Class of Loans (such maturity date for the Loans so affected, the “ Extended Maturity Date ”). The Administrative Agent shall promptly confirm to the applicable Extending Lenders and Non-Extending Lenders such extension, specifying the effective date of such extension (the “ Extension Effective Date ”), the Existing Maturity Date applicable to the Non-Extending Lenders, and the Extended Maturity Date (after giving effect to such extension) applicable to the Extending Lenders.

(d) The proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under the applicable tranche of Loans and (y) be identical to the Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that:

(i) the maturity date of the Extended Term Loans shall be later than the maturity date of the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche;

(ii) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment;

 

39


(iii) the All-In-Yield with respect to the Extended Term Loans (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, original issue discount or otherwise) may be different than the All-In-Yield for the Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment;

(iv) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the final maturity date of the Loans held by the Non-Extending Lenders that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and

(v) Extended Term Loans may have call protection as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Extending Lenders; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which all Loans with an earlier final stated maturity (including Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which they were amended) are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by a pro rata optional prepayment of such other Loans.

(e) As a condition precedent to such extension, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Extension Effective Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that, before and after giving effect to such extension, the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in this Agreement and any Loan Document that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and the representations that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case on and as of the Extension Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case any such representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and any such representation and warranty that is not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and no Default exists or will exist as of the Extension Effective Date.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower shall have the right, at any time after any applicable Extension Effective Date and prior to any applicable Existing Maturity Date, at the Borrower’s sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Non-Extending Lender and the Administrative Agent, to require each such Non-Extending Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 12.04 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (to the extent such consent is required pursuant to Section 12.04 ), which consent(s) shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (ii) each Non-Extending Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) the Borrower or such assignee shall have

 

40


paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 12.04(b)(iv) and (iv) in no event shall the Borrower be entitled to exercise its replacement right under this clause (f)  with respect to a Non-Extending Lender that is also acting as the Administrative Agent. Any such replacement Lender shall for all purposes constitute an Extending Term Lender.

(g) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 12.02 , the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (without the consent of any other Lenders except to the extent required under subsection (c) above) to enter into any amendments (each an “ Extension Amendment ”) to this Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Administrative Agent believes are necessary to appropriately reflect, or provide for the integration of, any extension of the maturity date and other amendments applicable to any Class of Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 .

(h) At no time shall there be Classes of Loans created that have more than three (3) different maturity dates.

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET-OFFS

Section 4.01 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

(a) Payments by the Borrower . The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or of amounts payable under Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 or otherwise) prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without defense, deduction, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim. Fees, once paid, shall be fully earned and shall not be refundable under any circumstances. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices specified in Section 12.01 , except that payments pursuant to Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b) Application of Insufficient Payments . If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii)  second , towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

41


(c) Sharing of Payments by Lenders . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and other such obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (ii) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that (A) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (B) the provisions of this Section 4.01 shall not be construed to apply to (1) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (2) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant. Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

Section 4.02 Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Section 4.03 Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(a) , Section 4.02 or otherwise hereunder then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (a) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations hereunder until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (b) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender hereunder, in the case of each of (a)  and (b)  above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion. If at any time prior to the acceleration or maturity of the Loans, the Administrative Agent receives any payment in respect of principal of a Loan while one or more Defaulting Lenders is a party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall apply such payment first to the Borrowing(s) for which any such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its pro rata share until such time as such Borrowing(s) are paid in full. After acceleration or maturity of the Loans, all principal will be applied ratably as provided in Section 10.02(c) .

 

42


Section 4.04 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender the Loans held by such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.02 ), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each adversely affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than all other Lenders or all other adversely affected Lenders, as the case may be, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE V

INCREASED COSTS; BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS; TAXES; ILLEGALITY

Section 5.01 Increased Costs .

(a) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate);

(ii) subject any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes covered by Section 5.03 or Connection Income Taxes and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements and affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender, or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company

 

43


could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 5.01(a) or (b)  and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(d) Effect of Failure or Delay in Requesting Compensation . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section 5.01 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 365 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided , further , that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 365-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

Section 5.02 Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04(b) , then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.

A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

44


Section 5.03 Taxes .

(a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower or any Guarantor shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.03(a) ), the Administrative Agent, Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower or such Guarantor shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or such Guarantor shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without limiting the provisions of Section 5.03(a) , the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.03 ) payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability under this Section 5.03 delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(d)(ii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (d) .

 

45


(e) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Status of Lenders .

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Withholding Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Withholding Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as will enable the Withholding Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution, and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 5.03(f)(ii)(A) and 5.03(f)(ii)(B) and Section 5.03(g) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution, or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a “United States person” as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code,

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Withholding Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Withholding Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from or reduction of, United States federal withholding tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

46


(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”), and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; and

(5) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Withholding Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification, or promptly notify the Withholding Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.03 , it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 5.03 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the

 

47


Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 5.03 shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(h) FATCA . If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender fails to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Withholding Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as may be necessary for the Withholding Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for the purposes of this Section 5.03(h) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Section 5.04 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

(a) Designation of Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01 , or requires the Borrower to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.04(b) ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the

 

48


assignment fee specified in Section 12.04(b)(iv) , (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.04(b)(v) or Section 5.02 ), from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.01 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.03 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter, (iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law. and (v) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if such Lender or any of its Affiliates is a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty with any outstanding Secured Hedging Agreements with any Loan Party (to the extent obligations under such Secured Hedging Agreements constitute Secured Obligations), unless on or prior to the effectiveness of such assignment, all such Secured Hedging Agreements have been terminated or novated to another Person and such Lender or its Affiliate, as the case may be, has received payment of all amounts, if any, payable to it in connection with such termination or novation.

Section 5.05 Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its applicable lending office to honor its obligation to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans either generally or having a particular Interest Period hereunder, then (a) such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make such Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended (the “ Affected Loans ”) until such time as such Lender may again make and maintain such Eurodollar Loans and (b) all Affected Loans which would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as ABR Loans (and, if such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, all Affected Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into ABR Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected Loans are so made as (or converted into) ABR Loans, all payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its ABR Loans.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 6.01 Closing Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make the Initial Term Loan hereunder on the Closing Date shall not become effective until the Business Day on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02 ):

(a) The Administrative Agent, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders shall have received all commitment, facility and agency fees and all other fees and amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Administrative Agent).

 

49


(b) The Borrower shall have deposited $10,000 with Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Administrative Agent, to be held by such counsel and applied toward payment of costs and expenses for recordation of certain Security Instruments, as provided pursuant to Section 12.03(a) , which deposit shall be separate from and in addition to any similar deposit required in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility. If such deposit exceeds the amount of such costs and expenses, the excess shall be returned to the Borrower. If such deposit is less than such costs and expenses, the deficit shall be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 12.03(a) .

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors (or its equivalent) with respect to the authorization of such Loan Party to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the Transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of such Loan Party (A) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party and (B) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized officers, and (iv) the Organization Documents of such Loan Party, certified as being true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from such Loan Party to the contrary.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of each Loan Party in its state of formation.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 , duly and properly executed by a Financial Officer and dated as of the Closing Date.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Notes payable to each Lender that has requested a Note in a principal amount equal to its Commitment dated as of the date hereof.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party thereto duly executed counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of the Security Instruments. In connection with the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments, the Administrative Agent shall:

 

50


(i) be reasonably satisfied that the Security Instruments create (or will create, upon proper filing, recording or registration) first priority, perfected Liens (subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) on all of the tangible and intangible Property of the Loan Parties (other than de minimis Property excluded in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion); and

(ii) have received certificates, together with undated, blank stock powers for each such certificate, representing all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of the Loan Parties (other than the Borrower), to the extent certificated.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of (i) Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel to the Borrower, and (ii) local counsel in Alabama and Mississippi and any other jurisdictions requested by the Administrative Agent, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of insurance coverage of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties evidencing that the Borrower and the other Loan Parties are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.12 .

(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the Borrower has received all consents and approvals required by Section 7.03 .

(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Financial Statements, and (ii) projections for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for each fiscal year of the Borrower through the fiscal year ending 2019, which projections shall be prepared on a quarterly basis for the first year following the Closing Date and on an annual basis for each subsequent year.

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate UCC search certificates reflecting no prior Liens encumbering the Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for Delaware, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi, as applicable, and any other jurisdiction requested by the Administrative Agent; other than those being assigned or released on or prior to the Closing Date or Liens permitted by Section 9.03 .

(n) The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate termination statements, mortgage releases and such other documentation as shall be necessary to terminate, release or assign to the Administrative Agent all Liens encumbering the Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, other than Liens permitted by Section 9.03 , in each case, in proper form for filing, registration or recordation in the appropriate jurisdictions.

(o) The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit H , certifying that after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date, (i) each of the Loan Parties, on an individual basis, is Solvent, and (ii) the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

(p) Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by this Agreement or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) ), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

51


(q) Since June 11, 2014, there shall not have occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a “Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) on the Frio Group.

(r) Substantially concurrently with the funding of the Initial Term Loan and the initial borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Specified Transactions shall be consummated in accordance with the Contribution Agreement.

(s) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying (i) that attached to such certificate is a true, correct, complete and fully-executed copy of the Contribution Agreement (together with all amendments thereto, if any), and (ii) that the conditions contained in clauses (r)  and (u)  of this Section 6.01 have been satisfied.

(t) The Administrative Agent shall have received final executed copies of the Revolver Loan Documents, including the Intercreditor Agreement.

(u) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that, after giving effect to the Transactions, on the Closing Date the aggregate principal amount of loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement (excluding letters of credit) is less than or equal to $50,000,000.

(v) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Loan Parties, to the extent requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act.

(w) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Loan Parties, to the extent requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that, for any material Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or material Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation), in each case situated on any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, (i) such Loan Party maintains Flood Insurance for such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home or (ii) such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (as defined in the applicable Flood Regulation).

(x) The Specified Representations and the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects or to the extent that any such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects.

 

52


Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.04 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.01 , each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 6.01 to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Closing Date specifying its objection thereto. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 12.02 ) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., Central time, on September 30, 2014 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

Notwithstanding the foregoing (including each of the requirements set forth in Section 6.01(h) , (j) , and (p)  above) to the extent any security interest in any Collateral (other than any Lien on Collateral that may be perfected by (x) the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code and (y) the delivery of certificates evidencing the Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) is not or cannot be perfected on the Closing Date after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then the perfection of such security interests shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Loans on the Closing Date, but instead shall be required to be delivered, provided and/or perfected within 60 days after the Closing Date (unless extended by the Administrative Agent) or, with respect to the items set forth therein, within the time periods specified on Schedule 8.20 .

Section 6.02 Each Subsequent Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (including the funding of any Incremental Term Loan) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Guarantors set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing, except that (i) to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date of such Borrowing such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified earlier date, and (ii) to the extent that any such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all respects.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 .

Each request for a Borrowing and each acceptance of the foregoing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Sections 6.02(a) and (b) .

 

53


ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries), and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

Section 7.01 Organization; Powers . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary, to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where failure to have such power, authority, licenses, authorizations, consents, approvals and qualifications could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02 Authority; Enforceability . The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action (including, without limitation, any action required to be taken by any class of directors of the Borrower or any other Person, whether interested or disinterested, in order to ensure the due authorization of the Transactions). Each Loan Document to which a Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 7.03 Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other third Person (including shareholders or any class of directors, whether interested or disinterested, of the Borrower or any other Person), nor is any such consent, approval, registration, filing or other action necessary for the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect other than (i) the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement and (ii) those third party approvals or consents which, if not made or obtained, would not cause a Default hereunder, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or do not have an adverse effect on the enforceability of the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate (i) any applicable law or regulation, (ii) any Organization Documents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or other agreement regarding Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (d) will not violate or result in a default under any other agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or its Properties, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, other than such violations or defaults which would not cause a Default hereunder, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or do not have an adverse effect on the enforceability of any Loan Documents, and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents).

 

54


Section 7.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change .

(a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (A) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (B) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, certified by its chief financial officer (or the chief financial officer of the General Partner) (collectively, the “ Borrower Financial Statements ”), (ii) (A) an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended, and (B) the Frio Group’s (together with certain of its Affiliates’) consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of March 31, 2014 and the related consolidated unaudited statement of income and cash flows for the three-month period then ended (collectively, the “ Frio Financial Statements ”), and (iii) the Borrower’s pro forma summary financial statements, Consolidated EBITDA and other operating data in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case after giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on such date in the case of any balance sheet and as of the beginning of all of the periods presented in the case of Consolidated EBITDA and other operating data (collectively, the “ Pro Forma Financial Statements ” and, together with the Borrower Financial Statements and the Frio Financial Statements, the “ Financial Statements ”). The Borrower Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP. The Frio Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates on a consolidated basis as of the respective dates thereof and for the periods therein referred to, all in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The Frio Financial Statements have been prepared from and are in accordance with the accounting records of the Frio Group and the Related Affiliates (and such records are true, correct and accurately reflect in all material respects all transactions engaged in by the members of the Frio Group). Since January 1, 2012, except as set forth in the Frio Financial Statements, there has been no material change of the accounting (tax or otherwise) policies, practices or procedures of any member of the Frio Group. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith by the Borrower, based on the assumptions stated therein (which assumptions were and are believed by the Borrower, on the date thereof and the Closing Date, to be reasonable in light of then current conditions and facts then known by the Borrower), are based on the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, accurately reflect all adjustments required to be made to give effect to the Transactions, and present fairly in all material respects the pro forma consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods, assuming that the Transactions have occurred at such dates and at the beginnings of such periods. The representations in this Section 7.04(a) , as applicable, are subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and accruals and the absence of notes.

 

55


(b) Since December 31, 2013, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has, on the date hereof after giving effect to the Transactions, any Material Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) or any contingent liabilities, off-balance sheet liabilities or partnerships, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial Statements and under the Revolving Credit Facility.

(d) The projections regarding the financial performance of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries furnished to the Lenders have been prepared in good faith by the Borrower and based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time such projections were provided (and on the Closing Date in the case of forecasts provided prior to the Closing Date) (it being recognized by the Lenders, however, that projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period(s) covered by such projections may differ from the projected results and that such differences may be material and that neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary makes any representation that such projections will be realized).

Section 7.05 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their Properties (a) not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

Section 7.06 Environmental Matters . Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and each of their respective Properties and operations thereon are, and within all applicable statute of limitation periods have been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;

(b) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits required for their respective operations and each of their Properties, with all such Environmental Permits being currently in full force and effect, and none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has received any written notice or otherwise has knowledge that any such existing Environmental Permit will be revoked or that any application for any new Environmental Permit or renewal of any existing Environmental Permit will be protested or denied;

(c) there are no claims, demands, suits, orders, inquiries, investigations, requests for information or proceedings concerning any violation of, or any liability (including as a potentially responsible party) under, any applicable Environmental Law that is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective Properties or as a result of any operations at such Properties;

 

56


(d) none of the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary contain or have contained any: (i) underground storage tanks; (ii) asbestos-containing materials; (iii) landfills or dumps; (iv) hazardous waste management units as defined pursuant to RCRA or any comparable state law; or (v) sites on or nominated for the National Priority List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or any state remedial priority list promulgated or published pursuant to any comparable state law;

(e) there has been no Release or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Properties, there are no investigations, remediations, abatements, removals, or monitorings of Hazardous Materials required under applicable Environmental Laws at such Properties and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, none of such Properties are adversely affected by any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material originating or emanating from any other real property;

(f) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice asserting an alleged liability or obligation under any applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the investigation, remediation, abatement, removal, or monitoring of any Hazardous Materials at, under, or Released or threatened to be Released from any real properties offsite the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Properties and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of such written notice;

(g) there has been no exposure of any Person or Property to any Hazardous Materials as a result of or in connection with the operations and businesses of any of the Borrower’s or the Subsidiaries’ Properties that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for damages or compensation, and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of notice regarding such exposure; and

(h) the Borrower has provided, or has caused its Subsidiaries to provide, to the Lenders complete and correct copies of all environmental site assessment reports, investigations, studies, analyses, and correspondence on environmental matters (including matters relating to any alleged non-compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws) that are in any of the Borrower’s or the Subsidiaries’ possession or control and relating to their respective Properties or operations thereon.

Section 7.07 Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults .

(a) Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it or its Property and all agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, and possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, exemptions, approvals and other governmental authorizations necessary for the ownership of its Property and the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

57


(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default or would require the Borrower or a Subsidiary to Redeem or make any offer to Redeem under any indenture, note, credit agreement or instrument pursuant to which any Material Indebtedness is outstanding or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their Properties is bound.

(c) No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7.08 Investment Company Act . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 7.09 Taxes . Except as set forth on Schedule 7.09 , each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate. No currently outstanding Tax Lien has been filed against the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Properties, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted against the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Properties with respect to any such Tax or other such governmental charge, in each case, except with respect to Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

Section 7.10 ERISA .

(a) The Borrower, the Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b) Each Plan is, and has been, established and maintained in compliance with its terms, ERISA and, where applicable, the Code, except where the failure to so establish and maintain such Plan could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

(d) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan as of the date hereof.

 

58


(e) Neither the Borrower, the Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, with respect to which its sponsorship of, maintenance of or contribution to may not be terminated by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability.

(f) Neither the Borrower, the Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the six-year period preceding the date hereof sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, including a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code.

Section 7.11 Disclosure; No Material Misstatements . The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their Affiliates in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or, when taken as a whole, omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or general industry nature, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time such projected financial information was made available, it being understood that such projected financial information is not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results may vary materially from such projected financial information.

Section 7.12 Insurance . Each Loan Party has, and has caused all of its Subsidiaries to have, (a) all insurance policies sufficient for the compliance by each of them with all material Governmental Requirements and all material agreements, including, without limitation, Flood Insurance, if required, with respect to any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, and (b) insurance coverage in at least amounts and against such risk (including, without limitation, public liability) that are usually insured against by companies similarly situated and of comparable size and engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been named as additional insureds in respect of such liability insurance policies, and the Administrative Agent has been named as loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance. No Loan Party owns any material Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or material Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation), in each case situated on any Property subjected, or required under the Loan Documents to be subjected, to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, for which such Loan Party has not delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that (a) such Loan Party maintains Flood Insurance for such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home or (b) such Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

 

59


Section 7.13 Restriction on Liens . Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any material agreement or arrangement (other than (a) the Revolver Loan Documents, (b) Capital Leases creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Capital Lease, (c) documents evidencing or securing Purchase Money Indebtedness creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Purchase Money Indebtedness, (d) documents creating Liens which are described in clauses (g)  or (h)  of the definition of “Excepted Liens”, but then only on the Property that is the subject of the applicable lease or license described in such clause (g)  or (h) , (e) customary restrictions and conditions on transfers and investments contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset or any Subsidiary pending the consummation of such sale, (f) in the case of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date, any agreement in effect at the time such Person so becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming such a Subsidiary, (g) in the case of any assets acquired after the Closing Date, any agreement in effect at the time of such acquisition which pertains to such assets and only such assets and is assumed in connection with such acquisition, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition, and (h) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements permitted by Section 9.05 and applicable to joint ventures and Equity Interests therein)), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties on or in respect of its Properties to secure the Secured Obligations and the Loan Documents.

Section 7.14 Subsidiaries . Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 or as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent as promptly as practicable but in any event within 30 days of such Subsidiary’s acquisition or formation (which shall promptly furnish a copy to the Lenders, which shall be a supplement to Schedule 7.14 ), the Borrower has no Subsidiaries. Each Person on Schedule 7.14 is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary unless otherwise identified thereon as an Excluded Subsidiary. The Borrower has no Foreign Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary has been validly issued, is fully paid, is nonassessable and has not been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights. Schedule 7.14 also sets forth the holders (and percentages of ownership) of the Equity Interests in each of the Subsidiaries and lists the Excluded Subsidiaries, if any, as of the Closing Date.

Section 7.15 Location of Business and Offices . The Borrower’s jurisdiction of organization is Delaware; the name of the Borrower as listed in the public records of its jurisdiction of organization is Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.; and the organizational identification number of the Borrower in its jurisdiction of organization is 5138791 (or, in each case, as set forth in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.01(j) in accordance with Section 12.01 ). The Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address specified in Section 12.01 (or as set forth in a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(j) and Section 12.01(c) ).

 

60


Section 7.16 Properties; Titles, Etc .

(a) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and valid title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid easements, rights of way or other property interests in all of its real and personal Property except for defects that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of its business and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such Property is free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 9.03 .

(b) All leases, easements, rights of way and other agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default under any such lease or leases, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The rights and Properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights and Properties necessary to permit the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the date hereof (subject to any changes to the business resulting from transactions permitted hereunder).

(d) The Borrower and each Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual Property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and such Subsidiary does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.17 Maintenance of Properties . Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the offices, plants, gas processing plants, platforms, pipelines, improvements, fixtures, equipment, and other Property owned, leased or used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the conduct of their businesses are (a) being maintained in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, (b) structurally sound with no known defects, (c) in good operating condition and repair, subject to ordinary wear and tear, (d) not in need of maintenance or repair except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repair, (e) sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and (f) in conformity with all Governmental Requirements relating thereto.

Section 7.18 Hedging Agreements and Qualified ECP Guarantor . Schedule 7.18 , as of the date hereof, and after the date hereof, each report required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.01(e) , sets forth, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement. The Borrower is a Qualified ECP Guarantor.

 

61


Section 7.19 Security Instruments .

(a) Guaranty and Collateral Agreement . The provisions of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement are effective to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on, and security interest in, all of the Collateral described therein, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent (or the Revolver Administrative Agent as gratuitous bailee under the Intercreditor Agreement) of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Administrative Agent (or the Revolver Administrative Agent as gratuitous bailee under the Intercreditor Agreement) to the extent possession or control by the Administrative Agent (or the Revolver Administrative Agent as gratuitous bailee under the Intercreditor Agreement) is required by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement), the Liens created by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement shall constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral covered thereby (other than such Collateral in which a Lien or a security interest cannot be perfected by filing, possession or control under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case free of all Liens other than Liens permitted under Section 9.03 , and prior and superior to all other Liens other than Excepted Liens (subject to the provisos at the end of the definition thereof) and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) .

(b) Mortgages . Each Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Administrative Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Mortgaged Property thereunder, subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) , and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7.19 (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 , and Section 8.20 when such Mortgage is filed in the appropriate offices), the Mortgages shall constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in that portion of the Mortgaged Property constituting real property and fixtures affixed or attached to such real property, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) .

(c) Valid Liens . Each Security Instrument delivered pursuant to Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 , and Section 8.20 upon execution and delivery thereof, is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Collateral thereunder, and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed or recorded in the appropriate offices as are required by the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and Schedule 7.19 , and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent (or the Revolver Administrative Agent as gratuitous bailee under the Intercreditor Agreement) of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control, the Liens created by such Security Instrument will constitute fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral (other than such

 

62


Collateral in which a Lien or security interest cannot be perfected by filing, possession or control under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case with no other Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 9.03 .

Section 7.20 Use of Loans . The proceeds of the Loans shall be used to finance the Frio Contribution, refinance the Existing Indebtedness, to provide funding for, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with, the Transactions, for permitted Capital Expenditures and permitted Investments, and for general corporate, working capital, limited liability company or partnership purposes, as the case may be, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not engaged principally, or as one of its or their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of (a) Regulations T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board, (b) any Sanctions, or (c) the FCPA.

Section 7.21 Solvency . Each Loan Party is Solvent. No Loan Party is planning to take any action described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) .

Section 7.22 Common Enterprise . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their business operations are closely integrated with one another into a single, interdependent and collective, common enterprise so that any benefit received by any one of them from the financial accommodations provided under this Agreement will be to the direct benefit of the others. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries intend to render services to or for the benefit of each other, to purchase or sell and supply goods to or from or for the benefit of each other, to make loans, advances and provide other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of each other and to provide administrative, marketing, payroll and management services to or for the benefit of each other (in each case, except as may be prohibited by this Agreement).

Section 7.23 Material Contracts . Schedule 7.23 hereto contains a complete list, as of the Closing Date, of all Material Contracts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, including all amendments thereto. All Material Contracts are in full force and effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under any Material Contract, and to the knowledge of the Borrower and each Subsidiary after due inquiry, no other Person that is party thereto is in default under any Material Contract, except for such defaults as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Material Contracts prohibits the transactions contemplated under the Loan Documents. Each of the Material Contracts is currently in the name of, or has been assigned to, a Loan Party (with the consent or acceptance of each other party thereto if and to the extent that such consent or acceptance is required thereunder), each of the Material Contracts is assignable to the Administrative Agent as collateral, and each of the Material Contracts is assignable, unless waived by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, by the Administrative Agent to a reasonably acceptable transferee if an Event of Default were to occur. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and current copy of each of their Material Contracts existing on the Closing Date.

Section 7.24 Broker’s Fees . Except as set forth in Schedule 7.24 , no broker’s or finder’s fee, commission or similar compensation will be payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to the Transactions.

 

63


Section 7.25 Employee Matters . As of the Closing Date, (a) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective employees, is subject to any collective bargaining agreement, (b) no petition for certification or union election is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, contemplated with respect to the employees thereof and no union or collective bargaining unit has sought such certification or recognition with respect to the employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (c) there are no strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary after due inquiry, threatened between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and its respective employees.

Section 7.26 Anti-Terrorism Laws .

(a) The Borrower is not, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Borrower’s Affiliates, officers or directors is in violation of any Governmental Requirement relating to terrorism or money laundering (“ Anti-Terrorism Laws ”), including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the “ Executive Order ”), the USA Patriot Act, and the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., in each case, as amended from time to time.

(b) The Borrower is not, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, no Affiliate, officer, director, broker or other agent of the Borrower acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans is any of the following:

(i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(ii) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(iii) a Person with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;

(iv) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(v) a Person that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked Person” on the most current list published by OFAC at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list.

(c) No Loan Party and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no broker or other agent of any Loan Party acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in paragraph (b)  above, (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any Property or interests in Property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order, or (iii) engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

64


(d)  (i) Neither the Borrower nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries is currently, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are currently (A) the subject of any material United States sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC or the United States Department of State (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, and (ii) the Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the Loans or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently the subject of Sanctions.

Section 7.27 Foreign Corrupt Practices . No Loan Party and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by such Persons of the FCPA, including without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and, the Loan Parties and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, their Affiliates have conducted their business in material compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until Payment in Full, the Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries) and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

Section 8.01 Financial Statements; Ratings Change; Other Information . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than the date on which annual financial statements are required to be delivered to the SEC, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income or operations (and, as to balance sheets and statements of income or operations, accompanied by consolidating schedules), stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

65


(b) Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than the date on which quarterly financial statements are required to be delivered to the SEC, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Financial Projections . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and no later than April 1 st of each calendar year, projections for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for each fiscal year of the Borrower through the end of the fiscal year in which the Maturity Date occurs, and which such projections shall include (i) volumes and pricing assumptions and (ii) itemized budget forecasts set forth on a quarterly basis in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for each of the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending during the first such fiscal year reflected in such projections.

(d) Certificate of Financial Officer – Compliance . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements required pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, and (ii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since December 31, 2013 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate.

(e) Certificate of Financial Officer – Hedging Agreements . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer, in substantially the form of Schedule 7.18 , setting forth as of the last Business Day of such month, fiscal quarter or fiscal year, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto, any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counterparty to each such agreement.

(f) Certificate of Insurer – Insurance Coverage . Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) , a certificate of insurance coverage from each insurer with respect to the insurance required by Section 8.07 , in substantially the form provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(j) on the Closing Date, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, all copies of the applicable policies.

(g) Other Accounting Reports . Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or letter submitted to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by independent

 

66


accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, and a copy of any response by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, or the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, to such letter or report.

(h) SEC and Other Filings; Reports to Shareholders . Promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or with any national or foreign securities exchange, or required by applicable law to be distributed by the Borrower to its equityholders generally, as the case may be.

(i) Notices Under Material Instruments . Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any financial statement, report or notice furnished to or by any Person pursuant to the terms of any Material Indebtedness, other than the Loan Documents, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01 .

(j) Information Regarding Loan Parties . Promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree)), written notice of any change (i) any Loan Party’s corporate name or in any trade name used to identify such Person in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its Properties, (ii) in the location of any Loan Party’s chief executive office or principal place of business, (iii) in any Loan Party’s identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed, (iv) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization or such Person’s organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, and (v) in any Loan Party’s federal taxpayer identification number.

(k) Notices of Certain Changes . Except in connection with Organization Documents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) after giving effect to the Specified Transactions, promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the execution thereof, copies of any material amendment, modification or supplement to the certificate or articles of incorporation certificate or articles of formation or organization, any preferred stock designation or any other public organic document of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

(l) Certificate of Financial Officer – Consolidating Information . If, at any time, there exist any Excluded Subsidiaries of the Borrower, then concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer setting forth consolidating spreadsheets that show all Excluded Subsidiaries and the eliminating entries, in such form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(m) Other Requested Information . Promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed with respect thereto under the Code or under ERISA), or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

67


Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 8.01(a) , (b)  or (m)  shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information is available on the website of the SEC and the Borrower has delivered notice to the Administrative Agent that such reports are so available, which notice may be provided in any certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(d) .

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Joint Arrangers may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the General Partner or the Loan Parties, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities it will identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 12.11 ); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Joint Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

Section 8.02 Notices of Material Events . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or the threat in writing of, any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Loan Party not previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders or any material adverse development in any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration (whether or not previously disclosed to the Lenders) that, in either case, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in liability in excess of $9,000,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $9,000,000;

 

68


(d) any threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority or any threatened demand or lawsuit by any Person against the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or their Properties of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws if the Borrower could reasonably anticipate that such action will result in liability (whether individually or in the aggregate) in excess of $9,000,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles; and

(e) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 8.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 8.03 Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, consents, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business and maintain, if necessary, its qualification to do business in each other jurisdiction in which its Properties are located or the ownership of its Properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 9.10 .

Section 8.04 Payment of Tax Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay its Tax liabilities before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or result in the seizure or levy of any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Section 8.05 Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents . The Borrower will repay the Loans according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof, and the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and discharged by them under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, this Agreement, at or within the time or times and in the manner specified.

Section 8.06 Operation and Maintenance of Properties . The Borrower, at its own expense, will, and will cause each Subsidiary to:

(a) operate its Properties or cause such Properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, applicable Environmental Laws, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, condition, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its Properties, including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

69


(c) promptly perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) to the extent the Borrower is not the operator of any Property, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator of such Property to comply with this Section 8.06 in accordance with standard industry practices.

Section 8.07 Insurance . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (i) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations (including hazard insurance), and (ii) in accordance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, Flood Insurance, if required. The loss payable clauses or provisions in said insurance policy or policies insuring any of the Collateral for the Loans shall be endorsed in favor of and made payable to the Administrative Agent as its interests may appear and such policies shall name the Administrative Agent as an “additional insured” and “loss payee” and provide that the insurer will give at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice of any cancellation to the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.08 Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain financial records in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours, to visit and inspect its Properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its Responsible Officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested ( provided that the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower reasonable advance notice of any proposed discussion with such accountants and permit the Borrower and its representatives to be present during such discussions, and provided , further , that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and continues to exist, no more than one such visitation with the Borrower’s independent public accountants shall be conducted during any calendar year), and provided further that, excluding any visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights under this Section 8.08 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year absent the existence of a continuing Event of Default and only one such visit per fiscal year shall be at the Borrower’s expense).

Section 8.09 Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

70


Section 8.10 Compliance with Agreements . The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all agreements, contracts and instruments binding on it or affecting its Properties or business, except to the extent that such noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 8.11 Environmental Matters .

(a) The Borrower shall at its sole expense: (i) comply, and shall cause its Properties and operations and each Subsidiary and each Subsidiary’s Properties and operations to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) not Release or threaten to Release, and shall cause each Subsidiary not to Release or threaten to Release, any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties or any other property offsite the Property to the extent caused by the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, if the Release or threatened Release could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) timely obtain, file or prepare, and shall cause each Subsidiary to timely obtain, file or prepare, all Environmental Permits, if any, required under applicable Environmental Laws to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, except where such failure to obtain or file could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, and shall cause each Subsidiary to promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, any assessment, evaluation, investigation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, removal, repair, restoration, remediation or other remedial obligations (collectively, the “ Remedial Work ”) in the event any Remedial Work is required or reasonably necessary under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with the actual or suspected past, present or future Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, if failure to commence and diligently prosecute to completion could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) conduct, and cause its Subsidiaries to conduct, their respective operations and businesses in a manner that will not expose any Property or Person to Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for material damages or compensation; and (vi) establish and implement, and shall cause each Subsidiary to establish and implement, such procedures as may be necessary to continuously determine and assure that the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ obligations under this Section 8.11(a) are timely and fully satisfied, which failure to establish and implement such procedures could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, provide existing Phase I site assessments, to the extent they are available, upon request by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in connection with any future acquisitions of Properties; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no obligation under this Section for the Borrower to obtain such assessments.

Section 8.12 Further Assurances . The Borrower at its sole expense will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to

 

71


comply with, cure any defects or accomplish the conditions precedent, covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the Loan Documents, including the Notes, or to further evidence and more fully describe the Collateral intended as security for the Secured Obligations, or to correct any omissions in this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the obligations secured therein, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or the priority thereof, or to make any recordings, file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, in connection therewith.

Section 8.13 Title Information . If the Borrower or any Subsidiary acquires any new pipeline and processing Properties for consideration in excess of $5,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, provide promptly (and in any event within 30 days (or such longer period as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent)) title information regarding such new pipeline and processing Properties to the Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall, within sixty (60) days of notice from the Administrative Agent (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion (it being understood that so long as the Revolving Credit Facility is outstanding, the judgment of the Revolver Administrative Agent in respect of the matters described in this Section 8.13 shall be deemed to be the judgment of the Administrative Agent with respect to such matters)) that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional Properties, either (i) cure any such title defects or exceptions (including defects or exceptions as to priority) which are not permitted by Section 9.03 raised by such information to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, or (ii) deliver title information in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, title information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent relative to the pipeline and processing Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Section 8.14 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors .

(a) In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary acquires or forms a subsidiary that is not designated as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with Section 8.15 , or if the Borrower or any other Subsidiary causes any Subsidiary to guarantee the Revolving Credit Facility, the Borrower or its Subsidiary shall promptly, but in any event within 30 days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion (it being understood that so long as the Revolving Credit Facility is outstanding, the judgment of the Revolver Administrative Agent in respect of the matters described in this clause (a)  shall be deemed to be the judgment of the Administrative Agent with respect to such matters)), cause such Subsidiary to guarantee the Secured Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement. In connection with any guaranty, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement and such other Security Instruments (in proper form for filing, registration or recordation, as applicable) as are requested by the Administrative Agent, and take such actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a first priority, perfected Lien (subject only to Excepted Liens and Liens permitted under Section 9.03(h) ) on all of the tangible and intangible Property of such Subsidiary (other than de

 

72


minimis Property excluded in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion), (ii) cause the owner of the Equity Interests in such Subsidiary to pledge such Equity Interests (including, without limitation, delivery of original stock certificates evidencing the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, together with an appropriate undated stock powers for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof) and (iii) execute and deliver such other additional closing documents, certificates and legal opinions as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Borrower will at all times cause (i) all Material Real Property, and (ii) all other tangible and intangible Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary not covered by clause (a)  above, including any Equity Interests in an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case to be subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, except that, with respect to any Material Real Property acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have a period of 60 days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion (it being understood that so long as the Revolving Credit Facility is outstanding, the judgment of the Revolver Administrative Agent in respect of the matters described in this clause (a) shall be deemed to be the judgment of the Administrative Agent with respect to such matters)) after such acquisition within which to subject such Material Real Property to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, and, in connection therewith, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, execute and deliver such Security Instruments (in proper form for filing, registration or recordation, as applicable) as are requested by the Administrative Agent, and take such actions necessary or advisable to subject such Material Real Property to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, provided , however , that with respect to any real Property, if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the costs, financial and otherwise, of obtaining or maintaining a Lien, perfecting a Lien and/or complying with all Governmental Requirements with respect to such a Lien outweigh the benefit to the Secured Parties of the security afforded thereby, the Administrative Agent may notify the Borrower of such determination and, (x) if such real Property is not then subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, such real Property shall not be required to become subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments and, (y) if such real Property is already subject to a Lien pursuant to the Security Instruments, the Administrative Agent may, upon obtaining the consent of the Required Lenders, release such Lien.

(c) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries shall take any additional actions required, if any, to cause all of its right, title and interest in each Hedging Agreement to which it is a party to be collaterally assigned to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such agreement or contract to (i) expressly permit such assignment and (ii) upon the occurrence of any default or event of default under such agreement or contract, (A) to permit the Lenders to cure such default or event of default and assume the obligations of such Loan Party under such agreement or contract and (B) to prohibit the termination of such agreement or contract by the counterparty thereto if the Lenders assume the obligations of such Loan Party under such agreement or contract and the Lenders take the actions required under the foregoing clause (A) .

 

73


(d) The Borrower agrees that it will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, grant a Lien on any Property to secure the Revolving Credit Facility without contemporaneously granting to the Administrative Agent, as security for the Secured Obligations, a first priority perfected Lien on the same Property pursuant to Security Instruments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.15 Designations with Respect to Subsidiaries .

(a) Within 30 days of the acquisition or formation of a new Subsidiary, the Borrower may designate such Subsidiary as an Excluded Subsidiary by written notification thereof to the Administrative Agent, provided that (i) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such designation, and (ii) such designation is deemed to be an Investment in such Excluded Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value as of the date of such designation of the Borrower’s direct or indirect ownership interest in such Excluded Subsidiary and such Investment would be permitted to be made at the time of such designation under Section 9.05(n) . No Loan Party may be redesignated as an Excluded Subsidiary.

(b) If the Borrower desires to designate an Excluded Subsidiary to be a Loan Party after the date hereof, and all of such Excluded Subsidiary’s outstanding Equity Interests (other than any directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law), on a fully-diluted basis, are owned by the Borrower and/or one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall cause such Excluded Subsidiary to comply with Section 8.14(a) , at which time such Person shall cease to be an “Excluded Subsidiary” and shall be deemed a “Loan Party” for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents without any amendment, modification or other supplement to any of the foregoing.

Section 8.16 Excluded Subsidiaries . The Borrower:

(a) will cause the management, business and affairs of each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to be conducted in such a manner (including, without limitation, by keeping separate books of account) so that each Excluded Subsidiary will be treated as an entity separate and distinct from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that the foregoing will not prohibit payments under expense sharing agreements with such Excluded Subsidiaries that are consistent with past practices and/or required by any applicable Governmental Authority.

(b) will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, assume, guarantee or be or become liable for any Indebtedness of any of the Excluded Subsidiaries.

(c) will not permit any Excluded Subsidiary to hold any Equity Interest in the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

Section 8.17 ERISA Compliance . The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent (a) promptly after the filing thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the United States Secretary of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service (or if filed by a third party, promptly after the Borrower or a Subsidiary becomes aware of such filing), copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, and (b) promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any “prohibited transaction,” as described in section 406 of ERISA or in

 

74


section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by the President or the principal Financial Officer, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate, as the case may be, specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor with respect thereto.

Section 8.18 Interest Rate Hedging Agreements . As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014, the Borrower shall have entered into Hedging Agreements for the purpose of hedging the Borrower’s exposure to variable interest rates, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other Hedging Agreements of the Loan Parties then in effect in respect of interest rates) shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Loans and Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility. Such Hedging Agreements shall be in the form of floating-to-fixed rate swaps, the purchase of interest rate caps, or any similar hedging instrument designed to mitigate interest rate risk, in each case approved by the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.19 Commodity Exchange Act Keepwell Provisions . The Borrower hereby guarantees the payment and performance of all Secured Obligations of each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) and absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) in order for such Loan Party to honor its obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement including obligations with respect to Hedging Agreements ( provided , however , that the Borrower shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section, or otherwise under this Agreement or any Loan Document, as it relates to such other Loan Parties, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until all Indebtedness is paid in full to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all other Secured Parties, and all of the Lenders’ Commitments are terminated. The Borrower intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Section 8.20 Post-Closing Obligations . The Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, each of the items set forth on Schedule 8.20 , in each case on or prior to the date specified in such Schedule for such item or such later date as the Administrative Agent may determine and agree to in writing in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until Payment in Full, the Borrower (on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries) and each Guarantor by its execution of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

75


Section 9.01 [Reserved] .

Section 9.02 Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedging Agreements or with respect to any Bank Products, or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, the Secured Hedging Agreements or with respect to any Bank Products;

(b) Indebtedness under Capital Leases or that constitutes Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness described in this Section 9.02(b) at any one time outstanding shall not to exceed $18,000,000 in the aggregate;

(c) Indebtedness associated with performance bonds, bid bonds, surety bonds, appeal bonds or customs bonds required in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default;

(d) intercompany Indebtedness between the Borrower and any Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 9.05(g) ; provided that such Indebtedness is not held, assigned, transferred, negotiated or pledged to any Person other than the Borrower or one of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, and, provided , further , that any such Indebtedness owed by a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms set forth in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement;

(e) Indebtedness constituting a guaranty by any Loan Party of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by any other Loan Party under this Section 9.02 ;

(f) endorsements of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Permitted Note Indebtedness;

(h) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, the underlying policy;

(i) Indebtedness incurred by the Loan Parties in connection with a Permitted Acquisition consisting of indemnities in the ordinary course of business or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments or earn-outs, provided , in the case of earn-outs, that the Borrower is in Pro Forma Compliance under the Revolving Credit Agreement at the time the relevant earn-out obligation is created;

(j) Indebtedness (i) arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft, payment order or other debit drawn, presented or issued against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence or (ii) arising under any Bank Products provided by a bank or other financial institution to the Loan Parties in the ordinary course of business;

 

76


(k) other unsecured Indebtedness not to exceed $18,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; and

(l) Indebtedness incurred under the Revolving Credit Facility, provided that such Indebtedness (i) is subject at all times to the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) does not exceed a maximum principal amount equal to the difference of (A) $320,000,000 minus (B) the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Term Loans in excess of $100,000,000 incurred under this Agreement on or after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.06 .

Section 9.03 Liens . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except:

(a) Liens securing the payment of any Secured Obligations pursuant to the Security Instruments;

(b) Excepted Liens;

(c) Liens securing Capital Leases and Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02(b) but only on the Property under lease or the Property purchased with such Purchase Money Indebtedness, as applicable;

(d) Liens on proceeds of letters of credit permitted to be posted in connection with Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 9.17 ;

(e)  (i) pledges and deposits of cash in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to such Person and (ii) Liens on proceeds of insurance policies securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.02(h) ;

(f) Liens on cash earnest money or escrowed deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.05 , to be applied against the purchase price for and indemnities with respect to such Investment, solely to the extent such Investment would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(g) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or assets of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

77


(h) Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02(l) , which Liens rank pari passu with the Secured Obligations and are at all times subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; and

(i) other Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Collateral or any Material Real Property.

Section 9.04 Restricted Payments . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, return any capital to its stockholders or make any distribution of its Property to its Equity Interest holders, except:

(a) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends and distributions with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock);

(b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends to other Loan Parties ratably with respect to their Equity Interests;

(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its common or subordinated Equity Interests with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new common or subordinated Equity Interests;

(d) the Borrower may declare and pay quarterly cash distributions of Available Cash to the holders of any Equity Interests in the Borrower in accordance with the Borrower’s Organization Documents; provided , that no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;

(e) substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the Specified Transactions on the Closing Date, the Borrower may declare and pay Restricted Payments to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement;

(f) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in connection with long-term incentive plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for directors, management, employees or consultants of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(g) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to redeem its Equity Interests that are held at such time by “Ineligible Holders” (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Partnership Agreement;

(h) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) the Borrower may repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of the Borrower held by any current or former officer, director, consultant, or employee of the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the General Partner pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’, members’ or partnership agreement or similar agreement, plan or arrangement or any Plan and (ii) to the extent such payments are deemed to be Restricted Payments, the Borrower may make payments under stock appreciation rights, phantom stock or other similar cash settled interests issued under the Borrower’s long term incentive program; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (h)  shall not exceed $3,000,000 during any fiscal year; and

 

78


(i) payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments by the Borrower to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional units upon the exercise of options or warrants.

Section 9.05 Investments, Loans and Advances . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make or permit to remain outstanding, or enter into any agreement to make, any Investments in or to any Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a) Investments as of the Closing Date that are disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 9.05 ;

(b) accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(c) direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of creation thereof;

(d) commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof rated in one of the two highest grades by S&P or Moody’s;

(e) deposits maturing within one (1) year from the date of creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $100,000,000 (as of the date of such bank or trust company’s most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time, by S&P or Moody’s, respectively;

(f) deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in Investments described in Section 9.05(c) , Section 9.05(d) or Section 9.05(e) ;

(g) Investments (i) made by the Borrower in or to the Guarantors, and (ii) made by any Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(h) Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts arising from Investments permitted under this Section 9.05 owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result of a bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the obligor in respect of such debts or upon the enforcement of any Lien in favor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prompt written notice in the event that the aggregate amount of all Investments held at any one time under this Section 9.05(h) exceeds $1,000,000;

(i) Investments constituting Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.02 ;

 

79


(j) credit provided to new or existing customers of the Loan Parties for the costs and expenses of extending service to such customers and for which such customers are contractually obligated to reimburse the Loan Party providing such credit in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Permitted Acquisitions;

(l) Investments representing non-cash consideration received with respect to dispositions permitted under Section 9.11 ;

(m) Investments in Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 9.17 ;

(n) Investments in Excluded Subsidiaries, partnerships, joint ventures or any other Person in a similar business to the Loan Parties; provided that (i) no Default exists or results therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to such Investment (and any debt incurred in connection therewith), the Borrower is in Pro Forma Compliance under the Revolving Credit Agreement;

(o) Investments made substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the Specified Transactions on the Closing Date to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement; and

(p) other Investments not to exceed $12,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Section 9.06 Nature of Business; International Operations . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage (directly or indirectly) in any business other than those businesses in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Closing Date (or which are reasonably related, incidental or complimentary thereto or are reasonable extensions, developments or expansions thereof). From and after the date hereof, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will not acquire or make any other expenditure (whether such expenditure is capital, operating or otherwise) in or related to, any real Property not located within the geographical boundaries of the United States.

Section 9.07 Proceeds of Loans . The Borrower will not permit the proceeds of the Loans to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by Section 7.20 . Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulations T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board, or to violate Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.

Section 9.08 ERISA Compliance . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time:

(a) engage in, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to engage in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;

 

80


(b) fail to make, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto;

(c) contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to (i) any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that contributions to or the obligation to contribute to may not be terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any material liability, or (ii) any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, including a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code; and

(d) acquire, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA Affiliate with respect to the Borrower or a Subsidiary or with respect to any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower or a Subsidiary if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, (i) that is a multiemployer plan as defined in section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or (ii) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.

Section 9.09 Sale or Discount of Receivables . Except (a) in connection with the Specified Transactions, (b) sales otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 9.11 and (c) for receivables obtained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary out of the ordinary course of business or the settlement of joint interest billing accounts in the ordinary course of business or discounts granted to settle collection of accounts receivable or the sale of defaulted accounts arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable.

Section 9.10 Mergers, Etc . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property to any other Person (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) (any such transaction, a “ consolidation ”), or liquidate or dissolve, except that:

(a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with any other Person; provided that (i) no Default is continuing, (ii) any such consolidation would not cause a Default hereunder, (iii) if the Borrower consolidates with any Person, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person, and (iv) if any Subsidiary consolidates with any Person (other than

 

81


the Borrower or another Subsidiary) and such Subsidiary is not the surviving Person, such surviving Person shall expressly assume in writing (in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) all obligations of such Subsidiary under the Loan Documents;

(b) any Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with the Borrower ( provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or any other Subsidiary and if one of such Subsidiaries is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, then the surviving Person shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(c) a Subsidiary may wind-up, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer its assets if (i) all of its Property is transferred to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and (ii) the Loan Party acquiring such Property promptly complies with its obligations under Sections 8.12 and 8.14 ; and

(d) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property to any other Person to the extent permitted by Section 9.11 .

Section 9.11 Sale of Properties . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or otherwise transfer any Property except for:

(a) dispositions of cash and cash equivalents in the ordinary course of business and in connection with the consummation of the Specified Transactions and other transactions permitted by this Agreement;

(b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(c) the sale or transfer of obsolete or worn out property and property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business or is replaced by replacement property of at least comparable value and use;

(d) issuances of distributions or other Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 9.04 ;

(e) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.04 and Liens permitted by Section 9.03 ;

(f) the transfer of Property to another Loan Party;

(g) the transfer of Property to an Excluded Subsidiary, provided that (i) no Default exists at the time of or after giving effect to such transfer, and (ii) such transfer is deemed to be an Investment in such Excluded Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Property transferred as of the date of such transfer and such Investment would be permitted to be made at the time of such transfer under Section 9.05(n) ;

(h) the transfer of Property occurring in connection with a transaction permitted by, and made in compliance with the provisions of, Section 9.10 ;

 

82


(i) Asset Sales having, in the aggregate for all Asset Sales by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, a fair market value not to exceed $6,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower;

(j) other Asset Sales, subject to Section 3.04(b)(ii) ;

(k) dispositions of accounts receivables in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business to the extent permitted under Section 9.09 ;

(l) grants of Leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), easements, rights of way or similar rights or encumbrances in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

(m) transfers of Property that has suffered a Casualty Event upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event.

Section 9.12 Environmental Matters . Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the Properties and any operations thereat or associated therewith, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, be in violation of Environmental Law, have any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials other than those that are in compliance with Environmental Law, allow any exposure to Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for damages or compensation, or be required under Environmental Law to perform any Remedial Work.

Section 9.13 Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or any Guarantor), except (a) in connection with the Specified Transactions, (b) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.04 , (c) Investments permitted by Section 9.05 , (d) transactions contemplated by the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Closing Date or, if applicable, to the extent modified as permitted hereunder, (e) transactions approved by the board of managers, or similar governing body, of the General Partner or the conflicts committee thereof (acting in good faith), and (f) transactions that are otherwise permitted under this Agreement and are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it, when taken as a whole, than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

Section 9.14 Subsidiaries . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create or acquire any additional Subsidiary unless the Borrower gives prior written notice to the Administrative Agent of such creation or acquisition and complies with Section 8.14(a) . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary except in compliance with Section 9.11(f) , Section 9.11(h) or Section 9.15 . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have any Foreign Subsidiaries.

Section 9.15 Limitation on Issuance of Equity Interests . The Borrower shall not permit any Subsidiary to issue any Equity Interest (including by way of sales of treasury stock) or any

 

83


options or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, any Equity Interest, except for Equity Interests issued to another Loan Party or to another Person in accordance with a merger or other transaction permitted by Section 9.10(a) and to the extent required pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. The Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall comply with Section 8.12 , Section 8.14 and, if applicable, Section 9.10(a) with respect to any such issued Equity Interests.

Section 9.16 Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any material agreement or arrangement (other than (a)the Loan Documents, (b)the Revolver Loan Documents (c)Capital Leases creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Capital Lease, (d)documents evidencing or securing Purchase Money Indebtedness creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c) , but then only on the Property that is the subject of such Purchase Money Indebtedness, (e)documents creating Liens which are described in clauses (g)  or (h)  of the definition of “Excepted Liens”, but then only on the Property that is the subject of the applicable lease or license described in such clause (g) or (h)), (f) customary restrictions and conditions on transfers and investments contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset or any subsidiary pending the consummation of such sale, (g) in the case of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date, any agreement in effect at the time such Person so becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming such a Subsidiary, (h) in the case of any assets acquired after the Closing Date, any agreement in effect at the time of such acquisition which pertains to such assets and only such assets and is assumed in connection with such acquisition, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition, and (i) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements permitted by Section 9.05 and applicable to joint ventures and Equity Interests therein) that in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, or that requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith, or that restricts any Subsidiary from paying dividends or making distributions to the Borrower or any Guarantor, or that requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith.

Section 9.17 Hedging Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedging Agreements with any Person other than Hedging Agreements in respect of commodities or interest rates (i) with an Approved Counterparty and (ii) that are entered into for the purpose of hedging exposure to interest rates or commodity prices and that are not for speculative purposes. In no event shall any Hedging Agreement contain any requirement, agreement or covenant for the Borrower or any Subsidiary to post collateral or margin to secure their obligations under such Hedging Agreement or to cover market exposures, other than letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility (and the proceeds thereof) the face amounts of which do not exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

Section 9.18 Holding Company . The Borrower will remain a holding company and will not own any real property, immovable property, or other assets of material value other than Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries, furniture, furnishings and equipment acquired and maintained in the ordinary course of business, Investments to the extent permitted hereunder, assets acquired that are promptly, and in any event within 30 days of acquisition by the Borrower, transferred, contributed or otherwise assigned by the Borrower to one or more of the other Loan Parties, and interests in contracts customarily entered into by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

 

84


Section 9.19 Sale and Leaseback . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such Property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property being sold or transferred.

Section 9.20 Amendments to Organization Documents, Revolver Loan Documents, Material Contracts, or Fiscal Year End; Prepayments of other Indebtedness .

(a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) its Organization Documents; provided that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may amend, supplement or otherwise modify any of its Organization Documents in any manner that (A) is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect and (B) does not conflict with any of the Loan Documents, subject to compliance with the provisions of Section 8.01(j) , Section 8.01(k) and Section 8.12 to the full extent applicable; provided further that any amendment, supplement or other modification to the definition of the term “Available Cash” contained in the Partnership Agreement that results in an increase in the amount of Available Cash shall be deemed to be adverse to the Lenders in a material respect.

(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) any Material Contract in a manner that would be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect.

(c) The Borrower shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) the Contribution Agreement in a manner that would be materially adverse to the Lenders.

(d) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, change the last day of its fiscal year from December 31 of each year, or the last days of the first three fiscal quarters in each of its fiscal years from March 31, June 30 and September 30 of each year, respectively.

(e) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or acquisition for value of, or any prepayment or redemption as a result of any asset sale, change of control or similar event of, any outstanding Subordinated Indebtedness, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement.

(f) The Borrower shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) the Revolving Credit Agreement or any Revolver Loan Document, except in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

85


Section 9.21 Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering .

(a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) knowingly conduct any business or engage in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in Section 7.26 , (ii) knowingly deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any Property or interests in Property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law (and the Borrower shall deliver to any Lender any certification or other evidence requested from time to time by such Lender confirming the Borrower’s and the Subsidiaries’ compliance with this Section 9.21(a) ).

(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, cause or permit any of the funds of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are used to repay the Loans to be derived from any unlawful activity with the result that the making of the Loans would be in violation of any Governmental Requirement.

Section 9.22 Embargoed Person . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, permit (a) any of the funds or Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are used to repay the Loans to constitute Property of, or be beneficially owned directly or indirectly by, any Person subject to sanctions or trade restrictions under United States law (“ Embargoed Person ” or “ Embargoed Persons ”) that is identified on (i) the “List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq., The Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., and any Executive Order or Governmental Requirement promulgated thereunder, with the result that the investment in the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by a Governmental Requirement, or the Loans would be in violation of a Governmental Requirement, or (ii) the Executive Order, any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders or (b) any Embargoed Person to have any direct or indirect interest, of any nature whatsoever in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, with the result that the investment in the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by a Governmental Requirement or the Loans are in violation of a Governmental Requirement.

ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

Section 10.01 Events of Default . One or more of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof, by acceleration or otherwise.

(b) The Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount (other than an amount referred to in Section 10.01(a) ) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days.

 

86


(c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification of any Loan Document or waiver under such Loan Document, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made.

(d) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 8.01(j) , Section 8.02 , Section 8.03 (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 8.07 , Section 8.14 , Section 8.16 , or Section 8.20 or in Article IX .

(e) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in Section 10.01(a) , Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(d) ) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) or (ii) a Responsible Officer, or a Responsible Officer of such Subsidiary, otherwise becoming aware of such default.

(f) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment of principal of or interest on any Material Indebtedness (including Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement), when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure to pay shall extend beyond any applicable period of grace.

(g) Any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness (including Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Agreement) becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause such Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the Redemption thereof or any offer to Redeem to be made in respect thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity or require the Borrower or any Subsidiary to make an offer in respect thereof; provided , that the occurrence of any “Event of Default” (under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) resulting from a breach of Section 9.01 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall only result in an Event of Default under this clause (g)  to the extent Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility is declared to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity as a result thereof.

(h) An involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered.

 

87


(i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 10.01(h) , (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any limited liability company or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

(j) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.

(k)  (i) One or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $9,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage and is not subject to an insolvency proceeding) or (ii) any one or more non-monetary judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof.

(l) The Loan Documents (including the Intercreditor Agreement) after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms against any Loan Party party thereto or, in the case of the Intercreditor Agreement, any other party thereto, or shall be repudiated by any of them, or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority required thereby on any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, or any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates shall so state in writing.

(m) An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in the liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $9,000,000 in the aggregate.

(n) A Change in Control shall occur.

Section 10.02 Remedies .

(a) In the case of an Event of Default other than one described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) , at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in

 

88


part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors accrued hereunder and under the Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and each Guarantor; and in case of an Event of Default described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i) , the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and the other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors accrued hereunder and the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and each Guarantor.

(b) In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have all other rights and remedies available at law and equity.

(c) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds realized from the liquidation or other disposition of Collateral or otherwise received after maturity of the Loans, whether by acceleration or otherwise, shall be applied:

(i) first , to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

(ii) second , pro rata to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Lenders;

(iii) third , pro rata to payment of accrued interest on the Loans;

(iv) fourth , pro rata to payment of (A) principal outstanding on the Loans, (B) Secured Obligations referred to in clause (b) of the definition of Secured Obligations owing to a Secured Hedging Agreement Counterparty, (C) Secured Obligations referred to in clause (c) of the definition of Secured Obligations owing to a Bank Products Provider, and (D) any other Secured Obligations; and

(v) fifth , any excess, after all of the Secured Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental Requirement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from the Borrower or any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act shall not be applied to any Excluded Hedging Obligations (it being understood, that in the event that any amount is applied to Secured Obligations other than Excluded Hedging Obligations as a result of this clause, the Administrative Agent shall make such adjustments as it determines are appropriate to distributions pursuant to clause fourth above from amounts received from “eligible contract participants” under the Commodity Exchange Act to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to the Secured Obligations described in clause fourth above by the holders of any Excluded Hedging Obligations are the same as the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to other Secured Obligations pursuant to clause fourth above).

 

89


ARTICLE XI

THE AGENTS

Section 11.01 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article XI are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions.

Section 11.02 Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 11.03 Exculpatory Provisions .

(a) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing (it being understood that the term “agent” used herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine or any other applicable law; rather, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties);

(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except as provided in Section 11.10 ; and

(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

90


(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 and Section 10.02 ) or (ii) otherwise hereunder or under any other Loan Document or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection herewith or therewith INCLUDING ITS OWN ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or as to those conditions precedent expressly required to be to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, (vi) the existence, value, perfection, or priority of any collateral security or the financial or other condition of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries or any other obligor or guarantor, or (vii) any failure by any Loan Party or any other Person (other than itself) to perform any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the performance or observance of any covenants, agreements, or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein.

Section 11.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof permitted hereunder is filed with the Administrative Agent.

 

91


Section 11.05 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article XI shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Section 11.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a bank as a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 11.06 . Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article XI and Section 12.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Section 11.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on

 

92


such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. The Agents shall not be required to keep themselves informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of this Agreement, the Loan Documents, or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the Properties or books of the Loan Parties or the Subsidiaries. Except for notices, reports, and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, no Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with an credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, or business of the Loan Parties (or any of their Affiliates) which may come into possession of such Agent or any of its Affiliates. In this regard, each Lender acknowledges that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is acting in this transaction as special counsel to the Administrative Agent only, except that to the extent otherwise expressly stated in any legal opinion or any Loan Document. Each other party hereto will consult with its own legal counsel to the extent that it deems necessary in connection with the Loan Documents and the matters contemplated therein.

Section 11.08 No Other Duties, etc . The Joint Arrangers and the Co-Syndication Agents shall have no duties, responsibilities or liabilities under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents other than, with respect to any Co-Syndication Agent or Joint Arranger that is also a Lender, its duties, responsibilities and liabilities in its capacity as a Lender hereunder.

Section 11.09 Authority of Administrative Agent to Release Collateral and Liens . Each Lender hereby authorizes, and each other Person accepting the benefit of the Liens created by the Security Instruments shall be deemed to have authorized, the Administrative Agent to release (a) any Collateral that is permitted to be sold or released pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents, and (b) any Mortgaged Property that does not constitute Material Real Property if any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) is situated on such Mortgaged Property and the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, determines that the costs, financial and otherwise, of obtaining or maintaining a Lien or complying with all Governmental Requirements with respect to such Lien outweigh the benefit to the Secured Parties of the security afforded thereby. Each Lender hereby authorizes, and each other Person accepting the benefit of the Liens created by the Security Instruments shall be deemed to have authorized, the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower (or file, if appropriate), at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, any and all releases of Liens, termination statements, assignments or other documents reasonably requested by the Borrower in connection with any sale or other disposition of Property to the extent such sale or other disposition is permitted by the terms of Section 9.11 or is otherwise authorized by the terms of the Loan Documents. To the extent any Property is sold, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred as expressly permitted by Section 9.11 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred free and clear of all Liens created by the Loan Documents.

Section 11.10 Action by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents

 

93


that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 ) and in all cases the Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder or under any other Loan Documents unless it shall (a) receive written instructions from the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable, (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.02 ) specifying the action to be taken and (b) be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expenses which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The instructions as aforesaid and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto by the Administrative Agent shall be binding on all of the Lenders. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, then the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as shall be directed by the requisite Lenders in the written instructions (with indemnities) described in this Section, provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders. In no event, however, shall the Administrative Agent be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement, the Loan Documents or applicable law. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, neither the Syndication Agent nor the Documentation Agent shall have any obligation to perform any act in respect thereof.

Section 11.11 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Indebtedness that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 12.03 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

Furthermore, any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent consents to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 12.03 . Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the

 

94


Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Indebtedness or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

Section 11.12 Intercreditor Agreement . The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and to amend such agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.02 . Each Lender (by receiving the benefits thereunder and of the Collateral pledged pursuant to the Security Instruments) agrees that the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall be binding on such Lender and its successors and assigns, as if it was a party thereto.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices .

(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to Section 12.01(b) ), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower, to it at the following:

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

1700 Pacific Ave., Suite 2900

Dallas, TX 75201

Attn: David Biegler and David Mueller

Fax: 214.393.7504

Email: biegler@southcrossenergy.com and

            mueller@southcrossenergy.com

 with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street

Suite 3700

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Catherine Ozdogan

Fax: 713.546.7401

Email: catherine.ozdogan@lw.com

 

95


(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to it at the following:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

201 Main Street

Suite 300

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Attn: Charles D. Kirkham

Fax: 817.334.7000

Email: kirkham@wellsfargo.com

with a copy to:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

1700 Lincoln St. 3rd Floor

MAC: C7300-035

Denver, CO 80203

Attn: Amira Bahloul

Fax: 303.863.5533

Email: amira.a.bahloul@wellsfargo.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2001 Ross Ave., Suite 3700

Dallas, TX 75201-2975

Attn: Erec Winandy

Fax: 214-999-7756

Email: ewinandy@velaw.com

(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 12.01(b) below, shall be effective as provided in Section 12.01(b) .

(b) Electronic Communications .

(i) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II , Article III , Article IV and Article V if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article(s) by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

96


(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (B) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (B)  of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefore.

(c) Change of Address, Etc . Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

Section 12.02 Waivers; Amendments .

(a) No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right, power or privilege, under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 12.02(b) , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof nor any Security Instrument nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, or reduce any other Secured Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, provided , however , that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the

 

97


Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment or prepayment of the principal amount of any Loan (excluding mandatory prepayments) or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or any other Secured Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone or extend the Termination Date or Maturity Date of any Loan without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (iv) change Section 4.01(b) or Section 4.01(c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) waive or amend Section 3.04(c) , Section 6.01 , Section 10.02(c) or Section 12.14 or change the definition of the terms “Domestic Subsidiary”, “Foreign Subsidiary” or “Subsidiary”, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (vi) release any Guarantor (except as permitted pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement or in connection with a sale of such Guarantor permitted under Section 9.14 ) or release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (vii) change any of the provisions of this Section 12.02(b) , Section 10.02(c) , or the definitions of “Required Lenders”, “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or any other Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender other than any Defaulting Lender, (viii) change the application of prepayments under Section 3.04(b)(iv) , without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders (it being understood that the Required Class Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment so long as the application of any such prepayment that is still required to be made is not changed) or (ix) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding under Section 2.06 with respect to Incremental Loans and the rate of interest applicable thereto) which directly affects Lenders under one or more Class and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Class, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Class Lenders under such applicable Class (and in the case of multiple Classes which are affected, such Required Class Lenders shall consent together as one Class); provided, however, that the waivers described in this clause (ix) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than (x) the Required Class Lenders under such applicable Class and (y) in the case of any waiver that otherwise would be subject to clauses (i) through (viii)  above, each Lender adversely affected thereby under the applicable Class or Classes; provided , further , that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or any other Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or such other Agent, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) any supplement to Schedule 7.14 (Subsidiaries) shall be effective simply by delivering to the Administrative Agent a supplemental schedule clearly marked as such and, upon receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly deliver a copy thereof to the Lenders, (y) the Borrower (or other applicable Loan Party) and the Administrative Agent may amend this Agreement or any other Loan Document without the consent of the Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by Lenders constituting the Required Lenders within 5 Business Days after the Administrative Agent delivers written notice thereof to the Lenders, and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or other applicable Loan Party) may enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or enter into any

 

98


agreement or instrument to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Mortgaged Property or Property to become Mortgaged Property to secure the Secured Obligations for the benefit of the Lenders or as required by any Governmental Requirement to give effect to, protect or otherwise enhance the rights or benefits of any Lender under the Loan Documents without the consent of any Lender.

Section 12.03 Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel and other outside consultants for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent as to the rights and duties of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect thereto) of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of or consents related to the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all costs, expenses, Taxes, assessments and other charges incurred by any Agent or any Lender in connection with any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated by this Agreement or any Security Instrument or any other document referred to therein, (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Agent or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 12.03 or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including, without limitation, all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.03(a) or elsewhere in any of the Loan Documents, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be obligated to pay or reimburse any Person for any costs, expenses, fees, taxes or other charges of any nature whatsoever that are incurred or payable by any Person in connection with any assignment referred to in Section 12.04(b) , any participation referred to in Section 12.04(d) or any pledge or security interest referred to in Section 12.04(f) .

(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE BORROWER . THE BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY EACH AGENT (AND ANY SUB-AGENT THEREOF), THE JOINT ARRANGERS AND EACH LENDER, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “ INDEMNITEE ”) AGAINST, AND DEFEND AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE, INCURRED BY ANY INDEMNITEE OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF (i) THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO OR THE PARTIES TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR

 

99


THEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, (ii) THE FAILURE OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, INCLUDING THIS AGREEMENT, OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT, (iii) ANY INACCURACY OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY OR COVENANT OF THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY INSTRUMENTS, DOCUMENTS OR CERTIFICATIONS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, (iv) ANY LOAN OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM, (v) ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (vi) THE OPERATIONS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE BORROWER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES BY THE BORROWER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (vii) ANY ASSERTION THAT THE LENDERS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, (viii) ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING, THE PRESENCE, GENERATION, STORAGE, RELEASE, THREATENED RELEASE, USE, TRANSPORT, DISPOSAL, ARRANGEMENT OF DISPOSAL OR TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, (ix) THE BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, (x) THE PAST OWNERSHIP BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR PAST ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH, THOUGH LAWFUL AND FULLY PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT IN PRESENT LIABILITY, (xi) THE PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE, STORAGE, TREATMENT, DISPOSAL, GENERATION, THREATENED RELEASE, TRANSPORT, ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSPORT OR ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (xii) ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR (xiii) ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR (xiv) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY, WHETHER BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO, AND SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL EXTEND TO EACH INDEMNITEE NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES,

 

100


CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES (x) ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE, (y) RESULT FROM A CLAIM BROUGHT BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE FOR BREACH IN BAD FAITH OF SUCH INDEMNITEE’S OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, IF THE BORROWER OR SUCH SUBSIDIARY HAS OBTAINED A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ITS FAVOR ON SUCH CLAIM AS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, OR (z) RESULT FROM ANY DISPUTE SOLELY AMONG INDEMNITEES, OTHER THAN ANY CLAIMS AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE IN ITS CAPACITY OR IN FULFILLING ITS ROLE AS AN AGENT, JOINT ARRANGER, OR ANY SIMILAR ROLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, AND OTHER THAN ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANY ACT OR OMISSION ON THE PART OF THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly any amount required under Sections 12.03(a) or (b)  to be paid by it to any Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Joint Arranger or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on the ratio of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans under this Agreement) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Joint Arranger in connection with such capacity.

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any other party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof (other than to the extent any such damages are asserted pursuant to a third-party claim that would otherwise be required to be indemnified or reimbursed pursuant to any Loan Document). No Indemnitee referred to in Section 12.03(b) shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the Transactions.

(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section 12.03 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

 

101


Section 12.04 Assignments and Participations .

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except (A) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04(b) , (B) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04(d) , or (C) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 12.04(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in Section 12.04(d) ) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignments shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in Section 12.04(b)(i)(A) , the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights on a non- pro rata basis.

 

102


(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 12.04(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (3) the assignment is made in connection with the primary syndication of the Initial Term Loan and during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending 60 days after the Closing Date to any Person approved by the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to any Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, or an Approved Fund;

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (unless the assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund), and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Borrower . No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower, any Sponsor, or any of the Borrower’s or any Sponsor’s respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

(vii) No Assignments to Defaulting Lenders . No such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 12.04(c) , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall. to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.04(d) .

 

103


(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). Upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 12.04(b) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 12.04(b) , the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this Section 12.04(c) . The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In connection with any changes to the Register, if necessary, the Administrative Agent will reflect the revisions on Annex I and forward a copy of such revised Annex I to the Borrower and each Lender.

(d) Participations .

(i) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of or notice to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(ii) Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the proviso to Section 12.02 that affects such Participant. In addition such agreement must provide that the Participant be bound by the provisions of Section 12.03 . Subject to Section 12.04(e) , the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 and Section 5.03 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.04(b) . To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.01(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-

 

104


fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the Participant Register ); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.03 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 5.03(f) as though it were a Lender

(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and Section 12.04(e) shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Restrictions if Registration Required . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 12.04 , no transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender or any grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment or grant would require the Borrower and the Guarantors to file a registration statement with the SEC or to qualify the Loans under the “Blue Sky” laws of any state.

Section 12.05 Survival; Revival; Reinstatement .

(a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the

 

105


principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid. The provisions of Section 5.01 , Section 5.02 , Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 and Article XI shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans or the termination of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

(b) To the extent that any payments on the Secured Obligations or proceeds of any Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Secured Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Loan Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such event, each Loan Document shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to effect such reinstatement.

Section 12.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution .

(a) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

(b) Integration . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

(c) Effectiveness . Except as provided in Section 6.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(d) Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

106


Section 12.07 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 12.08 Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (of whatsoever kind, including, without limitations obligations under Hedging Agreements, and in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section 12.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

Section 12.09 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH THEREIN, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW PERMITS ANY LENDER TO CONTRACT FOR, CHARGE, RECEIVE, RESERVE OR TAKE INTEREST AT THE RATE ALLOWED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE WHERE SUCH LENDER IS LOCATED.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH THEREIN, SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE

 

107


JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.

(c) EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 12.01 OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS IS SPECIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12.01 (OR ITS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION), SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF A PARTY OR ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

(d) EACH PARTY HEREBY (i) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN; (ii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES; (iii) CERTIFIES THAT NO OTHER PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY FOR ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (iv) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 12.09 .

Section 12.10 Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

108


Section 12.11 Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors (including accountants and legal counsel) and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.11 , to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Hedging Agreement relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 12.11 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For purposes of this Section 12.11 , “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 12.11 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Section 12.12 Interest Rate Limitation . It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the Transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Secured Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (a) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Lender under any of the Loan Documents or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Loans shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Secured Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Secured Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower); and (b) in the event that the maturity of the Loans is accelerated by reason of an election of the holder thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess

 

109


interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by such Lender as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Secured Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Secured Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the stated term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (i) the amount of interest payable to any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.12 and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.12 . To the extent that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code is relevant for the purpose of determining the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to a Lender, such Lender elects to determine the applicable rate ceiling under such Chapter by the weekly ceiling from time to time in effect. Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code does not apply to the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

Section 12.13 EXCULPATION PROVISIONS . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT READ THIS AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT “CONSPICUOUS.”

 

110


Section 12.14 Collateral Matters; Secured Hedging Agreements; Bank Products . The benefit of the Security Instruments and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Collateral securing the Secured Obligations shall also extend to and be available to the Secured Hedging Counterparties with respect to any Secured Hedging Agreement (including any Secured Hedging Agreement in existence prior to the date hereof, but excluding any additional transactions or confirmations entered into (a) after such Secured Hedging Counterparty ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or (b) after assignment by a Secured Hedging Counterparty to another Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) and Bank Products Providers with respect to any obligations in respect of Bank Products. No Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender shall have any voting or consent rights under any Loan Document as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Secured Hedging Agreements or in respect of Bank Products.

Section 12.15 No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the agreement of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Borrower, and no other Person (including, without limitation, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, any obligor, contractor, subcontractor, supplier or materialman) shall have any rights, claims, remedies or privileges hereunder or under any other Loan Document against the Administrative Agent, any other Agent or any Lender for any reason whatsoever. There are no third party beneficiaries.

Section 12.16 USA Patriot Act Notice . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ USA Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.

Section 12.17 NON-RECOURSE TO THE GENERAL PARTNER . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS DO NOT AND WILL NOT IN ANY WAY CONSTITUTE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER. IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IS HELD BY ANY AUTHORITY TO CONSTITUTE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, SUCH PROVISION SHALL BE DEEMED INEFFECTIVE TO THE EXTENT SUCH PROVISION CONSTITUTES A DIRECT OR INDIRECT GUARANTY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY. NEITHER THIS AGREEMENT NOR ANY LOAN DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO CREATE ANY LIABILITY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION OF THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREUNDER OR HEREUNDER. NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY LENDER SHALL HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE GENERAL PARTNER (INCLUDING ANY RECOURSE FOR ANY DEFICIENCY REMAINING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AFTER THE DISPOSITION OF COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE GP COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE GENERAL PARTNER); PROVIDED , THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL

 

111


THIS SECTION 12.17 RELIEVE THE GENERAL PARTNER FROM ANY LIABILITY IT MAY HAVE AS A RESULT OF ITS FRAUD, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OR THAT OF ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CERTIFICATES OR DOCUMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE GENERAL PARTNER ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE BORROWER’S GENERAL PARTNER.

Section 12.18 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that: (a) (i) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Joint Arranger or any Lender is intended to be or has been created in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has advised or is advising the Borrower or any Subsidiary on other matters; (ii) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand; (iii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent that it has deemed appropriate; and (iv) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; and (b) (i) the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person; (ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the other Agents, the Joint Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 12.19 Intercreditor Agreement . Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement among the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Revolver Administrative Agent, as “Revolving Facility Administrative Agent” (as defined therein), and the Administrative Agent, as “Term Facility Administrative Agent” (as defined therein). Each Lender hereunder (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) consents to the priority of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (c) agrees that it will be bound by

 

112


and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as if it was a signatory thereto and (d) authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Administrative Agent and on behalf of such Lender. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the “Revolving Facility Lenders” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to permit the incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions.

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

113


The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER:     SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
    By:   Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
      By:  

/s/ David W. Biegler

      Name:   David W. Biegler
      Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page]

T ERM L OAN C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDER:     WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
    By:   /s/ Brandon Kast
    Name:   Brandon Kast
    Title:   Assistant Vice President

[Signature Page]

T ERM L OAN C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


ANNEX I

LIST OF INITIAL TERM LOAN COMMITMENT

 

Name of Lender

   Commitment      Percentage  

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   $ 450,000,000.00         100.00000000

TOTAL

   $ 450,000,000.00         100.00000000

[Signature Page]

T ERM L OAN C REDIT A GREEMENT

S OUTHCROSS E NERGY P ARTNERS , L.P.


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING

[                    ], 20[        ]

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), pursuant to Section 2.03 of that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 (together with all amendments, restatements, supplements, or other modifications, if any, from time to time made thereto, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the various financial institutions that are or may become a party thereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ”), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity together with any successors thereto, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and the other agents which are or may become parties thereto (unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used herein has the meaning assigned to it in the Credit Agreement), hereby requests a Borrowing as follows:

 

  (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing is $[            ];

 

  (ii) the date of such Borrowing is [            ], 20[        ];

 

  (iii) such Borrowing is to be [an ABR Borrowing] [a Eurodollar Borrowing];

 

  (iv) [the initial Interest Period applicable thereto is [one, three or six months]] 1 ;

 

  (v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which complies with the requirements of Section 2.05 of the Credit Agreement, are as follows:

[                                                   ]

[                                                   ]

[                                                   ]

[                                                   ]

[                                                   ]

[                                                   ]

 

1   To be included if the requested Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing.

 

Exhibit B-1


The undersigned certifies that he/she is the [            ] of the Borrower’s General Partner, and that as such he/she is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower. The undersigned further certifies, represents and warrants on behalf of the Borrower that the conditions to lending specified in Section [6.01] 2 [6.02] 3 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied as of the date hereof and that the Borrower is entitled to receive the requested Borrowing under the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement.

 

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:    
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

2   With respect to the Initial Term Loan to be made on the Closing Date.
3   With respect to any Incremental Term Loan made after the Closing Date.

 

Exhibit B-2

Exhibit 10.3

SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

SOUTHCROSS GP MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, LLC

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. Purpose of the Plan .

This Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) has been adopted by Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Southcross GP ”) and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Management Holdings ”). The Plan is intended to promote the interests of Southcross GP and its Affiliates by providing incentive compensation Awards to Employees, Consultants and Directors to encourage superior performance. The Plan is also intended to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Company and its Affiliates and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Company and its Affiliates.

SECTION 2. Definitions .

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2. Without limiting the provisions of the definitions set forth below, to the extent applicable to Awards of or covering GP Units (e.g., Downstairs Unit Awards), references to the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the Board or the applicable committee of Southcross GP and to the extent applicable to awards of or covering Management Holdings Units (e.g., Upstairs Unit Awards), references to the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the Board or the applicable committee of Management Holdings.

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.

ASC Topic 718 ” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation , or any successor accounting standard.

Award ” means collectively a Unit Award or an Other Unit-Based Award granted or purchased under the Plan.

Award Agreement ” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.

Board ” means the board of directors or board of managers or similar governing body or Person, as the case may be, of the Company, and in the event there is no such board of directors or board of managers, “Board” means the managing member(s) of the Company or such other Person having authority under the applicable Limited Liability Company Agreement to direct the management and policies of the Company.


Cause ” means, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Company and the applicable Participant, a finding by the Committee, before or after the Participant’s termination of Service, of: (i) any material failure by the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities; (ii) any act of fraud, embezzlement, theft or misappropriation by the Participant relating to the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates; (iii) the Participant’s commission of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iv) any gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of the Participant in the conduct of the Participant’s duties and responsibilities with the Company or any Affiliate(s) of the Company or which adversely affects the image, reputation or business of the Company, the Partnership or their Affiliates; or (v) any material breach by the Participant of any agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Participant on the other. The findings and decision of the Committee with respect to such matter, including those regarding the acts of the Participant and the impact thereof, will be final for all purposes.

Change in Control ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Plan.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Committee ” means the Board, except that it shall mean such committee of the Board as is appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

Company ” “ means collectively Southcross GP and Management Holdings, or any successor thereto, except that where the context requires, “ Company ” shall be deemed individually to refer to either Southcross GP or Management Holdings (or any successor thereto), as applicable, subject to the principles set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Section 2.

Consultant ” means an individual who renders consulting services to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

Director ” means a member of the board of directors or board of managers, or similar governing body, as the case may be, of the Company, any of its managing members or any of their respective Affiliates who is not an Employee or a Consultant (other than in that individual’s capacity as a Director).

Disability ” means, as determined by the Committee of Southcross GP in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of a Participant that would entitle him or her to payment of disability income payments under the Company’s, the Partnership’s or one of their Affiliates’ long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees as then in effect; or in the event that a Participant is not covered, for whatever reason, under any such long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees or the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates does not maintain such a long-term disability insurance policy, “Disability” means a total and permanent disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee of Southcross GP and, in this respect, Participants shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee of Southcross GP.

 

-2-


Downstairs Unit Award ” means an award of GP Units granted to or purchased by Management Holdings under the Plan, which award may be subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions and which shall be granted in tandem with an Upstairs Unit Award.

Employee ” means an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any given date, the volume weighted average price for sales of the Units or other related securities on such date during normal trading hours (or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last date prior to such date on which there were sales) of the Units or other related securities on the applicable national securities exchange or national inter-dealer quotation system on which such securities are listed, in any case, as reported in such source as the Committee of Southcross GP shall select. If there is no regular public trading market for the Units or other securities or property, the Fair Market Value of such Units, securities or property shall be determined by the Committee of Southcross GP in good faith and in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code.

GP Unit ” means a Class B Unit as defined in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Southcross GP.

Limited Liability Company Agreement ” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

Management Holdings Unit ” means a Class B Unit as defined in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Management Holdings.

Other Unit-Based Award ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan.

Participant ” means an Employee, Consultant or Director who is granted or who purchases an Upstairs Unit Award or an Other Unit-Based Award under the Plan and any authorized transferee of such individual.

Partnership ” means Southcross Energy Partners, L.P or its successor.

Partnership Plan ” means the Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan.

Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

Restricted Period ” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is either not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

-3-


SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below).

Service ” means service as an Employee, Consultant or Director. The Committee of Southcross GP, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to terminations of Service, including, without limitation, the questions of whether and when a termination of Service occurred and/or resulted from a discharge for Cause, and all questions of whether particular changes in status or leaves of absence constitute a termination of Service. The Committee of Southcross GP, in its sole discretion, subject to the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, may determine that a termination of Service has not occurred in the event of (a) a termination where there is simultaneous commencement by the Participant of a relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates as an Employee, Director or Consultant or (b) a termination which results in a temporary severance of the service relationship.

Unit ” means collectively, a GP Unit and a Management Holdings Unit, except that where the context requires, “ Unit ” shall be deemed individually to refer to either a GP Unit or a Management Holdings Unit, as applicable, subject to the principles set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Section 2.

Unit Award ” means collectively, an Upstairs Unit Award and the corresponding Downstairs Unit Award.

Upstairs Unit Award ” means an award of Management Holdings Units granted to or purchased by a Participant under the Plan, which award may be subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions and which shall be granted in tandem with a Downstairs Unit Award.

SECTION 3. Administration .

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, subject to subsection (b) below; provided, however, that in the event that the Board is not also serving as the Committee, the Board, in its sole discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan. The governance of the Committee shall be subject to the charter, if any, of the Committee as approved by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, redeemed, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate

 

-4-


for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company any of its Affiliates, any Participant and any beneficiary of any Participant.

(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company or its Affiliates the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to Section 3(a); provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant awards to, or amend awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent that it is permissible under applicable provisions of the Code and applicable securities laws and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to such restrictions and limitations as the Board or Committee, as applicable, specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3(b) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.

SECTION 4. Units .

(a) No Limit on Units Deliverable . Except as may be set forth in the applicable Limited Liability Company Agreement, there shall be no limit on the number of GP Units and Management Holdings Units that may be granted pursuant to Awards under the Plan.

(b) Anti-dilution Adjustments

(i) Equity Restructuring . With respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the Company or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718 if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) 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 event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan after such event. With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an ASC Topic 718 accounting charge if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards and the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

-5-


(ii) Other Changes in Capitalization . In the event of any non-cash distribution, Unit split, combination or exchange of Units, merger, consolidation or distribution (other than normal cash distributions) of assets to unitholders, or any other change affecting the Units, other than an “equity restructuring,” the Committee may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (A) the aggregate number and kind of Units that may be issued under the Plan; (B) the number and kind of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (C) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (D) the grant or exercise price per Unit for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.

SECTION 5. Eligibility .

Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive or purchase an Award under the Plan.

SECTION 6. Awards .

(a) Unit Awards .

(i) In General . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Unit Awards shall be granted or sold, the number of Units to be granted or sold to with respect to each such Unit Award, the applicable Restricted Period, if any, the conditions under which the Units subject to a Unit Award may become non-forfeitable or forfeited, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for the subject Units and such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

(ii) Removal of Restrictions on Restricted Units . Upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following the lapse of all forfeiture restrictions with respect to each Unit Award, the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Management Holdings Unit certificate (or book-entry account, as applicable) so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Management Holdings Unit (and any corresponding restrictions shall be removed from the corresponding GP Unit held by Management Holdings), provided that an unrestricted Unit may remain subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in an applicable Award Agreement, including, without limitation, repurchase, transfer or other restrictions or limitations.

(b) Other Unit-Based Awards . Other Unit-Based Awards may be granted under the Plan to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors as the Committee, in its discretion, may select. An Other Unit-Based Award shall be an award denominated or payable in, valued in or

 

-6-


otherwise based on or related to GP Units and/or Management Holdings Units or other securities of Southcross GP or Management Holdings, in whole or in part. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any Other Unit-Based Award. Upon or following the vesting or lapse of forfeiture or other restrictions, an Other Unit-Based Award may be paid in cash, GP Units and/or Management Holdings Units (including Unit Awards that may be subject to such forfeiture or other terms and conditions as may be established by the Committee), or any combination thereof, as provided in the Award Agreement.

(c) General .

(i) Forfeitures . Except as otherwise provided in the terms of an Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s Service for any reason during an applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding awards held by such Participant (and Awards corresponding thereto), to the extent then subject to forfeiture, shall be automatically forfeited. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to any such Award.

(ii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together . Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate, provided however that each Downstairs Award shall be granted in tandem with a corresponding Upstairs Award covering an equivalent number of Units and each Upstairs Award shall be granted in tandem with a corresponding Downstairs Award covering an equivalent number of Units. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(iii) Limits on Transfer of Awards . Except as may be permitted by the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

(iv) Unit Certificates . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Units issued in connection with any Award and instead such Units shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or equity plan administrator). All certificates for Units or other securities of the Company delivered under the Plan and all Units issued pursuant to book entry procedures 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/or other requirements of the SEC, any securities 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 inscribed on any such certificates or book entry to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

-7-


(v) Consideration for Grants . To the extent permitted by applicable law, Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.

(vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, subject to compliance with Section 409A, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Units in connection with any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined that the issuance of such securities is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange on which the securities are listed or traded, and the securities are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the delivery of Units in connection with an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain or deliver Units pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement is received by the Company.

SECTION 7. Amendment and Termination; Certain Transactions .

Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

(a) Amendments to the Plan . Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person, except if such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination would be materially prejudicial to any Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award.

(b) Amendments to Awards . Subject to Section 7(a) above, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided that no change, other than pursuant to Section 4(b) above or 7(c) below, in any Award shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award without the consent of such Participant.

 

-8-


(c) Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events . Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any transaction or event described in Section 4(b) above, any change in applicable laws or regulations affecting the Plan or Awards hereunder, or any change in accounting principles affecting the financial statements of the Company or the Partnership, the Committee, in its sole discretion, without the consent of any Participant or holder of an Award, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, may take any one or more of the following actions:

(i) provide for either (A) the termination or cancellation of any Award in exchange for a payment in an amount, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under such Award (which, with respect to a Unit Award shall be the Fair Market Value of the applicable Unit), and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of such transaction or event, the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been payable upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested;

(ii) provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or be exchanged for similar rights or awards covering the equity of the successor or survivor, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of equity interests and prices;

(iii) make adjustments in the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, the number and kind of outstanding Awards, the terms and conditions of (including the exercise price), and/or the vesting and performance criteria included in, outstanding Awards; or

(iv) provide that such Award shall vest or become exercisable or payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.

SECTION 8. General Provisions .

(a) No Rights to Award . No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, including the treatment upon termination of Service. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(b) Tax Withholding . Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to Southcross GP, Southcross GP or any Affiliate thereof is authorized to deduct or 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 or Units, including Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant

 

-9-


to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of an Award, including its grant, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer thereunder or under the Plan, and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes. In the event that Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to an Award are used to satisfy such withholding obligations, the number of Units which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Units which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding 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.

(c) No Right to Employment or Services . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of Southcross GP or any of its Affiliates, continue consulting services or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Furthermore, Southcross GP or one of its Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or consulting free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other written agreement between any such entity and the Participant.

(d) Section 409A . To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall include the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below), the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), and/or take any other actions that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the Award, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that nothing herein shall create any obligation on the part of the Committee or the Company or any of its Affiliates to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Committee or the Company or any of its Affiliates have any liability for failing to do so. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the time of payment with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A shall not be accelerated, except as permitted under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4) or other applicable regulatory guidance.

(e) Compliance with Laws . The Plan, the granting of and lapse of forfeiture restrictions with respect to Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Units and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan

 

-10-


shall be subject to such restrictions, and the Person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. In the event an Award is granted to or held by a Participant who is employed or providing services outside the United States, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the provisions of the Plan or of such Award as they pertain to such Participant to comply with applicable foreign law or to recognize differences in local law, currency or tax policy. The Committee may also impose conditions on the grant, issuance, exercise, lapse of forfeiture restrictions, settlement or retention of Awards in order to comply with such foreign law and/or to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Participants employed outside their home country.

(f) Governing Law . The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

(g) 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.

(h) Other Laws . The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Company or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(i) 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 Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and a Participant or any other Person, on the other hand. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company.

(j) No Fractional Units . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

 

-11-


(k) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision hereof.

(l) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . None of the Board, the Committee or the Company or any Affiliate thereof (or any employee or officer of the Company or any Affiliate) provides or has provided any tax advice to any Participant or any other Person or makes or has made any assurance, commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant or other Person.

(m) Clawback; Misconduct . To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to clawback as determined by the Committee, which clawback may include forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, if at any time (including after an award has vested) the Committee or any person designated by the Committee (each such person, an “Authorized Officer”) reasonably believes that a Participant may have committed an Act of Misconduct as described in this Section 8(m), the Authorized Officer, the Committee or the Board may suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise or to vest in an Award, and/or to receive payment for or receive Units in settlement of an Award pending a determination of whether an Act of Misconduct has been committed.

If the Committee or an Authorized Officer determines that a Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of ethics policy or code of conduct, or deliberate disregard of the Company’s or Affiliate of the Company’s rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or if a Participant makes an unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information, solicits any Employee or other service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant, engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition, breaches any non-competition agreement, induces any customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or to cease doing business with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or induces any principal for whom the Company or any Affiliate of the Company acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship (any of the foregoing acts, an “Act of Misconduct”), then except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (i) neither the Participant nor his or her estate nor transferee shall be entitled to vest in or have the restrictions on an Award lapse, or otherwise receive any payment in respect of an Award, (ii) the Participant will forfeit all outstanding Awards and (iii) the Participant may be required, at the Committee’s sole discretion, to return and/or repay to the Company any then vested Units previously granted under the Plan. In making such determination, the Committee or an Authorized Officer may, in its discretion, give the Participant an opportunity to appear and present evidence on his or her behalf at a hearing before the Committee or its designee or an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, information and arguments to be considered by the Committee.

 

-12-


(n) Facility Payment . Any amounts payable hereunder to any Person under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his or her financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such Person, or may be applied for the benefit of such Person in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company its Affiliates shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

SECTION 9. Term of the Plan .

The Plan shall be effective on the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board (the “ Effective Date ”) and shall continue indefinitely until terminated by the Board. However, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.

 

-13-


SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

SOUTHCROSS GP MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, LLC

UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

PARTICIPANT GRANT NOTICE

All capitalized terms used in this Unit Award Agreement, which includes the “ Participant Grant Notice, ” the “ Joinder ” and the attachment hereto titled “ Terms and Conditions of Unit Award ” (collectively, the “ Agreement ”) but not defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC and Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) and the Limited Liability Company Agreement, as applicable. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control. The award provided for under this Agreement (including the Upstairs Unit Award described in the Participant Grant Notice and the Downstairs Unit Award described in Section 6 of the Terms and Conditions of Unit Award) is intended to constitute a Unit Award under and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan. Except where the context requires otherwise, all references to “Units” in this Agreement shall mean the Management Holdings Units granted to the Participant under this Agreement.

You have been granted an Award of Units of Southcross GP Management Holdings, LLC (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan. The principal features of this Award are as follows:

Name of Participant : [            ]

Number of Units : [            ] Units

Grant Date : [            ], 2014

Fair Market Value of the Units as of the Grant Date : [            ]. For additional information, terms and conditions, See Section 9 of the Terms and Conditions of Unit Award.

Vesting Units : The Units are 100% vested as of the Grant Date.

Forfeiture of Units : In the event of a termination of the Participant’s Service by Southcross GP or one of its Affiliates for Cause, all of the Units shall thereupon automatically be forfeited by the Participant without further action and without payment of consideration therefor.

JOINDER

By execution of this Joinder, the Participant hereby agrees to become a party to, and to be bound by the obligations of, and receive the benefits of, that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of Management Holdings (the “ Management Holdings LLC Agreement ”), dated as of [            ], 2014, by and among Southcross Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the sole managing member of the Company (the “ Managing Member ”), and the other parties thereto, as a “Member” under the Management Holdings LLC Agreement. The Participant hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Managing Member that it has received, reviewed and understands the Management Holdings LLC Agreement and that each representation and warranty set forth in Section 2.1 of the Management Holdings LLC Agreement is true, accurate and not misleading as to the Participant as of the date hereof.

[ Signature Page to Agreement Follows ]


Whereas the undersigned parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement as of the Grant Date identified in the Participant Grant Notice Above. The Signature of the Participant and the Company below indicates his or its acceptance of this Award and agreement and understanding that the Units (and GP Units) are subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in the Agreement (including the Participant Grant Notice, the Joinder and the Terms and Conditions of Unit Award that follows these signature pages), the Limited Liability Company Agreement and the Plan.

 

PARTICIPANT
   
[NAME]
SOUTHCROSS GP MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
By:   Southcross Holdings LP, its managing member
By:   Southcross Holdings GP LLC, its general partner
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
SOUTHCROSS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC
By:   Southcross Holdings LP, its general partner
By:   Southcross Holdings GP LLC, its general partner
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNIT AWARD

1. Grant . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date, an award of Units of the Company as set forth in the Grant Notice, subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Limited Liability Company Agreement and the Plan.

2. Vesting and Termination; Distributions .

(a) The Units shall be vested or shall vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in, and shall be subject to forfeiture as set forth in, the Participant Grant Notice above.

(b) Distributions with respect to the Units will be made as set forth in the Limited Liability Company Agreement.

3. Taxes; Withholding . Southcross GP or one if its Affiliates may withhold from the Participant’s wages, or require the Participant to pay to Southcross GP or one of its Affiliates, the Participant’s portion of any applicable withholding or employment taxes resulting from the issuance of the Units hereunder or from the lapse of any restrictions imposed on the Units, as required by law. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Limited Liability Company Agreement to the contrary, the Participant shall be solely responsible for and shall satisfy all tax consequences associated with the Unit Award represented by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Participant shall be solely responsible for and shall satisfy all taxes and tax consequences that may be incurred by or with respect to the Company in connection with the Downstairs Award described in Section 6 below or the GP Units represented by such Downstairs Award.

4. Non-Transferability . Neither the Units nor any right of the Participant under the Units may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant (or any permitted transferee) other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise permitted by the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company and any of their Affiliates.

5. Repurchase .

(a) Company Repurchase Right .

(i) During the period beginning on the date of a Participant’s termination of Service and ending on the first anniversary of such date (the “ Repurchase Period ”), the Company shall have the option (the “ Call Right ”) to repurchase the Participant’s vested Units. The Call Right may be exercised more than once and for some or all of the Units held by the Participant. The Company may assign the Call Right to any Person determined in the discretion of the Committee.

(ii) The Company (or its assignee) shall exercise the Call Right (if so elected) by written notice to Participant (and/or, if applicable, any permitted transferees) within the Repurchase Period, specifying a date within such period on which the Call Right shall be exercised and the number of Units as to which the Call Right is being exercised. Upon such notification, the Participant and any permitted transferees shall promptly surrender to the Company (or its assignee) any certificates or other documents representing the Units being purchased, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances. Except as provided below, upon the Company’s (or its assignee’s) receipt of any such certificates or documents from the Participant or any permitted transferees, the Company (or its assignee) shall deliver to him, her or them payment of the Repurchase Price (as defined below) for the Units being purchased.


(iii) The purchase price payable by the Company (or its assignee) upon exercise of the Call Right (the “ Repurchase Price ”) shall be the Fair Market Value, as of the date the Call Right is being exercised, of the Units with respect to which the Call Right [or Put Right (as defined below)] is being exercised.

(b) [ Company Repurchase Obligation .

(i) In the event the Participant’s Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s resignation for Good Reason (as defined below) and the Units are not listed on a national securities exchange or a national inter-dealer quotation system (or are not otherwise publicly tradable), then during the Repurchase Period, the Participant shall have the option (the “ Put Right ”) to cause the Company or one of its Affiliates to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the Participant’s vested Units, provided, however, that the Put Right shall be subject to the Committee’s good faith determination that the Company and its Affiliates possess sufficient liquidity at the applicable time such that the Put Right will not have a material negative impact on the operations or financial position of the Company and its Affiliates.

(ii) The Participant shall exercise the Put Right (if so elected) by written notice to the Company within the Repurchase Period (and before the 30 th day prior to the expiration of the Repurchase Period), specifying a date more than 30 days after the date of such written notice and within the Repurchase Period on which the Put Right shall be exercised. Upon the time of such repurchase, the Participant and any permitted transferees shall promptly surrender to the Company any certificates or other documents representing the Units being purchased, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances. Except as provided below, upon the Company’s receipt of any such certificates or documents from the Participant or any permitted transferees, the Company shall deliver to him, her or them payment of the Repurchase Price for the Units.

(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means the occurrence of one or more of the following actions by Southcross GP or its Affiliates without the Participant’s consent: (1) a material reduction in the duties and responsibilities held by the Participant, except in connection with a termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause; (2) a material reduction in the Participant’s base salary or guideline (target) bonus; or (3) a material change in the geographic location at which the Participant must perform services for Southcross GP or its Affiliates; provided, however , that no termination of Service by the Participant shall constitute a termination for Good Reason unless (a) the Participant has first provided Southcross GP with written notice specifically identifying the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the Participant has or should reasonably be expected to have had knowledge of the occurrence thereof, (b) Southcross GP has not cured such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days of its actual receipt of such notice, and (c) the effective date of the Participant’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than ninety (90) days after the initial existence of the facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason.] 1

 

 

1   Note: Put right TBD.


(c) Repurchase Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no payment shall be made under this Section that would cause the Company, Southcross GP or any if their Affiliates to violate any applicable law, or any rights or preference of other unitholders, any banking agreement or loan or other financial covenant or cause default of any indebtedness, regardless of when such agreement, covenant or indebtedness was created, incurred or assumed. Any payment under this Section 5 that would cause such violation or default shall result in an extension of the Repurchase Period, in the sole discretion of the Committee, until thirty days after the date such payment shall no longer cause any such violation or default and at which time the Call Right or Put Right, as applicable, may be exercised with the Repurchase Price calculated as of the date the Call Right or Put Right is actually exercised.

6. Downstairs Award . A Downstairs Unit Award covering that number of GP Units equal to the number of Units subject to the Award granted pursuant to this Agreement (as set forth in the Participant Grant Notice) is hereby granted by Southcross GP to the Company on the Grant Date (the “ Downstairs Award ”). Each time a portion of the Upstairs Award is vested, forfeited, adjusted or repurchased pursuant to this Agreement or the Plan, a corresponding portion of the Downstairs Award shall be vested, forfeited, adjusted or repurchased, as applicable, provided that Southcross GP shall have the right to assign its right [or obligation] to repurchase any GP Units to any Person as determined in the discretion of the Committee of Southcross GP. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and Southcross GP may, in their discretion, effect any repurchase contemplated by this agreement in such manner whereby (i) the Company redeems all or a portion of the Participant’s Upstairs Units in exchange for the corresponding Downstairs Units, and (ii) Southcross GP (or its assignee) subsequently repurchases the Downstairs Units from the Participant.

7. No Effect on Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall be construed as giving the Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of Southcross GP or any Affiliate thereof. Furthermore, Southcross GP and its Affiliates may at any time dismiss the Participant from employment or consulting free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, this Agreement or any other written agreement between the Participant and Southcross GP or an Affiliate thereof.

8. Severablility . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, 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 this Agreement, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

9. Tax Consultation . None of the Board, the Committee, nor the Company or Southcross GP has made any warranty or representation to Participant with respect to the income tax consequences of the issuance of the Units or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Participant represents that he or she is in no manner relying on such entities or their representatives for tax advice or an assessment of such tax consequences. The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the Units granted pursuant to this Agreement. The


Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants that the Participant deems advisable in connection with the Units. Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the Contrary (including the statements set forth in the Participant Grant Notice), neither the Company nor Southcross GP make any representations to any Person with respect to the Fair Market Value of the Units as of the Grant Date.

10. Amendments, Suspension and Termination . Subject to Section 7(a) of the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter this Agreement at any time, provided that no such change, other than pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Plan, shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of the Participant without the Participant’s consent.

11. Lock-Up Agreement . The Participant shall agree, if so requested by the Company or Southcross GP and any underwriter in connection with any public offering of securities of the Company, Southcross GP or any Affiliate thereof, not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of or otherwise dispose of or transfer any securities held by him or her for such period, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the relevant registration statement filed under the Securities Act in connection with such public offering, as such underwriter shall specify reasonably and in good faith. The Company or Southcross GP may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such 180-day period.

12. Conformity to Securities Laws . The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and all applicable state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Units are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

13. Successors and Assigns . The Company and Southcross GP may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and Southcross GP. Subject to the restrictions on transfer contained herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

14. Governing Law . The validity, construction, and effect of this Agreement and any rules and regulations relating to this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

15. Headings . Headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

***

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

NEWS RELEASE

Southcross Energy    1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201, 214-979-3720

Southcross Energy LLC and TexStar Midstream Services, LP Complete Combination

DALLAS, Texas, August 5, 2014 – Southcross Energy LLC, the former owner of the general partner of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SXE) (“Southcross”), today announced the completion of the previously announced agreement to combine with TexStar Midstream Services, LP (“TexStar”), a privately held gas gathering and processing partnership located in the Eagle Ford shale region of South Texas. With the completion of the transaction, a new company, Southcross Holdings LP (“Holdings”), now owns 100% of the general partner of Southcross, limited partner interests in Southcross and certain former TexStar assets. EIG Global Energy Partners, Charlesbank Capital Partners and Tailwater Capital each indirectly own approximately one-third of Holdings.

As part of the overall transaction, Southcross has acquired rich gas system assets formerly owned by TexStar for consideration of $80 million in cash, the assumption of $100 million of debt (which was immediately repaid by Southcross’ new term loan facility) and 14,633,000 newly-issued payment-in-kind (“PIK”) Class B Southcross convertible units. The rich gas system assets consist of a 300 MMcf/d gas processing facility and over 230 miles of rich gas and residue gas pipelines. The acquisition of the rich gas system assets by Southcross creates a substantial Eagle Ford-focused midstream operation with four gas processing plants, two fractionation facilities and approximately 3,000 miles of pipelines.

Holdings owns the Lancaster Gathering System and the NGL System, both originally part of TexStar, as well as an approximate 57% limited partner interest in Southcross and 100% of Southcross’ general partner, which owns a 2% general partner interest in Southcross and Southcross’ incentive distribution rights. Public unitholders own the remaining 43% limited partner interest in Southcross. Assets retained at Holdings are expected to be available as future drop-downs into Southcross. Holdings has no obligation to sell its assets to Southcross and Southcross has no obligation to buy such assets.

“We are excited to announce the completion of the transactions and our improved platform for growth,” said David Biegler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southcross’ general partner. “The response from our customers has been enthusiastic and we are already beginning to see increased business opportunities. We believe that this commercial momentum, combined with our increased scale and focus in the Eagle Ford, integrated system to Corpus Christi markets, strong financial backing and enhanced operational stability position us well for growth over the near and long-term.”

Financing Information

In conjunction with the transaction, Southcross has entered into a new seven-year $450 million Term Loan B facility and five-year $200 million revolving credit facility. The proceeds from the term loan were used to fund Southcross’ purchase of the rich gas system assets (including the repayment of the $100 million of debt assumed in the transaction), repay outstanding amounts under Southcross’ existing revolving credit facility and pay transaction related fees and expenses.

About Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. is a master limited partnership that provides natural gas gathering, processing, treating, compression and transportation services and NGL fractionation and transportation services. It also sources, purchases, transports and sells natural gas and NGLs. Its assets are located in South


Texas, Mississippi and Alabama and include four gas processing plants, two fractionation plants and approximately 3,000 miles of pipeline. The South Texas assets are located in or near the Eagle Ford shale region. Southcross is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Visit www.southcrossenergy.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this news release specifically include the expectations, plans, strategies, objectives and growth of Southcross and its subsidiaries, including the potential for future drop-down transactions and anticipated synergies from the acquisition of the rich gas system assets. Although Southcross believes the expectations and forecasts reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, Southcross can give no assurance they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control) that may cause Southcross’ actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting Southcross is contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 5, 2014 and in other documents and reports filed from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Southcross undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

###

Contact:

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

Kristin Donnally, 214-979-3720

Investor Relations

investorrelations@southcrossenergy.com

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

 

NEWS RELEASE

Southcross Energy    1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201, 214-979-3720

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. Announces Appointment of Jason Downie and Wallace Henderson to

the Board of Directors of its General Partner

DALLAS, Texas, August 5, 2014 – Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SXE) (“Southcross”) today announced changes to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, Southcross’ general partner. These changes are in association with the closing of the previously announced transaction to combine Southcross Energy LLC, which previously controlled Southcross’ general partner, with TexStar Midstream Services, LP. Mr. Jason Downie of Tailwater Capital (“Tailwater”) and Mr. Wallace Henderson of EIG Global Energy Partners (“EIG”) have been elected to the Board with the closing of the transaction.

Mr. Downie has over 19 years of investment experience and co-founded Tailwater in January 2013. At Tailwater, Mr. Downie’s primary responsibilities include deal sourcing, transaction execution and monitoring of portfolio companies as well as executive leadership of Tailwater. Prior to co-founding Tailwater, Mr. Downie was a partner with HM Capital and served on the investment committee. Mr. Downie joined HM Capital in August 2000 from Rice, Sangalis Toole and Wilson, a mezzanine private equity firm, where he was an associate. Prior to Rice, Sangalis Toole and Wilson, Mr. Downie was an associate in the equity trading group with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, responsible for energy and transportation. Mr. Downie received his BBA and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Henderson has over 25 years of energy investment experience. He is currently a Managing Director and senior member of EIG’s investment team where he oversees the firm’s global investment activities in midstream oil and gas. Prior to joining EIG, Mr. Henderson was a senior financial consultant to Coskata, Inc., an energy technology company. Mr. Henderson also spent five years with UBS where he ran the firm’s New York-based energy group and led capital raising and advisory assignments for a wide range of energy companies and sponsors including EIG. Prior to his role with UBS, Mr. Henderson was an energy investment banker at Credit Suisse for 18 years where he specialized in oil and gas project finance and corporate capital raising and M&A for large US and Latin American oil companies. Mr. Henderson received his BA in economics from Kenyon College and his MBA from Columbia University.

The new board appointments are being announced in connection with the departure from the Board of Kim Davis and Sam Bartlett from Charlesbank Capital Partners (“Charlesbank”), who have resigned from the board effective with closing of the transaction. Jon Biotti of Charlesbank remains on the Board.

“We are pleased to welcome our new EIG and Tailwater sponsors to the Southcross Board,” said David Biegler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southcross’ general partner. “The advice and support of Kim and Sam have been instrumental to our business, and I want to thank them for their commitment to Southcross since its inception.”

About Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. is a master limited partnership that provides natural gas gathering, processing, treating, compression and transportation services and NGL fractionation and transportation services. It also sources, purchases, transports and sells natural gas and NGLs. Its assets are located in South Texas, Mississippi and Alabama and include four gas processing plants, two fractionation plants and approximately 3,000 miles of pipeline. The South Texas assets are located in or near the Eagle Ford shale region. Southcross is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Visit www.southcrossenergy.com for more information.


###

Contacts:

Southcross Energy Partners, L.P.

Kristin Donnally, (214) 979-3720

Investor Relations

investorrelations@southcrossenergy.com